Rutgers Football: Moving to Big Ten Will Help Scarlet Knights' Football Program

Moving to the Big Ten conference will be a major boost to the Rutgers football program because the Scarlet Knights will become a more attractive team to the nation's best high school players.

The school released a press release on its web site to reveal the news:

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The Big Ten Council of Presidents/Chancellors (COP/C) announced unanimous approval today for Rutgers University to join the Big Ten Conference, with competition to begin in all sports at a date to be determined. Rutgers University also looks forward to joining the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC), a consortium of world-class research institutions dedicated to advancing their academic missions.

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Recruits, for the most part, want to play against top teams. Not only does this help them improve their skills, playing quality opponents can make them more visible to NFL scouts because these games are often found on national television.

Having schools such as Nebraska, Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin on their schedule will benefit the Scarlet Knights.

Football at Rutgers has come a long way over the last decade, and thanks to former head coach Greg Schiano (currently the head coach of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers), it is now a respectable program.

For football reasons, the Big Ten is a much better place for Rutgers because the Big East has fewer quality programs and is the weakest BCS conference.

Rutgers has proven over the last few years that it is worthy of being in a better conference, and since the Big Ten has been unimpressive this season, the Scarlet Knights should be able to compete for the conference championship in their first season away from the Big East.

Rutgers is currently ranked No. 18 in the nation with a record of 9-1, and should go to a very good bowl game if it can defeat No. 20 Louisville in the season's final week.

Not only will the move to the Big Ten help Rutgers on the field, it will also help off the field. The potential for more revenue and overall exposure is greater in the Big Ten than the Big East.

Going to the Big Ten makes a lot of sense for Rutgers, and it's a move that will help the football program continue to get better and recruit better players.

Playing in the Big Ten will be a challenge for Rutgers, but it's one that the school is ready for.