RUTGERS (2-4) vs. PENN STATE (1-5)
December 5, 2020 • 12:03 p.m. ET • FS1
SHI Stadium • Piscataway, N.J.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Following a comeback victory at Purdue, Rutgers football returns to SHI Stadium for the third time in four weeks to host Penn State Saturday at noon on FS1. The Scarlet Knights seek their third Big Ten win to match the program high set in 2014 (eight games) and 2017 (nine games).
 
RU is among the most improved offensive teams nationally with an increase of 17.5 points and 96.2 yards of total offense per game compared to 2019 averages, both the biggest upticks among Big Ten teams. The Scarlet Knights are one of seven teams at the FBS level that have scored more points than in last year (+26) and the only team in the group that has played fewer than eight games. The 30.8 points per game are on pace for Rutgers' best scoring average in conference play since joining the Big Ten.
 
TV: FS1 (FOX Sports App)
Play-By-Play: Mark Followill
Analyst: Matt Millen
Reporter: Olivia Dekker
 
Radio: RWJBarnabas Health Rutgers Sports Network
WCTC 1450-AM, WOR 710-AM, WENJ 97.3-FM, XM 207, Sirius 136
Play-By-Play: Chris Carlin
Analyst: Ray Lucas
Analyst: Eric LeGrand
Sideline: Anthony Fucilli
Engineer: Paul Shrager
Pregame: 11 a.m. (Marc Malusis & Julian Pinnix-Odrick)
 
Student Radio: WRSU 88.7-FM
Troy DeSavino & Raj Shah

 
 

SCOUTING RUTGERS

Rutgers overcame a 23-13 halftime deficit by outscoring Purdue in the second half, 24-7, to claim a 37-30 victory in its first visit to Ross-Ade Stadium. It marked the 14th time under head coach Greg Schiano the Scarlet Knights won when trailing at the half and sixth time when trailing by double digits at halftime. RU had only won two prior Big Ten games when trailing at halftime (2014 Maryland, 2014 Indiana) since joining the league. The victory also signaled the first time in program history Rutgers has won multiple road Big Ten games in the same season. The Scarlet Knights entered 2020 with three road wins the previous six seasons.
 
Rutgers dominated time of possession in the second half with 21:57 of ball control, its most in a second half of a Big Ten game. That included an 18-play drive lasting 9:38 from the third quarter into the fourth, the longest drive by the Scarlet Knights by time since a 10:40 season-opening march versus Cincinnati in 2009. The drive resulted in a Valentino Ambrosio field goal that extended the lead what proved to be the final margin, 37-30. After a three-and-out capped by a tackle-for-loss by Mike Tverdov, RU converted two first downs on rushes by Johnny Langan to wipe off the final 5:26. Purdue took its last offensive snap with 6:09 remaining on the clock and ran only three plays in the fourth quarter, as RU possessed for 13:17 in the last period.
 
Langan rushed for 95 yards, including 53 in the fourth quarter, and picked up nine first downs on the ground. He added a 62-yard touchdown pass to Kay'Ron Adams on the first drive of the second half. Artur Sitkowski made his first start of the season and went 19-for-28 passing for 152 yards with a pair of 14-yard touchdown passes to Shameen Jones in the first quarter. Jones finished with a career-high eight receptions and has multiple catches in each game this season.
 
Bo Melton leads the team with six total touchdowns on the year, recording 474 receiving yards with a first down or score on 20-of-30 catches. RU converted 10 times on third down against Purdue, its third time in Big Ten play in double figures. Aron Cruickshank also has 30 receptions and contributed on special teams in West Lafayette with a 100-yard kickoff return for a score. It was his third career such score and fifth 100-yarder in program history, joining the two each by Janarion Grant and Nate Jones.
 
On the ground, Isaih Pacheco paces the attack with 390 yards with 14 first downs picked up. Noah Vedral, who owns 1,104 passing yards and nine touchdowns accounted for, has moved the chains on the run 12 times. Aaron Young registered the go-ahead touchdown last week on a one-yard burst to the end zone, his first collegiate score.
 
The defense held the Boilermakers to a season-low 237 passing yards after entering with an average of 320.8 per game. Olakunle Fatukasi, one of 16 national semifinalists for the Butkus Award, continues to sit atop the Big Ten leaderboard with 75 tackles, while ranking second with nine for loss. Tyshon Fogg, the team's active leader with 228 career stops, joined Fatukasi and Christian Izien with eight tackles most recently. Mohamed Toure hauled in first interception that set up the go-ahead score, while Brendon White posted two pass breakups. The rushing defense has held opponents to 175 less rushing yards compared to through six conference games last season.
 
Adam Korsak has helped the punt team rank second in the Big Ten with a net mark of 41.48, one tick shy of the program record of 41.49 in the category set in 2019. Valentino Ambrosio, a former member of the Rutgers men's soccer team, is 5-for-6 on field goals with a long of 42 since taking over the position three games ago.
 

VERSUS PENN STATE

• Rutgers and Penn State will meet for the seventh time in a Big Ten contest, 13th time in New Jersey and for the 31st meeting overall. RU has played PSU more in its history than any other Big Ten opponent.
• The series began 101 years ago on Nov. 9, 1918 with a 26-3 Rutgers victory at Penn State. The programs played annually from 1982 until 1995.
• Rutgers last won in the series in 1998 over the 15th-ranked Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium, 21-16. Mike Botti ran for a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter and the defense clinched the game with a goal-line stand to seal the victory.
• The 2014 game marked the first Big Ten game for Rutgers and was played before a stadium-record 53,774 fans in Piscataway.
• Rutgers has eight players on its roster from the state of Pennsylvania: Rashawn Battle (Grentown), Drew Bethke (Furlong), Tyreek Maddox-Williams (Philadelphia), Matt Rosso (Fairless Hills), Evan Simon (Mount Joy), Andrew Vince (Schwenksville), Aaron Young (Coatesville) and Avery Young (Coatesville).
• Head coach Greg Schiano worked on the Penn State staff for six seasons as a graduate assistant (1990) and secondary coach (1991-95).
• Rutgers game highs versus Penn State:
Rushing Yards: Mike Botti, 112 (1988)
Passing Yards: Eric Hochberg, 367 (1983)
Receiving Yards: Andrew Baker, 210 (1983)
 

UP NEXT

Rutgers travels to Maryland on Dec. 12 for its eighth and final scheduled game prior to Big Ten Champions Week. It will be the 16th all-time meeting on the gridiron. The game time and television network will be determined Saturday night or Sunday morning.
 


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), subscribe to the YouTube channel and visit Rutgers.Football.