RUTGERS (3-4, 0-4) at ILLINOIS (3-5, 2-3)
October 30, 2021 • Noon ET • Big Ten Network
Memorial Stadium • Champaign, Ill.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Coming off an open week, Rutgers football heads to the state of Illinois for the second-straight game to face the Fighting Illini Saturday at noon ET/11 a.m. local. 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.
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: Jeff Levering
Analyst: Anthony Herron
Reporter: Elise Menaker
Radio: RWJBarnabas Health Rutgers Sports Network
FOX Sports New Jersey 93.5-FM & 1450-AM, WOR 710-AM, XM 381, 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
Dennis Geissler & Doug Willig
- In the final seven seasons of head coach Greg Schiano's first tenure (2005-11), Rutgers went 9-5 in games directly off an open week. The Scarlet Knights did not have an off week in 2020.
- Rutgers ranks second nationally in net punt (46.5) and 10th in third down defense (29.8 percent).
- LS Billy Taylor and DL Julius Turner have each played in 52 career games, one short of tying Scott Vallone, currently on staff as an offensive assistant, for the program record.
- Schiano is tied for second in program history with 74 wins leading the Scarlet Knights. Frank Burns holds the record with 78 victories.
- Rutgers made its first trip to Northwestern since 1989 and first as a Big Ten member, falling on the short end of a 21-7 game at Ryan Field.
- QB Noah Vedral completed 18 passes for 152 yards and an 18-yard touchdown pass to WR Bo Melton. The score capped a 97-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter, the longest of the season and longest for the team in Big Ten play since joining the conference. It was the longest drive overall since a 99-yard march for a touchdown versus Tulane in 2014.
- In his first game back from injury, Melton produced his second 100-yard receiving game (eight catches for 101 yards) of the season and the fifth of his career to pace the offense.
- LB Olakunle Fatukasi produced a game-high 13 tackles, while DB Robert Longerbeam led the secondary with four pass breakups.
- Rutgers has topped 300 yards of total offense in 5-of-7 games.
- Vedral ranks fifth in the Big Ten with 18 completions per game and sixth with 209.7 yards of total offense per game. He has 14 completions this season of at least 20 yards.
- RB Isaih Pacheco owns 2,124 career rushing yards to tie Henry Benkert (1921-24) for 11th in program history. Robert Martin (2014-17) is currently 10th at 2,256.
- Melton matched his career high with eight catches last game and is ninth in the school record book in career receptions (141) and 15th in career receiving yards (1,741). He is one of 11 players in program history with at least five games of 100 or more receiving yards.
- Rutgers ranks 10th nationally holding opponents to 29.8 percent on third down.
- LB Olakunle Fatukasi ranks seventh nationally and second in the Big Ten with 10.1 tackles per game. He needs 16 tackles to become the 12th player in program history to reach 300 career tackles.
- DB Christian Izien has posted five tackles-for-loss over the past two games.
- DB Robert Longerbeam recorded four pass breakups at Northwestern, the first Scarlet Knight to reach the mark in a game since Saquon Hampton versus Buffalo in 2018.
- Rutgers is second in the nation with a net punt of 46.5 yards per attempt. P Adam Korsak, three-time winner of the Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week in 2021, has downed 20 attempts inside the 20, including settling a punt at the 1 three times. He has attempted 88 consecutive punts without a touchback, downing 43 inside the 20 during the streak.
- 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-10 on field goals and 20-for-21 on extra points through seven games.
- Rutgers will take on Illinois in a Big Ten game for the sixth time and eighth time overall. Illinois leads the series, 5-2.
- Despite being in opposite divisions, this will be the sixth of six-straight years (2016-21) the programs match up.
- Before reuniting in the Big Ten in 2016, Rutgers blanked Illinois at home, 33-0, in a non-conference meeting between the teams in 2006. It is one of nine shutouts for RU under head coach Greg Schiano. The Scarlet Knights raced out to a 20-0 lead after one quarter with a score on special teams (Derrick Roberson blocked punt return), on defense (Devin McCourty interception return) and on offense (Clark Harris 1-yard touchdown pass from Mike Teel). Ray Rice added a score to highlight a 108-yard performance, as RU out-gained UI in the game, 311-126. In addition, the defense held the Fighting Illini to 0-for-12 on third down and collected five sacks.
- The first meeting in Champaign went to overtime before the Fighting Illini won, 33-30, in 2005. Rutgers piled up 507 yards of total offense, but Illinois managed to erase a 20-point deficit (27-7). Quarterback Ryan Hart led RU with 342 yards on 27-of-44 passing, while Brian Leonard had 186 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns.
- Also coming off an open week, 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. 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.
- In a close game throughout last season at SHI Stadium, Rutgers fell to Illinois, 23-20, on a field goal with three seconds remaining. WR Bo Melton racked up a career-high 150 receiving yards with touchdowns of 29 and 66 yards. RB Isaih Pacheco notched 133 rushing yards. It was the third time RU had a 100-yard rusher and receiver in the same Big Ten game (2014 Indiana, 2015 Indiana). Defensively, both LB Tyshon Fogg and LB Olakunle Fatukasi registered 13 tackles. DL Mike Tverdov forced a fumble recovered by DB Max Melton.
- Rutgers previously faced Illinois head coach Bret Bielema in 2013 in a 28-24 home win over Arkansas. The Scarlet Knights scored 21 unanswered points sparked by a 58-yard punt return late in the third quarter by WR Janarion Grant. WR Leonte Carroo hauled in a pair of touchdown passes in the fourth quarter from QB Gary Nova. TE Tyler Kroft contributed six catches for 133 yards and a touchdown in the first half.
- Rutgers game highs versus Illinois:
- Rushing Yards: Brian Leonard, 128 (2005)
- Passing Yards: Ryan Hart, 342 (2005)
- Receiving Yards: Bo Melton, 150 (2020)
Rutgers returns to SHI Stadium on Nov. 6 to host Wisconsin for Military Appreciation Day. Kickoff is set for
3:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network. The game is presented by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. Tickets are available at
ScarletKnights.com or by calling 866-445-GORU (4678).
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