Michigan coach Brady Hoke

Michigan coach Brady Hoke will lead his 2-3 team into High Point Solutions Stadium for a Big Ten clash on Saturday night.

(Tim Fuller/USA Today Sports)

PISCATAWAY — Michigan is reeling as it heads to Rutgers. On the field, the Wolverines (2-3) have posted three losses before October for the first time in the school's 135-year history. Off of the field, Michigan coach Brady Hoke is under fire for showing a lack of sideline awareness by reinserting his concussed quarterback back into the game during the fourth quarter of Saturday's blowout home defeat to Minnesota.

Many national media scribes have questioned whether Hoke should even get the chance to coach Saturday (7 p.m., BTN) when Michigan faces Rutgers in a Big Ten clash at High Point Solutions Stadium.

All of this is why Rutgers is now a 3-point favorite after opening as a 1 1/2-point underdog, according to VegasInsider.com.

But it doesn't mean the Scarlet Knights shouldn't be concerned about what figures to be the most talented team they have faced this season.

Since 2010, Michigan's recruiting classes have an average ranking of 18.4, according to Rivals.com. During the same time span, Rutgers' recruiting classes have an average ranking of 44.4, according to the same scouting service.

Michigan's roster includes four players who were regarded as 5-star prospects and 37 4-star recruits. All four of the 5-star players are listed as possible starters -- including Paramus Catholic product Jabrill Peppers, who is penciled in to start at nickel corner and punt returner -- while 24 of the 37 4-star players are on the two-deep depth chart.

Rutgers' roster includes one player (Darius Hamilton) who was regarded as a 5-star prospect and seven 4-star recruits. Hamilton is living up to the hype as Rutgers' star defensive tackle, while six of the seven 4-star players are on the two-deep.

Will Michigan be the more talented team Saturday when it meets Rutgers? Based on the Rivals.com recruiting rankings, that certainly appears to be the case.

"When you put the film on and watch they they've got the players that you would think any Michigan team would have,'' Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova said. "They've got talent everywhere.''

Then again, there's a reason why recruiting rankings can often be deceiving. Rutgers is a prime example of that, thriving by turning underrated recruits into quality players.

As NJ Advance Media colleague Dan Duggan pointed out on Twitter, Rutgers' record over the past 10 seasons is 75-45 while Michigan has compiled a 70-49 mark over that same span.

Based on this year's results, the Scarlet Knights -- with road wins over Washington State and Navy and a rout of Tulane to their credit -- have looked like a better team.

Still, this week's game figures to be a good litmus test for Rutgers in its quest to become bowl-eligible in its inaugural Big Ten campaign. After not defeating a team with a winning record last season, Rutgers' three wins over FBS competition have come against 2-3 Washington State, 2-3 Navy and 1-4 Tulane.

Michigan also has a losing record, but Rutgers coach Kyle Flood only needs to pop in the game-film to know how much talent Hoke possesses across the board.

"There's no doubt (they're talented,'' Flood said. "Very physically impressive. Big, strong, good-looking bodies up front. The wide receiver, (Devin) Funchess, is as talented of a football player at that position as there is in the country. Both quarterbacks can make plays. Both can make plays with their arm. And defensively they run the ball very well. The middle linebacker, (Jake Ryan), is exactly what you would think of when people say 'Big Ten middle linebacker.' ''

Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KSargeantNJ. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.