RUTGERS (1-0, 0-0) at No. 4 OHIO STATE (1-0, 0-0)
September 8, 2018 • 3:40 p.m. ET • Big Ten Network
Ohio Stadium • Columbus, Ohio

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Following a four-touchdown victory in its season opener, Rutgers football turns to Big Ten play in week two with a trip to face fourth-ranked Ohio State Saturday at 3:40 p.m. inside Ohio Stadium. It will be the earliest conference game on the calendar for the Scarlet Knights since 2009 and the third time in the last four seasons that league competition begins on the road.
 
Big Ten Network will exclusively broadcast the only Big Ten game on the schedule this week with Kevin Kugler (play-by-play), Matt Millen (analyst) and Rick Pizzo (reporter) on the call. 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, ESPN NY 98.7-FM, WENJ 97.3-FM, WNJE 920-AM). In addition, Jake Ostrove and Matt Howe have the WRSU 88.7-FM broadcast and the contest will air nationally on XM 196 and Sirius 106.



SCOUTING RUTGERS
The Scarlet Knights found the end zone in each quarter on the way to a 35-7 win over Texas State at HighPoint.com Stadium. It was the largest margin of victory for the Scarlet Knights against an FBS opponent since 2009. A balanced offensive attack picked up 218 rushing yards and 205 passing yards to top 200 both ways for the first time since 2015, while the defense did not permit a score and held the Bobcats to 1-of-13 on third down. Nineteen players made their first appearance for Rutgers, 17 registered their collegiate debut and five earned their first start.
 
Freshman Artur Sitkowski ended his debut outing 20-for-30 passing to eight different receivers, as the 66.7% completion percentage was the best in a debut of the 11 RU true freshman quarterback starters since 1945. The mark was also the highest among freshmen signal callers across the nation during week one. He will be the first Scarlet Knight true freshman to start a road game behind center versus a ranked opponent since Chas Dodd at No. 23 West Virginia in 2010.
 
Sophomore Raheem Blackshear (one rushing, one receiving) and graduate student Jonathan Hilliman (two rushing) each notched a pair of touchdowns in the opener. For Hilliman, he now has 28 collegiate rushing scores to rank sixth among active FBS players. Blackshear, who totaled seven receptions, finished with a game-high 150 all-purpose yards to top the century mark for the fourth time, with freshman Isaih Pacheco pacing the unit on the ground with 76 rushing yards on the day.
 
Defensively, the Scarlet Knights had the best week-one showing among Big Ten programs with only 169 yards permitted. Senior Trevor Morris, the league's leading returning tackler, racked up nine more tackles, while sophomore Elorm Lumor filled the stat sheet by recording four stops with two for a loss and a sack, a fumble recovery and a blocked field goal. The team generated three turnovers and collected 11 tackles in the backfield.
 
SCOUTING OHIO STATE
The Buckeyes, ranked fourth in the latest AP and coaches' polls, started with a 77-31 home win versus Oregon State, recording 721 total yards of offense and surrendering 392. Dwayne Haskins threw for five touchdowns in his first start, while Mike Weber ran for three of his own on 189 all-purpose yards. The defense had five sacks.
 
Ryan Day is serving as the acting head coach. Defensive coordinator Greg Schiano picked up 68 victories as the RU head coach from 2000 to 2011, including five bowl wins.
 
THE SERIES
Rutgers will be making its third trip to Ohio Stadium, the site of the Scarlet Knights' first road game as a Big Ten member in 2014. Ohio State has won all four meetings in the series and has been ranked in each contest. RU has faced at least one ranked opponent every season except one since 1977 and owns nine victories all-time against a top-25 team.
 
UP NEXT
Rutgers will head back on the road to face Kansas on Sept. 15. The Scarlet Knights won the only other matchup in Piscataway in 2015.
 
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