RUTGERS (1-0) at SYRACUSE (1-0)
September 11, 2021 • 2:03 p.m. ET • ACC Network
Carrier Dome • Syracuse, N.Y.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Coming off a season-opening victory, Rutgers football heads on the road for the first time in 2021 to face former Big East rival Syracuse Saturday at the Carrier Dome. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. The Scarlet Knights went 3-1 on the road last season.
To honor the 37 alumni and all those lost in the Sept. 11 attacks, Rutgers football will wear
special uniforms in remembrance on Saturday. The jersey will feature stripes in tribute to the first responders, while the helmet shows names of Rutgers alumni lost, including football letterwinner James Martello. "Never Forget" will display on the helmet and down the sides of the jersey as well.
TV: ACC Network
Play-By-Play: Mike Couzens
Analyst: Dustin Fox
Reporter: Dana Boyle
Radio: RWJBarnabas Health Rutgers Sports Network
WCTC 1450-AM, WOR 710-AM, XM 389, 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 Allen
- Rutgers seeks to start 2-0 for the first time since 2014.
- Rutgers is 41-19 in non-conference games under head coach Greg Schiano, having won 18 of the last 21. The Scarlet Knights have won eight of the last 10 road non-conference games led by Schiano.
- Rutgers is first nationally with a +5 turnover margin and second with only one penalty.
- Propelled by an early safety on a sack by LB Olakunle Fatukasi, Rutgers raced out to a 26-0 lead and tacked on to claim a 61-14 season-opening win over Temple. The Scarlet Knights scored at least 10 points in each quarter in a game for the first time since at Fresno State in 2013. RU won the field position game by averaging starting at own 47 compared to Temple beginning at own 22.
- Rutgers posted 61 points in the win over Temple, the most by the team against an FBS opponent since 2008 and the second-most scored in a game under Schiano. The Scarlet Knights are second in the nation in scoring offense.
- Rutgers rushed for 220 yards and did not allow a sack in week one. That included six rushing touchdowns, two from both QB Johnny Langan and RB Kyle Monangai and one each by RB Isaih Pacheco and RB Aaron Young.
- QB Noah Vedral led the offense with 71 rushing yards and completed 15 passes for 138 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown pass to WR Bo Melton. Melton recorded six receptions overall.
- Rutgers forced five turnovers versus Temple, allowed only 12 first downs, picked up nine tackles-for-loss and held the Owls to 2-for-13 on third down.
- DB Max Melton picked off a pass and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown, the 55th non-offensive touchdown under Schiano. Tre Avery previously hauled in an interception.
- Fatukasi registered a sack in the end zone for a safety to start the scoring versus Temple, notching career-highs with 4.0 tackles-for-loss and 3.0 sacks to go with a forced fumble. The last Scarlet Knight with 4.0 tackles-for-loss in a game was Justin Francis versus USF in 2011. He became the fifth Rutgers player with at least three sacks in a game in program history.
- P Adam Korsak finished with a career-high 49.7 average and net in the season opener. The Aussie's first attempt of the season went 56 yards to down at the 1-yard line and lead to a safety.
- PK Valentino Ambrosio improved to 10-for-12 in his career in field goals, adding eight extra points.
- WR Aron Cruickshank totaled a career-high 206 all-purpose yards (113 kick return, 55 punt return, 24 receiving, 14 rushing).
- Rutgers will take on Syracuse for the 44th time, having won six of the last eight matchups and three of the previous four inside the Carrier Dome.
- The 44th meeting ties the most for Rutgers against an FBS opponent, matching the number of games versus Army. The RU-SU game was played every season from 1980-2012.
- Rutgers has won five of the last seven matchups under Schiano.
- The last game in 2012 resulted in a 23-15 victory for the Scarlet Knights. Khaseem Greene totaled 14 tackles with three forced fumbles and an interception, while Duron Harmon returned a blocked field goal by Jamal Merrell 75 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter. Offensively, Jawan Jamison rushed for a 1-yard touchdown and Gary Nova connected with Tyler Kroft for a 12-yard score.
- The previous meeting at the Carrier Dome needed double overtime, with Rutgers prevailing, 19-16. San San Te converted his fourth field goal of the game, and the defense recovered a fumble moments later to seal the win. Rutgers forced five turnovers overall.
- Rutgers game highs versus Syracuse:
- Rushing Yards: Ray Rice, 196 (2007)
- Passing Yards: Ryan Hart, 311 (2004)
- Receiving Yards: Kenny Britt, 176 (2007)
- Rutgers has had 10 games versus Syracuse with a player rushing for at least 100 yards, seven with a player totaling at least 100 receiving yards and two with a player passing for 300 or more yards.
- The first meeting between the programs ended in a 14-14 tie in 1914.
Rutgers returns to SHI Stadium to host Delaware Sept. 18. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network. It will be the first meeting between the Scarlet Knights and Blue Hens since 1973.
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