1958 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team

{{short description|American college football season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 1958

| team = Rutgers Scarlet Knights

| sport = football

| image =

| image_size =

| conference = Middle Atlantic Conference

| division = University Division

| short_conf = MAC

| conference2 = Middle Three Conference

| short_conf2 = Middle Three

| APRank = 20

| record = 8–1

| conf_record = 4–0

| conf2_record = 2–0

| head_coach = John Stiegman

| hc_year = 3rd

| captain =

| stadium = Rutgers Stadium

| champion = MAC University Division champion
Middle Three champion

}}

{{1958 Middle Atlantic Conference football standings}}

{{1958 NCAA University Division independents football records}}

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.{{cite web|title=1958 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|access-date=June 12, 2016|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/rutgers/1958-schedule.html}} Rutgers narrowly failed to achieve a perfect season, missing two attempts for a two-point conversion in a 13–12 loss to the {{cfb link|year=1958|team=Quantico Marines Devil Dogs|title=Quantico Marines}}.{{cite news|title=Rutgers Winds Up Great Season; Only One Play Away From Perfect Record|newspaper=The Daily Home News|author=Jimmie Fleming|date=November 24, 1958|page=20|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-rutgers/166171091/|via=Newspapers.com}}

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.{{cite news|title=Rutgers' Bill Austin Named to AP All-America First Team|newspaper=Plainfield Courier-News|date=December 4, 1958|page=38|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-news-rutgers-bill-austin-na/166169565/|via=Newspapers.com}}

Other statistical leaders included Bruce Webster with 513 passing yards and end Bob Simms with 468 receiving yards.{{cite web|title=1958 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|access-date=June 12, 2016|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/rutgers/1958.html}} Guard Larry Muchiatti received third-team honors from the AP on the 1958 All-Eastern football team.{{cite news|title=AP All-Eastern Grid Team Has Size, Speed and Savvy|newspaper=Standard-Speaker|author=Hugh Fullerton|date=December 2, 1958|page=17|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106127528/ap-all-eastern-grid-team-has-size/|via=Newspapers.com}}

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.