It has all come down to this, folks.

Bowl eligibility is on the line when Penn State football travels to New Jersey to face the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Saturday.

Penn State is coming off a two-game winning streak, including a 37-10 demolition of Nebraska in the home finale last week. The Nittany Lions are in a must-win game once again to salvage what is left of the 2025 season. Here’s what our staffers think is going to happen in the regular season finale.

Cadyn Gill (9-2): Penn State 33, Rutgers 17

The Nittany Lions will handle Rutgers with ease and put a cap on a three-game win streak to end the 2025 season, one that will never be forgotten. We’ve seen how stabilizing and salvaging what was once a hopeless season can inject life and culture into the looming overhaul. With a win, the Nittany Lions clinch a .500 record despite all that the program has endured in 2025, showing recruits and the rest of the college football world that there is no quitting in Happy Valley.

Fernando Martinez Ruiz De Esparza (8-3): Penn State 34, Rutgers 10

The vibes are high with the Nittany Lions right now.

Penn State dominated Nebraska in its final home game of the season and has now won two straight in dominant fashion heading into the regular-season finale. Terry Smith has completely changed this team since the firing of James Franklin. The Nittany Lions have been playing with more effort, grit, and consistency. With bowl eligibility on the line, I expect them to keep playing as they have in the last two games, with Kaytron Allen leading the way.

As for Rutgers, it has the same record as Penn State, and its bowl eligibility is on the line, too. The Scarlet Knights have been a very good home team, having won four of their five games this season at home, so that home-field advantage could be a factor. However, unlike the Nittany Lions, who are coming into this matchup with back-to-back wins, Rutgers is coming off a blowout loss against Ohio State, so momentum is not on the side of the Scarlet Knights.

The Nittany Lions have dominated the matchup series against the Scarlet Knights, as they have won 10 straight games. With bowl eligibility on the line for both teams, I expect Penn State to continue its dominance against Rutgers. Nick Singleton will break Saquon Barkley’s touchdown record, and the Nittany Lions will be the ones who clinch bowl eligibility.

Michael Zeno (8-3): Penn State 31, Rutgers 14

I’m 8-3 on predictions this year, which isn’t quite enough to make the CFP, but I’ll accept my invite to the Citrus Bowl.

Terry Smith has done everything he can to audition for the full-time head coaching role with two emphatic victories, and all that stands in the way of Penn State and a bowl game is a team they haven’t lost to since 1988 and are 14-0 against in the state of New Jersey. Greg Schiano has done his best to drag the Scarlet Knights out of the Big Ten’s cellar, but hasn’t emerged past 6-7 wins a year.

Athan Kaliakmanis (who got his first career start in a White Out while at Minnesota!) has been solid, but he’ll be running for his life against a suddenly ferocious pass rush. Add in Rutgers’ putrid rush defense and Nick Singleton being one rushing touchdown away from Penn State history? Let’s go bowling.

CJ Gill (8-3): Penn State 38, Rutgers 6

Terry Smith has the boys rolling, and little Rutgers isn’t stopping the Nittany Lions on Saturday. Penn State played its best game of the season last week on Senior Day against Nebraska. The Nittany Lions will take the momentum from their win over the Cornhuskers and dominate the Scarlet Knights to finish off the regular season.

Jamie Lynch (5-6): Penn State 35, Rutgers 13

One more win for all the glory (bowl season). Penn State will continue to roll and take down Rutgers, a supposed Big Ten school, with ease. Nick Singleton will set the Nittany Lion rushing touchdown record, and the running back tandem will dominate once again.

Let’s go bowling, folks.

Brandon Collica (5-0): Penn State 38, Rutgers 16

Two words: Terry Smith.

Jason Perry (4-3): Penn State 42, Rutgers 17

This is what the team was supposed to look like from the start. Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton are the best running back tandem in college football, the defense is back on track, and team morale is as high as ever, rallying around Terry Smith. I can’t see a world where Rutgers stops the team’s momentum right now.

Speaking of Terry Smith, make him the permanent head coach right away. The team is playing better than it did under Franklin, and the players clearly love him, not to mention the fans. Is it an emotional hire? Yes. Is that necessarily a bad thing? Not in my opinion.

In an ideal world, the Nittany Lions dominate Rutgers, Smith is named the permanent head coach, and then they go win a bowl game and finish the season ranked in the final AP top 25. The good news for Penn State fans is that the ideal world seems very realistic, but it all starts with a win on Saturday.

Ericka Apolskis (2-2): Penn State 36, Rutgers 7

Can’t wait to play in the Pinstripe Bowl. #6-6

Alexander Holmes (1-0): Penn State 34, Rutgers 20

For rivalry week, Penn State goes on the road to New Jersey to face Rutgers. Historically, Penn State leads the series 32-2. Terry Smith and Ethan Grunkemeyer will march into New Brunswick to face the senior quarterback, Athan Kaliakmanis. Based on the performances we have seen over the past couple of weeks and the record between the Nittany Lions and the Scarlet Knights, Penn State will take this game 34-20.

Oscar Orellana (5-6): Penn State 46, Rutgers 21

End this catastrophe on a high note. Stunt on ‘em, Grunk.

Cooper Cazares (5-6): Penn State 42, Rutgers 10

The Terry campaign doesn’t end here. The Nitts are off to the Pinstripe. #BackItUpTerr