Game 10: Football vs. No. 2 Ohio State

Saturday, November 16

Piscataway, N.J.

3:30 p.m.

Rutgers University

Ohio State

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Photo by: Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics

Nov 11 | Football

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Celebrating the 2000s; Military Appreciation Day

RUTGERS (2-7, 0-6) vs. No. 2 OHIO STATE (9-0, 6-0)
November 16, 2019 • 3:30 p.m. ET • Big Ten Network
SHI Stadium • Piscataway, N.J.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football takes on No. 2 Ohio State Saturday at SHI Stadium. It will be the fourth game this season for the Scarlet Knights against a ranked opponent and sixth time in program history hosting a top-two team. The contest is presented by RWJBarnabas Health.

Watch live on Big Ten Network with Brandon Gaudin (play-by-play), James Laurinaitis (analyst) and Elise Menaker (reporter) on the call. 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), Eric LeGrand (analyst) and Anthony Fucilli (sideline). The broadcast is also available via ScarletKnights.com, the Scarlet Knights App and TuneIn. WRSU 88.7-FM will additionally announce the game.

As part of the year-long celebration of the 150th anniversary of the first college football game played, the week will recognize the 2000s. Rutgers held a series of events Nov. 6 to mark the sesquicentennial, including ringing the bells at Old Queens, unveiling a plaque at the site and staging the BTN special "A Celebration at the Birthplace: 150 Years of College Football" at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center. This Saturday will also be Military Appreciation Day.

SCOUTING RUTGERS

Rutgers is coming off its second open weekend of the season, having two byes in a year for the first time since 2014. Most recently, the Scarlet Knights fell to Illinois on the road, 38-10. Junior Mohamed Jabbie caught a 31-yard touchdown pass, his first career score, from redshirt freshman Johnny Langan and junior Justin Davidovicz connected on a 25-yard field goal to even the game at 10 heading into halftime, but the Fighting Illini pulled away with three third-quarter touchdowns.

RU is set to play a 9-0 team for the first time since No. 4 West Virginia on Nov. 12, 1988 at Giants Stadium. The only other occasion of hosting the No. 2-ranked team in the country was a 30-27 victory over USF on Oct. 18, 2007. The four ranked opponents in a season marks a program high, matching 2017, 2016, 2007, 2002 and 1994.

For the season, Langan has accounted for five touchdowns in five starts and is up to 242 rushing yards, which is fifth-most among quarterbacks in the Big Ten. The total is also the the most by a Rutgers signal caller in a season since Jabu Lovelace (332) in 2007. Langan has ran for 22 first downs.

Sophomore Isaih Pacheco paces the team with 587 all-purpose yards, including 541 rushing yards and six touchdowns. He reached 1,000 career rushing yards in 218 carries. Freshmen Kay'Ron Adams (touchdown versus Minnesota) and Aaron Young (67 rushing yards at Illinois) have both seen more action of late.

In the passing game, Jabbie's touchdown came on a third-and-13, as he totaled a career-high 64 receiving yards versus Illinois. Junior Bo Melton leads the offense with 312 receiving yards this year and has at least one catch in all nine games.

Both sophomore CJ Onyechi and junior Julius Turner registered sacks on defense last time out, with redshirt freshman Christian Izien recording a team-high nine tackles in Champaign as the strong safety. Junior Tyshon Fogg ranks third in the conference at nine tackles per game in 2019. In addition, senior Damon Hayes owns 30 career passes defended (24 breakups, six interceptions), 25^th-most among active FBS players.

Davidovicz has made his last four kicks and is now 14-for-15 in his career on attempts inside 40 yards. Junior Adam Korsak has helped Rutgers sit atop the Big Ten with a net punt average of 42.58 yards with 24 pinned inside the 20-yard line, 13 inside the 10 and seven inside the 5 this season.

SCOUTING OHIO STATE

The Buckeyes, the defending Big Ten champions, enter the week on a 15-game winning streak dating back to last season. OSU topped Maryland at home last week, 73-14, and leads the nation in scoring offense (51.0) and scoring defense (8.6). Justin Fields is 144-for-211 through the air with 27 touchdowns and one interception, while adding 10 rushing touchdowns. J.K. Dobbins has scored 13 times (11 rushing, two receiving) with 1,200 rushing yards, sixth nationally. Jeff Okudah leads the defense with three interceptions.

Ryan Day is in his first full season as head coach after serving in the role for three games last season, including the Sept. 8, 2018 matchup between Rutgers and Ohio State at Ohio Stadium.
Jerome Washington

THE SERIES

Saturday will mark the sixth meeting on the gridiron between Rutgers and Ohio State and third in Piscataway. The fourth-ranked Buckeyes won last season's meeting, 52-3, at Ohio Stadium in the Big Ten opener for both teams to improve to 5-0 in the series. Davidovicz connected on a 41-yard field goal on his first collegiate attempt. Trevor Morris led the defense with 11 tackles, including a sack.

Two Scarlet Knights are from Ohio: Adams (Warren) and sophomore Brendan Bordner (Columbus).

UP NEXT

Rutgers concludes its home schedule with a Nov. 23 matchup against Michigan State, presented by Provident Bank. Kickoff is set for noon on FS1.

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.