1958 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team

1958 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football
MAC University Division champion
Middle Three champion
ConferenceMiddle Atlantic Conference, Middle Three Conference
DivisionUniversity Division
Ranking
APNo. 20
Record8–1 (4–0 MAC, 2–0 Middle Three)
Head coach
Home stadiumRutgers Stadium
1958 Middle Atlantic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
University Division
No. 20 Rutgers x 4 0 08 1 0
Lafayette 5 1 15 3 1
Gettysburg 3 1 17 1 1
Lehigh 2 1 23 3 3
Delaware 2 3 05 3 0
Bucknell 1 5 01 8 0
Temple 0 5 00 8 0
Muhlenberg * 1 2 04 4 0
Northern College Division
Juniata x 6 0 07 0 1
Lycoming 4 1 07 1 0
Lebanon Valley 3 1 14 3 1
Susquehanna 3 2 03 4 0
Moravian 3 3 04 4 0
Wagner 3 3 03 5 0
Dickinson 3 4 04 4 0
Albright 2 4 12 6 1
Wilkes 1 7 01 8 0
Scranton * 2 2 05 3 0
Southern College Division
Pennsylvania Military x 7 1 07 2 0
Johns Hopkins 5 1 05 3 0
Haverford 4 2 04 3 0
Western Maryland 1 4 03 6 0
Swarthmore 1 4 01 7 0
Drexel 1 5 01 7 0
Ursinus 0 8 00 8 0
West Chester * 1 0 09 1 0
Franklin & Marshall * 3 1 05 4 0
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • * – Ineligible for championship due to insufficient conference games
Rankings from AP Poll
1958 NCAA University Division independents football records
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 3 Army    8 0 1
No. 6 Air Force    9 0 2
No. 9 Syracuse    8 2 0
No. 19 Oklahoma State    8 3 0
Boston College    7 3 0
Florida State    7 4 0
Holy Cross    6 3 0
Navy    6 3 0
Penn State    6 3 1
No. 17 Notre Dame    6 4 0
Pacific (CA)    6 4 0
Villanova    6 4 0
Pittsburgh    5 4 1
Detroit    4 4 1
Boston University    4 5 0
San Jose State    4 5 0
Texas Tech    3 7 0
Marquette    2 7 1
Drake    2 7 0
Dayton    2 8 0
Miami (FL)    2 8 0
Colgate    1 8 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1958 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team was an American football team that represented Rutgers University as a member of the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) during the 1958 college football season. In their third season under head coach John Stiegman, the Scarlet Knights compiled an 8–1 record, outscored their opponents 301 to 77, won the MAC championship, and were ranked No. 20 in the final AP Poll. Rutgers narrowly failed to achieve a perfect season, missing two attempts for a two-point conversion in a 13–12 loss to the Quantico Marines.

Fullback Bill Austin led the team with 747 rushing yards, set a new Rutgers single-game record with 189 yards against Bucknell and scored five touchdowns and two extra points against Columbia. At the end of the season, he was selected by the Associated Press (AP) as a first-team back on the 1958 All-America college football team.

Other statistical leaders included Bruce Webster with 513 passing yards and end Bob Simms with 468 receiving yards. Guard Larry Muchiatti received third-team honors from the AP on the 1958 All-Eastern football team.

In the first year of football competition for the MAC, Rutgers was undefeated against University Division opponents. The Scarlet Knights also went 2–0 against the Middle Three, beating both Lafayette and Lehigh.