RUTGERS (4-3, 1-3) at MINNESOTA (4-3, 1-3)
October 29, 2022 • 2:30 p.m. ET • Big Ten Network
Huntington Bank Stadium • Minneapolis, Minn.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Coming off a victory over Indiana, Rutgers football heads west this week to take on Minnesota Saturday at Huntington Bank Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. local. The Scarlet Knights are 8-5 in road games since 2020. The eight away wins are the most by a Big Ten team in that span, tied with Iowa and Michigan.

TV: Big Ten Network (FOX Sports app)
Play-By-Play: Cory Provus
Analyst: Matt Millen
Reporter: Rick Pizzo

Radio: RWJBarnabas Health Rutgers Sports Network
WFAN 101.9-FM/660-AM, FOX Sports New Jersey 93.5-FM/1450-AM, SiriusXM 385, Audacy app, Scarlet Knights app
Play-By-Play: Chris Carlin
Analyst: Julian Pinnix-Odrick
Sideline: Mike Teel
Engineer: Paul Shrager
Pre/Post: Marc Malusis & Eric LeGrand

Student Radio: WRSU 88.7-FM
Alex Carmenaty & Dylan Allen


 

SCOUTING RUTGERS

• Rutgers holds a winning record (4-3) through seven games for the first time since 2014.
• Defensively, Rutgers is sixth nationally in rushing defense (87.4), seventh in total defense (283.9) and eighth on third down (.278). The unit ranks as the eighth-most improved nationally by total defense (-112.6), allowing 1.30 yards per play less than in 2021.
• Rutgers leads the Big Ten and is third in the country with four blocked kicks, having blocked 66 under head coach Greg Schiano. The punt team has allowed just -8 return yards on the season, second-best nationally.
• Rutgers holds a +9 turnover margin since 2020 (47 forced). That includes a 9-0 record when not committing a turnover in a game.
• Rutgers has had 12 different players score a touchdown this season.
 

LAST TIME OUT

• After falling behind 14-0 early, Rutgers rallied to score 24 unanswered points to beat Indiana at SHI Stadium, 24-17. It marked the second-best scoring run for the Scarlet Knights in a Big Ten game after the 28 consecutive to finish the 2015 win at Indiana.
• The defense allowed 91 yards on the first Indiana drive, but permitted just 181 on the last 12 drives with only three points against. The Scarlet Knights limited the Hoosiers to 2-for-12 on third down.
• Rutgers held the ball for 38:53, its highest time of possession in a Big Ten game since entering the league. That included holding the ball for 13:45 in the third quarter compared to 1:15 by Indiana. The Hoosiers entered the day averaging 79 offensive plays per game and ran just 61 in the game.
• RB Samuel Brown V rushed for 101 yards on 28 carries to set career highs. It was the most rushing attempts by a Scarlet Knight in a Big Ten game since entering the league, most by a Rutgers true freshman since Marcus Jones had 30 on Nov. 3, 2001, at West Virginia and most overall since Paul James' 29 at Washington State on Aug. 28, 2014. The previous Rutgers true freshman to run for 100 or more yards in a game was Isiah Pacheco versus No. 4 Michigan on Nov. 10, 2018. Brown scored his third touchdown of the season to put Rutgers ahead in the third quarter.
• DB Christian Braswell recorded his team-leading third interception on four passes defended. He returned the pick 12 yards for a touchdown, the 58th non-offensive touchdown for Rutgers under Schiano and second of the season.
• Rutgers won for the fourth time since 2020 when trailing at halftime in a Big Ten game. It was the sixth such occurrence overall.
• Rutgers improved to 11-5 under head coach Greg Schiano directly off an open week.
• Rutgers played a Homecoming game for the 88th time, improving to 54-33-1.
 

OFFENSE

• Nunzio Campanile was named interim offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach on Oct. 9. Serving as tight ends coach since 2020, the Fair Lawn, New Jersey, native worked as the interim head coach and offensive coordinator for the final eight games of the 2019 season.
• The unit has had 14 different players carry the ball, 14 catch a pass, five throw a pass and 10 score a touchdown through seven games.
• QB Noah Vedral has started the last three games and ranks ninth in program history with 344 completions and seventh with 3,858 yards of total offense.
• Brown V leads the team with 374 rushing yards, eighth-most among true freshmen nationally.
• WR Aron Cruickshank paces the team with 255 receiving yards on 27 receptions.
 

DEFENSE

• Joe Harasymiak is in his first season as defensive coordinator. A native of Waldwick, New Jersey, Harasymiak spent the last two seasons as co-defensive coordinator at Minnesota and was previously head coach at Maine. In 2021, Minnesota ranked third in the nation in total defense (278.8), fourth in first downs defense (202), sixth in scoring defense (17.3), eighth in rushing defense (97.5) and ninth in passing yards allowed (181.2).
• Rutgers is one of the most improved defensive teams nationally from 2021. The Scarlet Knights are one of 10 teams that have allowed 100 or more yards less per game, ranking as the eighth-most improved unit in total defense through week eight. RU has allowed 1.30 yards less per play, also 10th-best.
• Overall, Rutgers is sixth nationally in rushing defense (87.4), seventh in total defense (283.9), eighth on third down (.278), 17th in interceptions (9) and 29th in passing yards against (196.4).
• LB Deion Jennings ranks ninth in the Big Ten with eight tackles per game, while DB Wesley Bailey and DL Aaron Lewis both have six stops for loss.
• Braswell ranks third in the Big Ten and 14th nationally with three interceptions. He added three pass breakups with a tackle-for-loss last week versus Indiana.
 

SPECIAL TEAMS

• Rutgers set the NCAA record for net punt average (45.25) in 2021, topping the previous mark of 45.04 held by BYU (1983). In 2022, Rutgers ranks seventh at 42.56. The unit has held opponents to -8 punt return yards on 36 attempts, first in the Big Ten and second nationally.
• Since 2009, Rutgers has blocked 61 kicks (field goals, extra points & punts) on special teams. Breaking down the blocked kicks since 2009, Rutgers has swatted 28 punts, 24 field goals and nine extra points. RU has blocked 66 kicks under Schiano. That includes 12 games with multiple blocks.
• P Adam Korsak leads the roster with 53 games of experience, downing 131 career attempts (42.2 percent) inside the 20-yard line. That includes a season-long 66-yarder versus Indiana that settled at the 10.
• PK Jude McAtamney has made a field goal in all seven games, making two attempts of 49 yards.
• Cruickshank owns 3,657 career all-purpose yards (2,338 kickoff return, 778 receiving, 336 rushing, 205 punt return) in 50 games to rank 16th among active FBS players. The 2,543 combined kick return yards are the most nationally.


 

VERSUS MINNESOTA

• Saturday will be the third all-time meeting on the gridiron between Rutgers and Minnesota and second in Minneapolis.
• Minnesota won the last matchup in Piscataway in 2019, 42-7. The Golden Gophers were the final Big Ten opponent to make their initial visit to Piscataway. Jennings had three tackles-for-loss in his first collegiate start.
• The Scarlet Knights rallied from a 21-3 deficit in the first quarter to take a 32-31 lead with 4:01 remaining, but the Golden Gophers drove 59 yards to kick a field goal with six seconds left for a 34-32 win in the first meeting between the teams on Oct. 22, 2016, in Minneapolis. Giovanni Rescigno sparked the offense with a 22-for-38 performance for 220 passing yards and three touchdowns in his first career start. Justin Goodwin, Andre Patton and Jawuan Harris all caught touchdown passes, while Damon Hayes picked off a pass and ran it back 55 yards for a score. David Bonagura converted a pair of field goals.
• Defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak spent the last three seasons at Minnesota after joining the staff for the 2018 Quick Lane Bowl. He was elevated to co-defensive coordinator in 2020.
• Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck served on the Rutgers staff as wide receivers coach for two seasons (2010-11). He also worked for head coach Greg Schiano with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012.
• Rutgers game highs versus Minnesota:
Rushing Yards: Justin Goodwin, 97 (2016)
Passing Yards: Giovanni Rescigno, 220 (2016)
Receiving Yards: Justin Goodwin, 52 (2016)
 

UP NEXT

Rutgers takes on its second ranked opponent of the season in hosting No. 4 Michigan on Nov. 5 at SHI Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network. It will be the Military Appreciation Game, presented by Horizon.

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