RUTGERS (2-6, 0-5) at ILLINOIS (4-4, 2-3)
November 2, 2019 • 3:31 p.m. ET • Big Ten Network
Memorial Stadium • Champaign, Ill.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Coming off a home win over Liberty, Rutgers football returns to Big Ten play with a trip to Illinois to face the Fighting Illini Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. (2:30 p.m. local).
 
Big Ten Network will broadcast the matchup with Kevin Kugler (play-by-play), Matt Millen (analyst) and Elise Menaker (reporter) on the call. The telecast is set to stream through the Fox Sports App. Listen to the action on the Rutgers Sports Network (WCTC 1450-AM, WOR 710-AM, WENJ 97.3-FM, WNJE 920-AM, Sirius 111, XM 196) with Chris Carlin (play-by-play), Ray Lucas (analyst) and Anthony Fucilli (sideline). The broadcast is also available via ScarletKnights.com, the Scarlet Knights App and TuneIn. WRSU 88.7-FM has the student radio call.
 

SCOUTING RUTGERS

The Scarlet Knights scored points on 8-of-9 possessions, including touchdowns on their first three and 5-of-6 to start, and held Liberty to three points in the third quarter to pull away for a 44-34 victory in the first meeting between the programs. Rutgers posted season highs with 25 first downs, 55 rushing attempts, 271 rushing yards, 76 offensive plays and three sacks. It was the first time knocking off a team entering on a five-game winning streak since defeating No. 17 Pittsburgh on the road on Oct. 25, 2008.
 
Redshirt freshman Johnny Langan, who was named Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week and a Manning Award Star of the Week, sparked the offense with 310 yards (192 passing, 118 rushing), accounting for three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) in the victory. He became the first RU quarterback to reach 100 rushing yards in a game since Sam Mudie (105) in 1961 versus Lehigh. For the year, Langan owns 201 rushing yards, the most by a Rutgers quarterback in a season since Jabu Lovelace (332) in 2007.
 
Also in the ground game, sophomore Isaih Pacheco totaled 100 rushing yards for the fourth time in his career with 107 yards versus Liberty. He scored two touchdowns and is up to nine career scores, pacing the offense with 20 first downs picked up this year.
 
Langan found seven different receivers versus the Flames, with junior Bo Melton hauling in five receptions. He has at least one catch in all eight games this season. Both Eddie Lewis and Isaiah Washington recorded their first collegiate touchdowns.
 
Defensively, junior Tyshon Fogg is third in the Big Ten with 9.25 tackles per game, while juniors Rashawn Battle and Elorm Lumor each have two sacks. Sophomore Mike Tverdov and junior Tyreek Maddox-Williams also teamed up to capture the quarterback last week.
 
Junior Justin Davidovicz went 3-for-3 on field goals and made all five extra points last time out for a career-high 14 points. He improved to 13-for-14 in his career on field goals inside 40 yards. Junior Adam Korsak, who has won the Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week three times in 2019, leads a punting unit that ranks first in the Big Ten and 10th nationally with a net punt of 42.77 yards per attempt. Also on special teams, junior Lawrence Stevens forced a fumble on kickoff coverage last week that was recovered by junior Aslan Pugh.
 

SCOUTING ILLINOIS

The Fighting Illini rushed for 242 yards to beat Purdue on the road most recently, 24-6. It was the second-straight victory after defeating then-No. 6 Wisconsin, 24-23, on a field goal as time expired Oct. 19 at Memorial Stadium. Illinois, who also topped Akron and Connecticut, leads the country with 13 fumbles recovered and ranks second with 19 turnovers gained overall. Dele Harding paces the Big Ten with 11.6 tackles per game, while Oluwole Betiku owns eight sacks. Quarterback Brandon Peters has thrown 12 touchdown passes, six to Josh Imatorbhebhe. In addition, Reggie Corbin is at 526 rushing yards.
 
Lovie Smith is in his fourth season as head coach.

THE SERIES

Rutgers will take on Illinois in a Big Ten game for the fourth time and sixth time overall, with the Fighting Illini currently leading the series, 3-2. The Scarlet Knights will be traveling to Champaign for the third time (2005, 2017), having split the previous two meetings at Memorial Stadium. The road team has won each of the three conference games between the teams. Despite being in opposite divisions, this will be the fourth of six-straight years (2016-21) the programs will match up.
 
Rutgers picked up a 35-24 win in 2017 at Memorial Stadium. The victory marked the first over a Big Ten West opponent. RU never trailed in the contest, led by as many 18 points and scored in each quarter. The Scarlet Knights won the battle in the trenches on both sides of the ball by out-rushing the Fighting Illini, 274-86. The 274 yards (5.8 per carry) are still the most by RU in a Big Ten game. Gus Edwards led the way with 91 yards and two touchdowns, with Raheem Blackshear following with 87 yards with an average of 14.5 per carry. Four different running backs combined for five rushing touchdowns, the most for Rutgers against an FBS opponent since 2003 (Navy). Defensively, Jawuan Harris transitioned to safety for his first collegiate action on defense and totaled a game-high 11 tackles to go with an interception and a forced fumble. The unit garnered three turnovers overall.
 
Illinois won last season in Piscataway, 38-17.
 

UP NEXT

Rutgers is off next weekend before hosting No. 3 Ohio State on Nov. 16 at SHI Stadium in a game presented by RWJ Barnabas Health. The kickoff time and television network have not been announced.
 
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding football, follow the program on Twitter (@RFootball). For additional updates, please download the Scarlet Knights App via the app store or play store.