RUTGERS (5-5, 2-5) at PENN STATE (6-4, 3-4)
November 20, 2021 • 12:01 p.m. ET • Big Ten Network
Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pa.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Winning its past two Big Ten away games, Rutgers football returns to the road for the fourth time in five outings with a trip to Penn State Saturday at noon. The Scarlet Knights are 6-3 on the road since 2020 with five Big Ten victories after winning three such contests the first six years in the league.
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: Cory Provus
Analyst: Matt Millen
Reporter: Elise Menaker
Radio: RWJBarnabas Health Rutgers Sports Network
FOX Sports New Jersey 93.5-FM & 1450-AM, WOR 710-AM, XM 390, 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 & Jake Schmied
- Rutgers has won at least five games for the first time since 2014 and seeks to become bowl eligible with one more victory. Head coach Greg Schiano has previously led the Scarlet Knights to six bowl trips, winning five.
- Rutgers is 5-0 this season when committing no turnovers, establishing a +0.7 per game turnover margin overall to rank third in the Big Ten and 17th nationally. The last season with five turnover-free games was 2009, seeking to make it six for the first time since 1993.
- Rutgers has held opponents to 38-for-132 on third down (28.8 percent), the fourth-best percentage nationally. The best mark for a season under Schiano is 30 percent set in 2006 and 2009.
- Rutgers leads the nation with a net punt of 45.7, which is higher than the FBS season record set by BYU in 1983 at 45.04.
- Rutgers is fourth in the Big Ten with just 42.1 penalty yards per game. That includes six games with four penalties or less.
- Schiano is second in program history with 76 wins leading the Scarlet Knights. Frank Burns holds the record (78).
- Rutgers rushed for five touchdowns and recorded six takeaways to top Indiana on the road, 38-3. The 35-point win was the largest margin of victory for the Scarlet Knights in a Big Ten game. It was also the largest margin of victory in program history in a conference road contest.
- Rutgers allowed a team-low three points in a Big Ten game, making it the first time not permitting a touchdown in such game. It was the 20th time overall under head coach Greg Schiano not allowing an offensive touchdown.
- Rutgers allowed just 262 yards of total offense, the least amount permitted in a Big Ten game since joining the league. The defense held Indiana to 1-for-14 on third down and 85 rushing yards, including nine attempts for no gain or a loss.
- LB Mohamed Toure recovered a fumble on the first snap of the game, with DL Ifeanyi Maijeh, LS Billy Taylor and DL Rashawn Battle (on a force by DB Robert Longerbeam) also jumping on loose balls. Both LB Tyreem Powell and DB Max Melton hauled in interceptions. LB Drew Singleton totaled a career-high 10 tackles.
- RB Isaih Pacheco punched in touchdowns on two of the first three drives to make it five career multiple-score games. RB Aaron Young and QB Noah Vedral ran over the goal line, with OL Raiqwon O'Neal scoring his second rushing touchdown in as many years. The Scarlet Knights finished with 218 rushing yards to improve to 30-2 under Schiano when rushing for at least 200 yards. Posting five rushing touchdowns in a Big Ten game had before done once before, 2017 at Illinois.
- Rutgers played its fourth game in 2021 with no turnovers surrendered and one or no sacks allowed.
- Rutgers defeated Indiana for the third time and second time in Bloomington.
- Rutgers allowed one or no sacks in 6-of-10 games, topping 300 yards of total offense in 7-of-10 games.
- Rutgers has gone for it on fourth down 30 times, the most in the Big Ten and eighth nationally. The Scarlet Knights have 13 conversions.
- QB Noah Vedral has 21 completions this season of at least 20 yards and has rushed for 267 yards.
- RB Isaih Pacheco moved to eighth in program history with 2,349 career rushing yards on 542 attempts. He has three games this season with at least 20 carries.
- WR Bo Melton has seven games this season with at least five receptions, ranking seventh in the school record book in career receptions (157) and 12th in career receiving yards (1,910). He is one of 11 players in program history with at least five games of 100 or more receiving yards.
- Rutgers ranks fourth nationally holding opponents to 28.8 percent on third down. That includes eight games allowing five or less conversion.
- Rutgers has allowed just 10 points in the fourth quarter this season.
- LB Olakunle Fatukasi, named one of 16 semifinalists for the Butkus Award, ranks 13th nationally and fourth in the Big Ten with 9.9 tackles per game. One of 12 players in program history to reach 300 career tackles, he is at 302 and needs 21 to move into the top-10 list.
- DL Julius Turner is up to 19.5 career tackles-for-loss and leads the defense with 41 starts.
- DB Avery Young paces the roster with 20 career passes defended (18 breakups, two interceptions).
- Rutgers leads the nation with a net punt of 45.7, which would be a school and NCAA record for a season.
- P Adam Korsak has had 108 consecutive punts without a touchback, the longest active streak nationally. He has downed 31 inside the 20 with four settling at the 1-yard line. Opposing punt returners have had a return of less than four yards 54-of-56 attempts, with 51 for zero yards or less. The Aussie is a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award.
- 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 head coach Greg Schiano.
- PK Valentino Ambrosio is 11-for-15 on field goals with seven career games with multiple makes.
- Rutgers and Penn State will meet for the eighth time in a Big Ten contest, 19th time in Pennsylvania and for the 32nd meeting overall. RU has played PSU more in its history than any other Big Ten opponent.
- The series began 103 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 1988 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.
- Penn State won last season's meeting in Piscataway, 23-7. WR Bo Melton scored a touchdown on a 3-yard, fourth-down pass from QB Noah Vedral. DB Avery Young recovered a fumble and DB Christian Izien notched an interception defensively.
- Rutgers has 11 players on its roster from the state of Pennsylvania: DL Rashawn Battle (Grentown), LB Drew Bethke (Furlong), LB Tyreek Maddox-Williams (Philadelphia), OL Tyler Needham (Newton), OL Matt Rosso (Fairless Hills), WR Brandon Sanders (Downingtown), QB Evan Simon (Mount Joy), DL Cam'Ron Stewart (Shillington), LB Andrew Vince (Schwenksville), RB Aaron Young (Coatesville) and DB 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)
