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Football

Game 6: Football vs. No. 11 Michigan State

Game presented by RWJBarnabas Health

RUTGERS (3-2, 0-2) vs. No. 11 MICHIGAN STATE (5-0, 2-0)
October 9, 2021 • 12:01 p.m. ET • Big Ten Network
SHI Stadium • Piscataway, N.J.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – For the second time in program history, Rutgers takes on its third-straight ranked opponent in hosting No. 11 Michigan State Saturday at SHI Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for noon and the game is presented by RWJBarnabas Health.
 
Rutgers is set to host its 87th annual Homecoming game and is 53-32-1. The event has been held every season since 1933, except 1943 and 2020. Homecoming also marks the Rutgers Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Eric LeGrand (football), Essence Carson (women's basketball), Jonelle Filigno-Hopkins (women's soccer), Alexis Gunzelman (women's gymnastics) and James Ford (men's lacrosse) make up the class.
 
In an effort to encourage a safe environment for fans as well as improve the ease of entry into the stadium, Rutgers moved to mobile-only tickets, which can be added to an Apple Wallet or Google Pay app. Digital tickets provide for contactless entry, limiting person-to-person interactions, while speeding entry time into the venue and also offers a secure means to transfer and exchange tickets. Representatives from the Rutgers ticket staff will be on hand to help assists customers with any digital ticket related matters. Fans will also receive mobile parking passes that they can manage like their digital tickets. Fans are encouraged to download mobile tickets and parking passes to their Apple Wallet or Google Pay apps prior to arriving at the stadium.
 
Parking on game day will be available at Johnson Park across from the SHI Stadium south entrance on River Road. Click here for more information on parking and traffic patterns. When traveling to Piscataway, please avoid using Landing Lane Bridge to access SHI Stadium. The roadway will be closed to vehicles while repairs are completed now through mid-November. A full detour is in place for the duration of the project. Motorists are asked to follow posted detour signage. Please allow for extra time as stadium traffic could become congested on Rutgers football game days.
 
The game will broadcast on Big Ten Network. Viewers can find the channel through btn.com/gamefinder. The FOX Sports App will also stream the game.
 
TV: Big Ten Network (FOX Sports App)
Play-By-Play: Brandon Gaudin
Analyst: James Laurinaitis
Reporter: Rick Pizzo
 
Radio: RWJBarnabas Health Rutgers Sports Network
FOX Sports New Jersey 93.5-FM & 1450-AM, WOR 710-AM, XM 196, Sirius 132, Scarlet Knights App
Play-By-Play: Chris Carlin
Analyst: Mike Teel
Analyst: Eric LeGrand
Sideline: Anthony Fucilli
Engineer: Paul Shrager
Pre/Post: Marc Malusis & Julian Pinnix-Odrick
 
Student Radio: WRSU 88.7-FM
Chris Tsakonas & Dennis Geissler
 
Rutgers Football Student Section
 
SCOUTING RUTGERS
  • The only other time in program history the Scarlet Knights squared off with a ranked opponent in three consecutive games was in 2007 (No. 2 USF, No. 6 West Virginia, No. 16 Connecticut).
  • Rutgers ranks first nationally in both fewest penalties against per game (3.6) and net punt (47.7).
  • Rutgers has not surrendered a point in the fourth quarter this season.
  • Head coach Greg Schiano is tied for second in program history with 74 wins leading the Scarlet Knights. Frank Burns holds the record with 78 victories.
 
LAST TIME OUT
  • Rutgers fell behind 14-0 in the first five minutes against No. 11 Ohio State, falling 52-13.
  • QB Noah Vedral connected with WR Aron Cruickshank for a 75-yard touchdown pass, the Scarlet Knights' longest play of the season. QB Cole Snyder recorded his first collegiate touchdown pass to WR Joshua Youngblood, his first score as a Scarlet Knight.
 
OFFENSE
  • Rutgers allowed one or no sacks in 4-of-5 games, ranking second in the Big Ten and 15th nationally with only 1.2 permitted per game. In addition, the Scarlet Knights have topped 300 yards of total offense in 4-of-5 games.
  • Vedral, a semifinalist for the 2021 William V. Campbell Trophy, ranks fourth in the Big Ten with a 66.7 completion percentage. He has 11 completions this season of at least 20 yards.
  • Pacheco owns 2,062 career rushing yards, 13th in program history and needing 12 to pass Bill Austin (1956-58) for 12th 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.
 
DEFENSE
  • Rutgers ranks 15th nationally holding opponents to 29.7 percent on third down and 24th with three sacks per game.
  • LB Olakunle Fatukasi ranks 14th nationally and second in the Big Ten with 9.8 tackles per game, leading the active roster with 262 career stops.
  • DB Avery Young has 35 career starts and leads the secondary with 29 tackles this season.
  • DL Julius Turner owns four tackles-for-loss, with Fatukasi picking up 6.5 so far.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
  • Rutgers leads the nation with a net punt of 47.7 yards per attempt. P Adam Korsak, two-time winner of the Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week in 2021, has downed 10 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 5-for-7 on field goals and 18-for-19 on extra points to start the season.
 
Defense
 
VERSUS MICHIGAN STATE
  • Rutgers is set to take on Michigan State for the eighth time in a Big Ten game, sixth time in New Jersey and 13th time overall. The Spartans lead the series, 8-4, but the Scarlet Knights are 2-1 in games under Schiano.
  • In the season opener last year in East Lansing, Rutgers put together a 75-yard touchdown drive on the first possession and forced a fumble on its first defensive play on the way to a wire-to-wire 38-27 win in the return of Schiano as head coach. RU forced seven turnovers in the road victory.
  • Two of the signature victories in school history for the Scarlet Knights have come against Michigan State. Rutgers opened the 1988 campaign with a 17-13 victory over the 15th-ranked and defending Rose Bowl-champion Spartans at Spartan Stadium. In the win, Eric Young caught nine passes for 124 yards, including the game's first touchdown on a 61-yard pass from Scott Erney. In front of an ABC television audience and a sellout crowd at Rutgers Stadium, Rutgers stopped Michigan State, 19-14, to start the 2004 season. Jeremy Ito connected on four field goals, Brian Leonard rushed for 150 yards and Ryan Neill returned an interception 31 yards for a score in the win. RU held the ball for 40:14, the second-highest time of possession for the Scarlet Knights in the Schiano era.
  • Rutgers game highs versus Michigan State:
    • Rushing Yards: Brian Leonard, 150 (2004)
    • Passing Yards: Ryan Hart, 266 (2003)
    • Receiving Yards: Leonte Carroo, 134 (2015)
 
UP NEXT

Rutgers will travel to Northwestern for the first time since 1989 to meet the Wildcats on Oct. 16 at noon on Big Ten Network. Ryan Field is the only conference venue the Scarlet Knights have yet to visit as a member of the Big Ten.
 
Follow Rutgers football on Twitter (@RFootball), Facebook (/RFootballShow) and Instagram (@rfootball) for the latest news and updates. Also subscribe to the YouTube channel and bookmark Rutgers.Football, the Scarlet Knights' dedicated recruiting site.
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Players Mentioned

Valentino Ambrosio

#1 Valentino Ambrosio

PK
5' 9"
Junior
Aron Cruickshank

#2 Aron Cruickshank

WR
5' 10"
Junior
Olakunle Fatukasi

#3 Olakunle Fatukasi

LB
6' 2"
Senior
Adam Korsak

#94 Adam Korsak

P
6' 2"
Senior
Bo Melton

#18 Bo Melton

WR
5' 11"
Senior
Cole Snyder

#15 Cole Snyder

QB
6' 2"
Sophomore
Julius Turner

#50 Julius Turner

DL
6' 0"
Senior
Noah Vedral

#0 Noah Vedral

QB
6' 1"
Senior
Avery Young

#2 Avery Young

DB
6' 1"
Junior
Joshua Youngblood

#83 Joshua Youngblood

WR
5' 10"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Valentino Ambrosio

#1 Valentino Ambrosio

5' 9"
Junior
PK
Aron Cruickshank

#2 Aron Cruickshank

5' 10"
Junior
WR
Olakunle Fatukasi

#3 Olakunle Fatukasi

6' 2"
Senior
LB
Adam Korsak

#94 Adam Korsak

6' 2"
Senior
P
Bo Melton

#18 Bo Melton

5' 11"
Senior
WR
Cole Snyder

#15 Cole Snyder

6' 2"
Sophomore
QB
Julius Turner

#50 Julius Turner

6' 0"
Senior
DL
Noah Vedral

#0 Noah Vedral

6' 1"
Senior
QB
Avery Young

#2 Avery Young

6' 1"
Junior
DB
Joshua Youngblood

#83 Joshua Youngblood

5' 10"
Sophomore
WR
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