The 2005 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in the 2005 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Scarlet Knights were led by 5th year head coach Greg Schiano and played their home games at Rutgers Stadium. They are a member of the Big East Conference. They finished the season 7–5, 4–3 in Big East play to finish in a tie for third place. After the season, they were invited to their first Bowl game since 1978. They would lose 45-40 to the Arizona State Sun Devils in the Insight Bowl.