PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Big Ten finalized its 2019-20 conference schedule, announced Thursday. Rutgers wrestling hosts No. 20/NR Purdue, No. NR/20 Illinois, Indiana, Maryland and No. NR/No. 10 Northwestern at the RAC next season and takes trips to No. 1/1 Penn State, No. 4/5 Michigan, No. 6/4 Ohio State and Michigan State.
 
Rankings reflect teams' finish in the final National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division I Coaches and FloWrestling polls. Dates and times for all conference matches, as well as the rest of the Scarlet Knights' out-of-conference schedule, will be announced at a later date.
 
RU's conference slate once again proves to be a challenge, as it features four programs – Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and Purdue – that finished in the final NWCA Coaches Poll. Penn State and Ohio State finished first and second, respectively, at the 2019 NCAA Championships, while Michigan placed fifth.
 
In total, Rutgers' conference opponents combined for three individual national champions, 20 All-America accolades, 53 NCAA qualifications, eight Big Ten individual titles and 51 Big Ten Championship placewinners.
 
One of the top home environments in the country, the Scarlet Knights averaged 5,038 fans per home match at the RAC last season, as they finished within the Top 5 in national home attendance for the fourth consecutive season. A total of 40,306 fans took on eight home matches in 2018-19, which included three matches – No. 3 Oklahoma State, No. 4 Michigan and No. 19 Princeton – with 5,000 or more spectators.
 
Behind reigning NCAA Tournament Coach of the Year Scott Goodale, Rutgers is coming off an historic 2018-19 campaign which was capped by the program's first individual NCAA titles from Anthony Ashnault and Nick Suriano, as well as its first Top 10 finish at the national tournament. Rutgers wrestled to a 12-6 dual record in 2018-19, which included wins over three ranked foes - No. 10 Wisconsin, No. 19 Princeton and No. 20 Purdue. RU returns five national qualifiers next season, including Suriano, who secured a 29-3 record to go along with his Big Ten and NCAA titles.
 
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