RUTGERS (1-8, 0-6) vs. No. 4 MICHIGAN (8-1, 6-0)
November 10, 2018 • 3:40 p.m. ET • Big Ten Network
HighPoint.com Stadium • Piscataway, N.J.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football takes on its second ranked opponent of the season with a matchup against No. 4 Michigan Saturday at HighPoint.com Stadium. The contest is presented by Horizon BCBSNJ and will start at 3:40 p.m.
 
Big Ten Network has the broadcast with Kevin Kugler (play-by-play), James Laurinaitis (analyst) and Rick Pizzo (reporter) on the call. Chris Carlin (play-by-play), Ray Lucas (analyst), Eric LeGrand (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 196, Sirius 105). In addition, listen to the student radio broadcast on WRSU 88.7-FM with Justin Sontupe, Matt Howe and Chris Tsakonas.
 
It will be Military Appreciation Day, as the Scarlet Knights pay homage to members of the Armed Forces. Activities include military vehicles to lead the team buses to the Scarlet Walk, a military band, honorary captains from each branch, flag unfurl during the national anthem and more. The US Army Golden Knights parachute team will parachute into the stadium pregame before the marching band show. Over 2,500 tickets have been donated to military personnel by Rutgers fans through the R Heroes program.
 
Saturday's game marks the 14th contest for Rutgers against a ranked Big Ten opponent since the beginning of the 2014 season. It will be the eighth conference game versus a team inside the top 10 during that span. The next three opponents appear in the latest AP Poll (No. 4 Michigan, No. 21 Penn State, No. 24 Michigan State). The only other time RU faced three-straight ranked opponents was in 2007 (No. 2 USF, No. 6 West Virginia, at No. 16 Connecticut).

Rutgers will host a top-five opponent for the 13th time in program history. The first occasion was against No. 1 Alabama (L, 17-13) in 1980 at Giants Stadium. Overall, the Scarlet Knights own nine victories over AP-ranked opponents, with the last being a 31-0 victory over No. 23 USF in 2009. The highest ranked opponent defeated was No. 2 USF, 30-27, in 2007.

SCOUTING RUTGERS
The Scarlet Knights visited Wisconsin last week, falling short, 31-17, against the Badgers in the third all-time meeting between the programs. Rutgers finished plus-two in turnover margin and has not had a giveaway the last two games, looking to be turnover-free in three-straight outings for the first time since 2009.
 
Sophomore Raheem Blackshear had a team-high 162 receiving yards at Wisconsin for the most receiving yardage in a game by an RU running back in school history. It was the first 100-yard receiving game by a Scarlet Knight since Jawuan Harris in 2016 versus Indiana. He had a five-yard receiving touchdown and a career-high 200 all-purpose yards. Also on offense, graduate student Jonathan Hilliman scored from one yard out for his 32nd career rushing touchdown in his 50th game overall, and sophomore Justin Davidovicz converted his eighth field goal.
 
Senior Saquan Hampton, who joined classmates Trevor Morris and Deonte Roberts with 10 tackles, had four passes defended with two interceptions and two pass breakups in Madison. The last Scarlet Knight with multiple picks in a game was Brandon Jones versus Virginia Tech at the 2012 Russell Athletic Bowl.
 
Freshman Artur Sitkowski, who has not thrown an interception in his last 70 passing attempts, has started all nine games at quarterback and is set to join Tom Savage (2009) and Ryan Cubit (2001) with double-digit starts behind center as a true freshman. He had his third game with at least 20 completions at Wisconsin, registering 123 for the season.
 
Blackshear leads the offense with 437 rushing yards, 35 receptions, 316 receiving yards and 886 all-purpose yards on the season. The last Scarlet Knight to lead the team in carries and receptions for a season was Brian Leonard in 2003 (213 carries, 53 receptions). The last to pace the team in both rushing and receiving yards was Albert Smith in 1985 (362 rushing, 244 receiving).
 
Defensively, Morris topped 300 career tackles at Wisconsin and needs five more tackles to crack the program top-10 list, which would tie Tim Blanchard (1975-78) at 312. He is fourth in the Big Ten with nine stops per game this year. Sophomore Elorm Lumor is at six tackles-for-loss along the defensive line, while redshirt freshman Mike Tverdov is the only rookie in the Big Ten with at least four sacks. Hampton owns a team-high 11 passes defended on the season (nine pass breakups, two interceptions), ranking fifth in the Big Ten and 27th nationally with 1.2 passes defended per game.
 
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 second in the nation with only 14.88 yards allowed per kickoff return. The 42.2 net average also paces the Big Ten. Sophomore Adam Korsak has averaged 43.1 yards on 59 attempts, helping the team to No. 17 nationally with a net average of 40.83 yards. The net punt mark would be the highest in a season in Rutgers history.
 
SCOUTING MICHIGAN
The Wolverines, who lead the Big Ten East, extended their winning streak to eight after beating No. 14 Penn State, 42-7, in Ann Arbor last Saturday. The defense held the Nittany Lions to 186 total yards and holds the nation's lead with 216.2 yards permitted per game. Josh Uche leads the unit with seven sacks, while Devin Bush has 56 tackles. On offense, Karan Higdon is ninth nationally with 120.4 rushing yards per game and has scored seven touchdowns. Quarterback Shea Patterson is 134-for-200 for 1,667 yards and 14 touchdowns.
 
Head coach Jim Harbaugh is in fourth season leading Michigan.
 

THE SERIES
Michigan leads the all-time series, 3-1. In one of the more memorable games in program history, the Scarlet Knights earned a 26-24 victory over Michigan on Oct. 4, 2014 in a night game in Piscataway to pick up the program's first league win as a member of the Big Ten Conference. Quarterback Gary Nova led RU with 404 passing yards (third-most in RU history) and three touchdowns, while Kyle Federico kicked two field goals. The game was sealed with 3:01 remaining in the fourth quarter when Kemoko Turay skied above the line to block a potential go-ahead 56-yard field goal.
 
In the last meeting, Rutgers fell short in its attempt for a third-straight win with a 35-14 defeat at Michigan in 2017. Janarion Grant had a career-long 65-yard rush for a touchdown, while Gus Edwards scored for the sixth time on the season on a two-yard carry that capped an 11-play, 75-yard drive.
 
UP NEXT
Rutgers closes out its home schedule by hosting No. 21 Penn State for Senior Day on Nov. 17 at HighPoint.com Stadium. The game time and television designation will be announced late Saturday or early Sunday. No Big Ten games will be selected for primetime next week.

It's Military Appreciation 🇺🇸 Week for @RFootball presented by @BCTire @FirstData @JNJCares @HorizonBCBSNJ

Kickoff is 3:30 vs. @UMichFootball: https://t.co/LzzHNjNN3U

We are so thankful for those who protect our great country, especially those @RutgersU Alumni #GoRU pic.twitter.com/Zz891XZCq3

— Rutgers Scarlet Knights (@RUAthletics) November 5, 2018

 
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