RUTGERS (1-3, 0-1) vs. No. 11/9 OHIO STATE (3-1, 1-0)
September 30, 2017 • 7:30 p.m. ET • Big Ten Network
High Point Solutions Stadium • Piscataway, N.J.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football will return to High Point Solutions Stadium Saturday night to host its second ranked opponent of the season in a Big Ten game versus No. 11/9 Ohio State. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Parent/Family Weekend.
 
Big Ten Network will broadcast the matchup with Kevin Kugler delivering the play-by-play, Matt Millen providing color commentary and Lisa Byington reporting from the sidelines. Chris Carlin, Ray Lucas and Eric LeGrand will have the radio call on the Rutgers IMG Sports Network (WCTC 1450-AM, ESPN NY 98.7-FM, WENJ 97.3-FM, WNJE 920-AM, Sirius 135, XM 195).
 
For the 10th consecutive year, college football coaches nationwide will join in support of the Coach To Cure MD program. The annual effort has raised more than a $1.5 million to battle Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne). This weekend, American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) members will once again wear the traditional Coach To Cure MD logo patch on the sidelines, and college football fans will be asked to donate to research projects supported by Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), the largest, most comprehensive nonprofit organization in the U.S. focused entirely on Duchenne. Football fans can help support the fight to end Duchenne by either going online to CoachtoCureMD.org or by texting the word CURE to 50555 to make a $10 donation in honor of this year's anniversary.


 
SCOUTING RUTGERS
The Scarlet Knights opened Big Ten play with a 27-17 loss at Nebraska last Saturday in a contest that included three lead changes. Fifth-year senior Gus Edwards capped an 11-play, 75-yard drive with a rushing touchdown to open the game. The Scarlet Knights' next 10 points came off of turnovers, as junior Blessuan Austin snatched an interception that led to a second-quarter field goal and junior Kiy Hester recorded a 33-yard interception return to the end zone on the opening series of the second half. However, the Cornhuskers scored the last 13 points of the game and held the ball for 22:50 in the final two quarters to seal the win.
 
This week's game will be the second home contest for RU under the lights this season versus a 2016 College Football Playoff participant. Washington, now ranked No. 6, visited Piscataway on Sept. 1.
 
Defensively, Rutgers has collected five interceptions the last two weeks and has held opponents to 19-of-63 on third downs this season, ranked 28th in the nation. Hester is one of five players in the conference with two picks and ranks third in the nation with 2.0 passes defended per game (six break-ups, two interceptions). In addition, junior Trevor Morris logged 12 tackles at Nebraska to take over the team lead with 28 stops (25 against the run) in 2017.
 
Fifth-year senior quarterback Kyle Bolin completed passes to eight different receivers last week and ranks ninth in the league with 159.8 yards of total offense per game. Edwards paces the team with 259 yards on the ground, while junior Jerome Washington leads the team and ranks tied for sixth among all tight ends nationally with 15 receptions. Worth noting, senior Robert Martin is just six yards away from becoming the 14^th player in school history to reach 2,000 career rushing yards.
 
On special teams, fifth-year senior Ryan Anderson has seven punts of 50 or more yards this season and three of at least 60, with fifth-year senior Andrew Harte having made his last four field goals. Freshman Justin Davidovicz, who has 10 touchbacks, leads the kickoff unit that is ranked 10^th in the country with 15.64 yards allowed per return.
 
Rutgers head coach Chris Ash spent two seasons as the co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State, including winning the national championship for the 2014 season. The Scarlet Knights have three assistant coaches who previously worked at Ohio State – special team coordinator/tight ends coach Vince Okruch (2014-15), co-defensive coordinator/secondary coach Bill Busch (2015) and head strength and conditioning coach Kenny Parker (2012-15).
 
SCOUTING OHIO STATE
After falling at home to Oklahoma, the Buckeyes have rebounded to win their last two games, including a 54-21 victory over UNLV last time out. Seven different receivers recorded a touchdown reception as OSU threw for a school-record 474 yards in the victory. The team opened the season with a 49-21 road Big Ten win at Indiana. For the year, quarterback J.T. Barrett holds a 63.3 completion percentage for 966 yards and 10 touchdowns, while J.K. Dobbins is second in the Big Ten with 130.0 rushing yards per game. On the other side of the ball, Nick Bosa has seven tackles-for-loss with three sacks.
 
Urban Meyer is in his sixth year at the helm of the program and 16^th overall as a head coach at the collegiate level. Ohio State associate head coach/defensive coordinator/safeties coach Greg Schiano spent 11 seasons as the Rutgers head coach (2001-11) and went 68-67, including a 5-1 mark in six bowl trips.
 
THE SERIES
Rutgers and Ohio State will meet for the fourth-straight season, with the Buckeyes having won the previous three meetings. OSU won, 58-0, last season at Ohio Stadium and went away with a 49-7 victory in the last matchup at High Point Solutions Stadium in 2015.
 
UP NEXT
Rutgers will take its bye next weekend before returning to action Oct. 14 at Illinois. The game time and television designation have not yet been announced.
 
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