RUTGERS (4-6, 1-6) vs. No. 11 PENN STATE (8-2, 5-2)
November 19, 2022 • 3:30 p.m. ET • Big Ten Network
SHI Stadium • Piscataway, N.J.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football plays in front of the home crowd at SHI Stadium for the final time in 2022 in hosting No. 11 Penn State Saturday, presented by Provident Bank. The day will feature recognition of seniors and their families in a pregame ceremony, as well as thanking all Scarlet Knight fans for their loyal support.

No general public tickets remain to mark the third home sellout for the Scarlet Knights in 2022, the most since the inaugural Big Ten season in 2014. Limited student tickets are still available. Students can claim their seats up until kickoff, while supplies last, by clicking here. Free chicken tenders, French fries and hot chocolate will be served to students presenting a Rutgers University identification card between 2 and 3 p.m. on the south concourse under the videoboard, while supplies last.

It will be the final opportunity in 2022 for fans to take part in The Rutgers Boardwalk along Scarlet Knight Way (MAP). The area, which opens at 11 a.m., will include various food trucks, rides and carnival games. Posters, "Beat Penn State" buttons, "I Chopped 2022" buttons and shakers will be given out at the pregame pep rally. In addition, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will hold a food collection until 1 p.m. near the football equipment truck.

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 up 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 assist customers with any digital ticket-related matters or by phone on game day by calling 866-445-GORU (4678). 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.

Fans who park in the Jersey Mike's Arena lots can take the free campus buses over to SHI Stadium (MAP). The new drop-off area will be at Lot 53A, allowing fans to walk through The Rutgers Boardwalk on the way to the stadium. The ADA buses will continue to deliver to and from the stadium as in the past. In addition, the Knightingale courtesy shuttle remains in operation, while buses from College Ave will continue running to Johnson Park. All buses run three hours prior to kickoff and return up to one hour following the conclusion of the game.

In addition, guests are advised to review SHI Stadium Fan Guide before arriving, including the bag policy.



TV: Big Ten Network (FOX Sports app)
Play-By-Play: Brandon Gaudin
Analyst: Jake Butt
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 158 or 203, Audacy app, 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
Dylan McCoy & Alex Carmenaty


 

SCOUTING RUTGERS

• Rutgers leads the Big Ten and is third in the country with five blocked kicks, having blocked 67 overall under head coach Greg Schiano. DB Max Melton's three blocks in 2022 are tied for the nation's lead. The punt team has limited opponents to -10 return yards on the season (no positive returns), with a net punt average of 43.57 (third nationally).
• Rutgers posted 224 rushing yards at Michigan State, the most this season versus an FBS opponent. RB Kyle Monangai set a program individual record for a Big Ten game with 162 yards.
• Rutgers is top-25 nationally in total defense (21st, 324.8) and passing defense (22nd, 190.4).
• Rutgers has had 13 different players score a touchdown this season.
 

LAST TIME OUT

• Rutgers battled Michigan State on the road, falling short, 27-21. The Scarlet Knights outgained the Spartans, 460-453.
• The offense set season highs versus FBS competition with 79 plays run, 460 yards of total offense, 25 first downs, 224 rushing yards and eight third-down conversions.
• QB Gavin Wimsatt had his first game with multiple touchdown passes, finding RB Aaron Young (18 yards) and WR Shameen Jones (31 yards) in the end zone, and also set career highs with 20 completions and 236 passing yards. The passing game saw seven plays of at least 15 yards (three on third down, one on fourth down). TE Johnny Langan had a personal-best 73 receiving yards on five catches, while WR Aron Cruickshank hauled in six receptions among seven players making a catch.
• Monangai sparked the run game with career highs in carries (24) and rushing yards (162), recording five runs of at least 10 yards.
• DB Avery Young and LB Tyreem Powell (career high) led the defense with nine tackles apiece. Young became the 13th player in program history to surpass 300 career tackles.
 

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 15 different players carry the ball, 14 catch a pass, five throw a pass and 10 score a touchdown through 10 games.
• Wimsatt started the last three games, establishing a new career high in passing yards each time (68, 166, 236). Also had career highs with 20 completions, 34 attempts and two touchdown passes at Michigan State. Led a unit that went 8-for-16 on third down, recording seven passing plays overall of at least 15 yards and no turnovers.
• Cruickshank paces the team with 40 receptions, while Ryan is first with three touchdowns. Jones is one catch away from making it 100 career as a Scarlet Knight.
 

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.
• Rutgers has shown defensive statistical improvement compared to last season. The Scarlet Knights have allowed 71.7 less yards of total offense per game, 44.5 less passing yards and 27.1 less rushing yards.
• LB Deion Jennings ranks eighth in the Big Ten with 7.9 tackles per game. Young is 17 tackles away from breaking into the top-10 in program history in career tackles, while DB Christian Izien needs 11 to reach 300.
• DB Christian Braswell leads the unit with three interceptions, with Melton totaling seven pass breakups and two picks.
 

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 third at 43.57. The unit has held opponents to -10 punt return yards on 53 attempts (no positive returns), first nationally. The last team with a double-digit negative figure for a season was Oklahoma (-18) in 2020.
• Rutgers has blocked 67 kicks under Schiano, 12 times scoring off a blocked punt. That includes 12 games with multiple blocks.
• P Adam Korsak leads the roster with 56 games of experience, downing 138 career attempts (42.2 percent) inside the 20-yard line. The Aussie is 186 punting yards away from matching the NCAA all-time record of 14,546 held by Derek Adams (Kent State/Northwestern, 2016-21).
• PK Jude McAtamney has made a field goal in eight games, making two attempts of 49 yards.


 

VERSUS PENN STATE

• Rutgers and Penn State will meet for the ninth time in a Big Ten contest, 14th time in New Jersey and for the 33rd 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 at Beaver Stadium, 28-0. Both traded punts on the first 12 possessions of the game before the Nittany Lions scored with 4:37 left in the second quarter.
• Rutgers has 13 players on its roster from the state of Pennsylvania: RB Samuel Brown V (Philadelphia), PK Antonio Chadha (Bryn Mawr), LB Anthony Johnson (Philadelphia), DB Kareem Lewis (Philadelphia), OL Tyler Needham (Newton), LB Ryan Russo (Harrisburg), QB Evan Simon (Mount Joy), DL Cam'Ron Stewart (Shillington), OL Emir Stinette (Philadelphia), LB Andrew Vince (Schwenksville), DB Timmy Ward (Canton), RB Aaron Young (Coatesville) and DB Avery Young (Coatesville). In addition, OL Brad Harris Jr. attended high school at St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia.
• 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)
 

UP NEXT

Rutgers concludes the regular season traveling to Maryland on Nov. 26. Kickoff is set for noon on Big Ten Network.

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