RUTGERS (3-3, 0-3) at NORTHWESTERN (2-3, 0-2)
October 16, 2021 • Noon ET • Big Ten Network
Ryan Field • Evanston, Ill.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Starting a stretch of playing four of the next five games on the road, Rutgers football travels to Northwestern for the first time since 1989 in making its initial visit for a Big Ten game. Ryan Field is the only Big Ten venue the Scarlet Knights have yet to visit as a member of the conference. Kickoff is set for noon ET/11 a.m. local on Saturday.
The game will broadcast on Big Ten Network. Viewers can find the channel through
btn.com/gamefinder and through the
New Jersey listing. The FOX Sports App will also stream the game.
TV: Big Ten Network (FOX Sports App)
Play-By-Play: Mark Followill
Analyst: Matt Millen
Reporter: Krystle Rich
Radio: RWJBarnabas Health Rutgers Sports Network
FOX Sports New Jersey 93.5-FM & 1450-AM, WOR 710-AM, XM 207, Sirius 99, Scarlet Knights App
Play-By-Play: Chris Carlin
Analyst: Julian Pinnix-Odrick
Sideline: Anthony Fucilli
Engineer: Paul Shrager
Pre/Post: Marc Malusis & Eric LeGrand
Student Radio: WRSU 88.7-FM
Chris Tsakonas & Dylan McCoy
- Rutgers is 4-2 on the road since head coach Greg Schiano returned for the 2020 season.
- Rutgers is coming off a stretch of facing three-straight ranked opponents, and three teams currently ranked in the top 10, for the second time in program history.
- Rutgers ranks first nationally in net punt (47.2), fourth with only four penalties against per game and 11th in turnover margin per game (+1).
- Rutgers has surrendered only three points in the fourth quarter this season.
- Schiano is tied for second in program history with 74 wins leading the Scarlet Knights. Frank Burns holds the record with 78 victories.
- Rutgers scored a touchdown on its opening drive when QB Johnny Langan connected with WR Aron Cruickshank to cap a nine-play drive, but No. 11 Michigan State answered, took a 21-13 lead into halftime and closed out a 31-13 win. It was the 87th Homecoming game for the Scarlet Knights.
- QB Noah Vedral passed for 208 yards, with WR Shameen Jones recording 109 receiving yards on eight receptions. P Adam Korsak posted a net punt of 46.4 with 6-of-7 attempts downed inside the 20. DB Christian Izien notched three tackles-for-loss on 10 stops, while LB Olakunle Fatukasi added two tackles in the backfield and forced a fumble.
- Rutgers has topped 300 yards of total offense in 5-of-6 games.
- Vedral ranks fifth in the Big Ten with 18 completions per game and sixth with 215.7 yards of total offense per game. He has 13 completions this season of at least 20 yards.
- Pacheco owns 2,109 career rushing yards, 12th in program history and needing 16 to pass Henry Benkert (1921-24) for 11th in the record book.
- WR Bo Melton is ninth in school history with 133 career receptions, looking next to pass Clark Harris (2003-06), who had 143.
- Rutgers ranks 16th nationally holding opponents to 29.9 percent on third down and second in the Big Ten with 6.3 tackles-for-loss per game.
- LB Olakunle Fatukasi ranks 12th nationally and second in the Big Ten with 9.7 tackles per game, leading the active roster with 271 career stops and 24.5 tackles-for-loss.
- DB Christian Izien posted a career-high three tackles-for-loss on 10 stops versus Michigan State.
- DB Alijah Clark hauled in his first collegiate interception last week.
- Rutgers leads the nation with a net punt of 47.2 yards per attempt. P Adam Korsak, two-time winner of the Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week in 2021, has downed 16 attempts inside the 20, including settling a punt at the 1 three times.
- Rutgers scored its fourth special teams touchdown since 2020 against Delaware on a 62-yard punt return by WR Aron Cruickshank. It was his fifth career kick return score (four kickoff, one punt), needing three to tie the NCAA record.
- Rutgers has blocked 61 kicks under Schiano.
- PK Valentino Ambrosio is 7-for-9 on field goals and 19-for-20 on extra points to start the season.
- Rutgers makes its initial trip to Ryan Field for a Big Ten game, marking the last conference venue visited for the first time since joining the league in 2014. Rutgers and Northwestern have only met once previously in a Big Ten game (2018), but played three non-conference contests prior. RU leads the all-time series, 3-1.
- In the only other Big Ten meeting in 2018, Rutgers held the lead at halftime and through three quarters, but Northwestern came back for an 18-15 win. RB Isaih Pacheco had a 44-yard rushing touchdown, PK Justin Davidovicz added two field goals and DL Willington Previlon registered a sack in the end zone for a safety. P Adam Korsak set the school record with a 79-yard punt.
- The first contest, which was played in Newark in 1919, ended as a 28-0 RU win to close the 5-3 season under coach George Foster Sanford, who later earned induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
- Rutgers last traveled to Evanston in 1989 and came away with a 38-27 victory in the 1,000th game in program history. Scott Erney went 13-of-28 for 308 yards passing, while Randy Jackson recorded 90 and 83-yard receptions for touchdowns. The Scarlet Knights outgained the Wildcats, 515-430, in a matchup that was nationally televised.
- In 1991, Antoine Moore rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns and Gary Melton raced 96 yards for a kickoff return touchdown, adding 63 receiving yards. Shawn Williams sealed the 22-18 win with a sack on fourth down after Northwestern had driven to the eight.
- Rutgers game highs versus Northwestern:
- Rushing Yards: Antoine Moore, 140 (1991)
- Passing Yards: Scott Erney, 308 (1989)
- Receiving Yards: Randy Jackson, 173 (1989)
Following an open weekend, Rutgers returns to the state of Illinois to face the Fighting Illini on Oct. 30. The Scarlet Knights last played consecutive games in the same state (other than New Jersey) in 1982 with back-to-back contests at Penn State and Temple.
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