RUTGERS (4-5, 1-5) at MICHIGAN STATE (4-5, 2-4)
November 12, 2022 • Noon ET • Big Ten Network
Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, Mich.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football returns to the road to take on Michigan State Saturday at Spartan Stadium. The Scarlet Knights own eight road wins since 2020, including one over the Spartans the last trip to East Lansing.

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 385, Audacy app, 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
Dennis Geissler & Eddie Kalegi


 

SCOUTING RUTGERS

• Rutgers leads the Big Ten and is second 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 43.4 (fourth nationally).
• Rutgers is top-25 nationally in total defense (18th, 310.6) and passing defense (21st, 183.1).
• Rutgers is 9-0 since 2020 when not committing a turnover in a game.
• Rutgers has had 13 different players score a touchdown this season.
 

LAST TIME OUT

• Rutgers took a 17-14 lead into halftime, but No. 4 Michigan countered with four touchdowns in the third quarter on the way to a 52-17 win at SHI Stadium.
• Melton blocked his third punt of the season in the first quarter, which was scooped up by DB Timmy Ward and returned seven yards for a touchdown. It was the third non-offensive score of the season and 59th overall under Schiano.
• PK Jude McAtamney hit a 32-yard field goal to make it 14-10 before the Scarlet Knights put together an eight-play touchdown drive capped by a three-yard pass from QB Gavin Wimsatt to WR Sean Ryan.
• DB Avery Young posted a game-high 11 tackles, while LB Jamier Wright-Collins set a career high with 10 stops. DL Ifeanyi Maijeh recorded a sack and the defense combined for eight pass breakups.
 

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 nine games.
• Wimsatt started the last two games, setting career highs in completions (14), attempts (29) and yards (166) last week versus Michigan.
• WR Aron Cruickshank paces the team with 34 receptions, while Ryan is first with 323 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
 

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 85.9 less yards of total offense per game, 51.8 less passing yards and 34.1 less rushing yards.
• LB Deion Jennings ranks sixth in the Big Ten with 8.7 tackles per game. Young is three tackles away from becoming the 13^th player in program history to reach 300 career stops.
• DB Christian Braswell leads the unit with three interceptions and six pass breakups.
 

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 fourth at 43.4. The unit has held opponents to -10 punt return yards on 48 attempts, first in the country.
• 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 55 games of experience, downing 135 career attempts (41.9 percent) inside the 20-yard line. The Aussie is 414 punting yards away from matching the NCAA all-time record of 14,546 held by Derek Adams (Kent State/Northwestern, 2016-21).
• McAtamney has made a field goal in eight games, making two attempts of 49 yards.


 

VERSUS MICHIGAN STATE

• Rutgers is set to take on Michigan State for the ninth time in a Big Ten game, eighth time in East Lansing and 14th time overall. The Scarlet Knights are 2-2 in games against the Spartans under Schiano.
• Last season at SHI Stadium, Rutgers scored a touchdown on its opening drive when TE Johnny Langan connected with Cruickshank to cap a nine-play drive, but No. 11 Michigan State answered, took a 21-13 lead into halftime and closed out a 31-13 win. It was the 87th Homecoming game for the Scarlet Knights.
• In the 2020 season opener in East Lansing, Rutgers put together a 75-yard touchdown drive on the first possession and forced a fumble on its first defensive play on the way to a wire-to-wire 38-27 win in the return of Schiano as head coach. RU forced seven turnovers in the road victory.
• Two of the signature victories in school history for the Scarlet Knights have come against Michigan State. Rutgers opened the 1988 campaign with a 17-13 victory over the 15th-ranked and defending Rose Bowl-champion Spartans at Spartan Stadium. In the win, Eric Young caught nine passes for 124 yards, including the game's first touchdown on a 61-yard pass from Scott Erney. In front of an ABC television audience and a sellout crowd at Rutgers Stadium, Rutgers stopped Michigan State, 19-14, to start the 2004 season. Jeremy Ito connected on four field goals, Brian Leonard rushed for 150 yards and Ryan Neill returned an interception 31 yards for a score in the win. RU held the ball for 40:14, the second-highest time of possession for the Scarlet Knights in the Schiano era.
• Rutgers game highs versus Michigan State:
Rushing Yards: Brian Leonard, 150 (2004)
Passing Yards: Ryan Hart, 266 (2003)
Receiving Yards: Leonte Carroo, 134 (2015)
 

UP NEXT

Rutgers hosts No. 14 Penn State on Nov. 19 for its final home game of the season, presented by Provident Bank. The game will start at either noon or 3:30 p.m., determined following action this weekend. Big Ten Network will handle the broadcast from SHI Stadium.

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