RUTGERS (1-10, 0-8) at MICHIGAN STATE (6-5, 4-4)
November 24, 2018 • 4:05 p.m. ET • FOX
Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, Mich.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football will close out the season on Saturday at Michigan State. Kickoff from Spartan Stadium is set for 4 p.m.
 
The game will broadcast on network television with FOX carrying the action from East Lansing, while also streaming through FOX Sports GO. Brandon Gaudin (play-by-play), Brian Baldinger (analyst) and Sarah Kustok (reporter) have the call. On the radio side, Chris Carlin (play-by-play), Ray Lucas (analyst) and Anthony Fucilli (sideline) are set to deliver the action on the Rutgers IMG Sports Network (WCTC 1450-AM, WOR 710-AM, WENJ 97.3-FM, WNJE 920-AM, XM 388). In addition, listen to the student radio broadcast on WRSU 88.7-FM with Sam Marsdale and Matt Howe.
 
SCOUTING RUTGERS
The Scarlet Knights took on their third ranked opponent of the season last time out, finishing the home schedule with a 20-7 loss against No. 16 Penn State at HighPoint.com Stadium. Sophomore Raheem Blackshear topped the century mark for the third time in his career with 102 rushing yards on a career-high 22 carries, including a two-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. RU has totaled a combined 381 rushing yards in its last two performances, both opposing top-20 teams.
 
Senior Isaiah Wharton, who was one of 16 seniors honored in a pregame ceremony, led the defense with three pass breakups and an interception last week. The cornerback has started all 47 games since debuting in the 2015 opener and is set to become the first Scarlet Knight to start every career game on offense or defense since Courtney Greene (51 from 2005-08). Classmates Trevor Morris and Deonte Roberts tied for the team lead with 10 tackles apiece versus the Nittany Lions and join Kevin Wilkins to make it a quartet of seniors to have played in every game during their careers.
 
In addition, Morris has 101 tackles on the season to join Tyronne Stowe (four) and Steve Longa (three) as Scarlet Knights with three seasons of triple-digit stops. He is ninth in program history with 327 career tackles, needing 15 to match Longa for eighth in the school record book. Roberts is three stops away from becoming the 12^th Rutgers player all-time to total 300 career tackles.
 
On offense, freshman Artur Sitkowski has started all 11 games at quarterback, as no Rutgers true freshman has started 12 in a season. Ryan Cubit is the only true freshman to start every game in a year, beginning all 11 in 2001. Senior Giovanni Rescigno, who is the only player on the roster from Michigan, saw extended action against Penn State and has played in 22 career games with 12 starts.
 
Blackshear leads the offense with 133 carries, 580 rushing yards, 41 receptions and 338 receiving yards. The last Scarlet Knight to pace the team in all four categories for a season was Albert Smith in 1985 (112 carries, 362 rushing yards, 36 receptions, 244 receiving yards). Blackshear, who has scored 10 career touchdowns and picked up a team-high 42 first downs this year, ranks 12th in the Big Ten with 100.09 all-purpose yards per game. Freshman Isaih Pacheco is second at 826 all-purpose yards and had an 80-yard run versus Michigan for the longest RU play of the year.
 
Sophomore Justin Davidovicz is 8-for-10 on field goals in his first season handling the duties. He also takes the kickoffs for a unit that is seventh in the nation with only 15.63 yards allowed per kickoff return and first in the conference with a net average of 41.9 yards. Sophomore Adam Korsak has averaged 42.6 yards on 70 attempts, helping the team to No. 21 nationally with a net average of 39.99 yards. The net punt mark would be the highest in a season in Rutgers history.
 
SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
The Spartans fell to Nebraska, 9-6, on the road last Saturday in a game that did not include a touchdown either way. MSU previously defeated Indiana, Penn State, Purdue and Maryland in Big Ten play. Brian Lewerke (nine starts) and Rocky Lombardi (two starts) have each started behind center, combining for 10 passing touchdowns. On the ground, Connor Hayward is averaging 4.6 yards per attempt on a team-high 95 carries, while Felton Davis has hauled in four touchdown receptions. The defense leads the nation in rushing defense with only 78.9 yards permitted per game. Kenny Willekes is averaging 1.9 tackles-for-loss, fourth nationally, and owns eight sacks.
 
Head coach Mark Dantonio is in his 12^th season leading Michigan State.


THE SERIES
Rutgers and Michigan State will meet for the fifth time in a Big Ten contest, sixth time at Spartan Stadium and for the 10th meeting overall. The Spartans lead the series by a count of 6-3 with a 3-2 advantage in East Lansing.
 
Two of the signature victories in school history for the Scarlet Knights have come against Michigan State. Rutgers opened the 1988 campaign with a 17-13 victory over the 15th-ranked and defending Rose Bowl-champion Spartans at Spartan Stadium. In the win, Eric Young caught nine passes for 124 yards, including the game's first touchdown on a 61-yard pass from Scott Erney. In front of an ABC television audience and a sellout crowd at Rutgers Stadium, Rutgers stopped Michigan State, 19-14, to open the 2004 season. Jeremy Ito connected on four field goals and Ryan Neill returned an interception 31 yards for a touchdown in the win.
 
Rutgers also won at Spartan Stadium, 14-7, in 1991 when Tom Tarver found Antoine Moore for the go-ahead touchdown with 46 seconds remaining.
 
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