The 2024 Rate Bowl features the 7-5 Rutgers Scarlet Knights against the 8-4 Kansas State Wildcats. Here is the 2024 Rate Bowl Preview.
Rutgers won seven games, including three of their last four to make a bowl game. They defeated three bowl-eligible teams this season: Virginia Tech, Washington and Minnesota. They lost to two teams, Wisconsin and UCLA, who didn’t qualify for a bowl game.
The Scarlet Knights score 27.9 points per game, ranking 70th in the FBS. They pass for 204.9 (ranked 92nd) and rush for 176.3 yards per game (ranked 49th).
Minnesota transfer Athan Kaliakmanis has been the quarterback for Rutgers this season. He has passed for 2,459 yards, 17 touchdowns and six interceptions on 54.8 percent completion. Three pass-catchers have at least 350 yards on the season. Dymere Miller leads the team with 57 catches for 731 yards and four touchdowns.
At running back, the Scarlet Knights have a star in Kyle Monangai. He has rushed for 1,279 yards and 13 touchdowns his season. He is unsure whether he will play in this game. If he can’t go, Antwan Raymond and Samuel Brown V will have to fill in after totaling 344 and 201 rushing yards respectively.
Defensively, the Scarlet Knights concede 23.8 points per game, ranking 57th in the country. They allow 234.1 passing yards and 147.8 rushing yards per game. Dariel Djabome leads the Scarlet Knights with 102 total tackles. Jordan Walker paces the team with four sacks. Robert Longerbeam has been impressive in the secondary with 11 passes defended and one interception.
Kansas State won eight games this season to make a bowl game. They have victories over three bowl-eligible teams: Tulane, Colorado and West Virginia. One of their four losses came to a team that failed to qualify for a bowl game: Houston.
The Wildcats score 29.9 points per game, ranking 50th in the country. They pass for 212.8 yards (ranked 82nd) and rush for 204.5 yards per game (ranked 18th).
Avery Johnson took over the starting quarterback spot after playing some last season. The former prized recruit has passed for 2,517 yards, 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions on 59.1 percent completion. Four players had at least 200 receiving yards on the season. The leading receiver is Jayce Brown, who has 763 yards and five touchdowns. He’ll have to step it up even more in this game, as the second leading receiver, Keegan Johnson, is in the transfer portal.
Three players have carried he load of the rushing attack for the Wildcats. D.J. Giddens leads the team with 1,343 yards and seven touchdowns, but he has opted out of this bowl game. Johnson, from his quarterback position, and Edwards have run the ball well too with 548 and 350 yards respectively.
On defense, the Wildcats give up 21.9 points per game, ranked 35th in the FBS. They allow 223.7 passing yards and 114.9 rushing yards per game. Austin Romaine leads the team with 89 total tackles. Brendan Mott has stepped his game up getting after the quarterback with 8.5 sacks. Marques Sigle has three passes defended and three interceptions in the secondary.
With Monagai undecided on whether he will play in this game, it leaves Rutgers in a lot of doubt. Kansas State can limit the Rutgers offense and should be able to run the ball to control the clock and win the game.
Kansas Stae Wildcats 31 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 17
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