Rutgers Rant: Recap Kansas State’s Rate Bowl collapse, assessing the roller-coaster 2024 season

PHOENIX – Rutgers football ended its tumultuous 2024 season with one final roller coaster ride.

The Scarlet Knights suffered a devastating 44-41 loss to Kansas State in the Rate Bowl on Thursday, blowing a 17-point second-half lead over the Wildcats and ending in another shootout in their second appearance in the bowl game Chase Field failed.

Rutgers (7-6, 4-5) played well in the first half and had one of its best offensive periods of the season. But coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca’s unit slowed significantly in the second half, and the Scarlet Knights’ abysmal defense’s season-long woes reached their nadir as Kansas State (9-4, 5-4) set a school record for total yards (542) when the Wildcats overran them.

The Rutgers Rant is back to recap the Rate Bowl, discuss the Scarlet Knights’ defensive woes, break down the reason for their offense’s second-half woes and put the 2024 season in perspective after it officially ends. Following last weekend’s loss to Princeton in Newark, we also assess the men’s basketball team’s prospects for the remainder of this winter.

Fans can listen to the show using the player below, visit (and subscribe) to our YouTube channel, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever podcasts are available.

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Brian Fonseca can be reached at [email protected].

Patrick Lanni can be reached at [email protected].

Steve Politi can be reached at [email protected].