To gauge how far the Rutgers football program has come, one only has to look at the team's 2015 schedule. And it's not just that games against Temple, UConn and South Florida have been replaced by Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan State.

The change is also evidenced by the fact that Rutgers' games against those three powerhouses will kick-off in prime time on Saturday nights. Long gone are the days when the only way Rutgers could get on prime time was to play on a weeknight.

Now, Rutgers is looking at an 8 p.m. matchup with defending national champion Ohio State that could be broadcast nationally by ABC. The benefits of that type of exposure can't be calculated.

Of course, that exposure can be a double-edged sword. If the Buckeyes come into High Point Solutions Stadium and blow away Rutgers, the Scarlet Knights will be left wishing the game was on ESPN3.

But the potential positives far outweigh the drawbacks of facing a national power in prime time. An upset of the defending national champs has the potential to be a program-changer, especially with recruits across the country tuned in.

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Rutgers took advantage of some prime time exposure last season, beating Washington State in the season opener and, more notably, knocking off Michigan. The Scarlet Knights lone prime time loss was a 13-10 heartbreaker against Penn State.

The Michigan win — Rutgers' first ever in the Big Ten — got people's attention, but it didn't reverberate as expected because the Wolverines were in the midst of tailspin. While Rutgers fans will always cherish the memory of beating the winningest program in college football history, the rest of the country mostly saw the game as another nail in coach Brady Hoke's coffin.

The kickoff time for Rutgers' visit to Michigan on Nov. 7 hasn't been announced yet, but a win over new coach Jim Harbaugh at any time will provide a much bigger jolt for Rutgers.

Rutgers fans already showed that they're capable of rocking The Point at night, creating electric atmospheres for the Penn State and Michigan games last season. Similar environments should be expected for games against Ohio State and Michigan State this season, while the Scarlet Knights will get their first taste of a Big Ten road venue under the lights when 107,000 fans pack Beaver Stadium for the highly anticipated rematch with Penn State on Sept. 19.

The Scarlet Knights turned heads with a surprising 8-5 record in their first season in the Big Ten, but they still have plenty left to prove. There's no better way to make an impression than a big win in prime time in front of a national audience. The schedule makers have provided the opportunities for Rutgers this season. We'll find out soon enough if the Knights are ready for prime time.

Dan Duggan may be reached at dduggan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DDuggan21. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.