RUTGERS (0-0) vs. TEMPLE (0-0)
September 4, 2021 • 12:01 p.m. ET • Big Ten Network
SHI Stadium • Piscataway, N.J.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football reopens the doors to SHI Stadium by hosting Temple in its season opener
Saturday at 12:01 p.m., presented by PNC. The Scarlet Knights look forward to welcoming back fans and will honor HealthCare Heroes at the game.
The game is
sold out to the general public. Students may claim a ticket up until kickoff online
here.
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.
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.
After seeing healthcare workers score a touchdown on the final play of the spring game, Rutgers plans to honor over 4,000 doctors, nurses, aides and the many indispensable professionals who help run RWJBarnabas Health day-in and day-out. These heroes who have guided us throughout the pandemic will be acknowledged at the game for their sacrifices, expertise and relentless effort.
The game will broadcast on Big Ten Network. Viewers in the region can watch on the main channel, while those outside the New Jersey/New York/Philadelphia markets can find the alternate channel via
btn.com/gamefinder. The FOX Sports App will also stream the game.
TV: Big Ten Network (FOX Sports App)
Play-By-Play: Joe Beninati
Analyst: Matt McGloin
Reporter: Michelle McMahon
Radio: RWJBarnabas Health Rutgers Sports Network
WCTC 1450-AM, WOR 710-AM, XM 203, Sirius 121, Scarlet Knights App
Play-By-Play: Chris Carlin
Analyst: Eric LeGrand
Analyst: Julian Pinnix-Odrick
Sideline: Anthony Fucilli
Engineer: Paul Shrager
Pregame: Marc Malusis & Julian Pinnix-Odrick
Student Radio: WRSU 88.7-FM
Chris Tsakonas & Dennis Geissler
- Heading into year two of head coach Greg Schiano's return, the team brings back 20 starters, including 11 who started all nine games. In addition, the starting punter, kicker and long snapper return to the special teams units. The Scarlet Knights also retained all 10 full-time assistant coaches on the staff.
- RU matched the program high with three Big Ten victories last season, all on the road. The Scarlet Knights had three Big Ten road victories combined the previous six seasons. Two of the wins came when trailing at halftime, as the team only had two such comeback Big Ten wins previously since joining the conference in 2014.
- The Scarlet Knights had 14 players recognized in the All-Big Ten voting, the most for the program since joining the league. The previous high was eight total honorees in 2017. That includes four on the top-three teams in 2020 after totaling six combined the previous six years in the Big Ten and two over the last four seasons. Twelve All-Big Ten honorees return to the 2021 roster.
- Rutgers saw 46 student-athletes earn Academic All-Big Ten honors, a program high.
- Rutgers posted a program-best 26.7 points per game in a Big Ten season (previous best 21.2 in 2015). The Scarlet Knights scored at least 20 points in eight games last year after reaching the 20-plus mark five times the previous four seasons and 12 times in the first 52 Big Ten games. The 26.7 points per game ranked eighth in the Big Ten, improving from No. 14, as the previous best ranking in Big Ten-only games was 11th in 2014.
- Rutgers was the fourth-most improved team in the nation by scoring offense (+13.4 points per game). In addition, the Scarlet Knights scored 81 more points than in 2019 (playing three fewer games), the sixth-best improvement in the nation in total points scored (the five higher team all played 12 games). In addition, RU was the most improved in the Big Ten total touchdowns scored (+12) and offensive touchdowns (+9).
- Rutgers averaged over 300 yards per game in a Big Ten season for the first time since 2015. The increase of 66 yards per game overall was the best improvement among Big Ten teams in 2020. The 3,052 yards of total offense was 1,172 more than the previous year in Big Ten play.
- Rutgers caused 19 turnovers, most in a season since 2012, and 10 more than were forced in 2019. That included at least one takeaway in eight games, multiple in four games and at least four two times. That helped the team establish a +5 turnover margin, its best in a Big Ten season and only the second time (2015) being on the plus side.
- Rutgers led the Big Ten and ranked No. 11 nationally with 7.8 tackles-for-loss per game.
- Rutgers posted 21 sacks, most in a Big Ten season (previous best was 16 in 2014). An increase of eight from the previous season.
- Only team in the Big Ten and Power 5, with at least three kick return touchdowns (two kickoff, one punt). One of just four teams nationally to achieve the feat.
- Led the Big Ten and ranked No. 16 nationally with 25.73 yards per kickoff return.
- Reset the school record (for the third-straight season) with a net punt of 42.27, second in the Big Ten and eighth nationally.
- Rutgers will take on Temple for the 37th time, leading the series, 21-15, and having won the last four meetings. The Scarlet Knights are 14-6 at home versus the Owls.
- Rutgers has only played three FBS teams more than Temple: Army (44), Syracuse (43) and West Virginia (39). The game was played every season between 1977-2004.
- The programs last met in Piscataway in 2013. The Rutgers defense halted Temple on fourth-and-1 with 1:50 remaining and Gary Nova responded, finding single coverage on Leonte Carroo on a fourth-and-10 for a 33-yard touchdown to complete a comeback win, 23-20. Nova finished 27-for-38 for 371 passing yards and three touchdowns to earn American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week, while Carroo hauled in seven receptions for 147 receiving. Kevin Snyder and Steve Longa both logged 12 tackles defensively.
- Rutgers game highs versus Temple:
- Rushing Yards: Terrell Willis, 232 (1994)
- Passing Yards: Gary Nova, 371 (2013)
- Receiving Yards: Gary Melton, 155 (1991)
- Rutgers set a school record with 36 first downs in the 62-0 victory over Temple at Giant Stadium in 1993, also setting program single-game highs with 10 turnovers forced and seven interceptions in the 25-0 shutout win in 1954. The longest pass play in team history came in 1977 versus the Owls, 95 yards from Bert Kosup to George Carter.
- Terrell Willis' 232 rushing yards in the 1994 home win still stands as Rutgers' stadium record, as he finished with 326 all-purpose yards, which is now second-most in a game in program history.
- Rutgers has had 10 games versus Temple with a player rushing for at least 100 yards, eight with a player totaling at least 100 receiving yards and five with a player passing for 300 or more yards (most versus any opponent).
- The first meeting between the programs took place in 1948, a 34-20 Rutgers home victory.
- Secondary coach Fran Brown spent seven seasons on the Temple staff, including most recently as co-defensive coordinator/cornerbacks in 2019. Defensive line coach Jim Panagos worked two seasons on the Owls' staff and was a Broyles Award nominee in 2017.
- The next meeting is scheduled for 2022 in Philadelphia.
Rutgers travels to Syracuse for the first time since 2011 with a Sept. 11 matchup inside the Carrier Dome. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. on ACC Network.
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