RUTGERS (1-0) vs. WAGNER (0-1)
September 10, 2022 • 4:01 p.m. ET • Big Ten Network
SHI Stadium • Piscataway, N.J.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Coming off a season-opening road victory, Rutgers football takes the field at SHI Stadium for the first time in 2022 when it hosts Wagner Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. for the "Back to the Birthplace Game." The Scarlet Knights are 100-40-10 all-time in home openers, winning 10 of the last 12, and 8-5 under head coach Greg Schiano.

In an effort to encourage a safe environment for fans as well as improve the ease of entry into the stadium, Rutgers has 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. 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.

Football game day adds an exciting new element with the opening of The Rutgers Boardwalk, opening four hours before kickoff (noon). Head over to Scarlet Knight Way before each home game to enjoy several of your favorite food trucks in New Jersey, experience free rides, win prizes and take in the live entertainment. Kids can visit the balloon artist, photo booth, get an airbrush tattoo and play various games. The cannon crew, the Scarlet Knight and his horse "Excalibur," plus Sir Henry, will be among those in attendance on the boardwalk. In addition, the Miller Lite Beer Garden for fans aged 21+ will take place over at Athlete's Glen across from SHI Stadium. All game day giveaways, including buttons and posters, will be handed out along The Rutgers Boardwalk.

All fans are encouraged to wear red and stick around after the final whistle for a postgame fireworks show. 

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.

The game will broadcast on Big Ten Network. Viewers can find the channel through btn.com/gamefinder and through the New Jersey listing. The FOX Sports App will also stream the game.

TV: Big Ten Network (FOX Sports app)
Play-By-Play: Wayne Randazzo
Analyst: Jason McCourty
Reporter: Krystle Rich

Radio: RWJBarnabas Health Rutgers Sports Network
WFAN 101.9-FM/660-AM, FOX Sports New Jersey 93.5-FM/1450-AM, SiriusXM 205, 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 & Eddie Kalegi

SCOUTING RUTGERS

• Rutgers seeks to start 2-0 for the second-straight season, last achieved 2006 and 2007.
• Rutgers holds a +10 turnover margin since Schiano returned in 2020 (39 forced). That includes one turnover or less against in 16-of-23 games.
• Fourteen players made their Rutgers debut in the season opener: DB Christian Braswell, RB Samuel Brown V, OL Mike Ciaffoni, DL Shawn Collins, LB Dariel Djabome, OL Curtis Dunlap Jr., DL Kenny Fletcher, WR Taj Harris, PK Jude McAtamney, LS Ed Rogowski, WR Sean Ryan, RB Al-Shadee Salaam, OL Willie Tyler III and LB Micah Wing.
• Rutgers is 26-10 in non-conference home games under Schiano, having won 12 of the last 14. Overall, the Scarlet Knights are 44-20 in non-conference games led by Schiano.
• The Scarlet Knights will wear a patch with the initials REM on their uniforms in remembrance of former Rutgers Athletic Director Robert "Bob" Mulcahy, who passed away in February. Mulcahy, who served as Director of Athletics from 1998 to 2009, was a visionary in New Jersey athletics and was instrumental in building Rutgers University football toward national prominence.
 

LAST TIME OUT

• Rutgers rallied in the second half to overcome a nine-point deficit and defeat Boston College, 22-21, on the road. It was the Scarlet Knights' first visit to Alumni Stadium since 2004, seventh win over the Eagles and first since 1991.
• Rutgers used a 12-play, 96-yard touchdown drive to take the lead with 2:43 remaining. RB Al-Shadee Salaam picked up his first career score on a 22-yard run. All 96 yards on the march were recorded on the ground, with Salaam collecting 49 on three carries, RB Kyle Monangai contributing 32 on seven attempts and TE Johnny Langan adding a 15-yard run. The drive included three third-down conversions.
• It marked the 14th fourth-quarter comeback win under head coach Greg Schiano, with the most recent previously being 2021 at Illinois. It was also the second time in the last three seasons overcoming a nine-point deficit in the second half (2020 at Purdue).
• Rutgers held Boston College to 29 rushing yards (-8 in the second half), the least amount permitted since Norfolk State had -3 in 2015 and least in a road game since holding Washington State to six in 2014. It was the 11th time under Schiano the Scarlet Knights held an opponent to 30 rushing yards or less, all victories.
• Both DB Christian Braswell and DB Robert Longerbeam recorded interceptions, while DL Wesley Bailey recovered a fumble to help the team score 12 points off turnovers. Bailey (1.5), Longerbeam (1.0), LB Tyreem Powell (1.0) and DB Christian Izien (0.5) combined for four sacks.
• The offense rushed for 212 yards, led by 64 from Monangai. WR Aron Cruickshank and Monangai joined Salaam with rushing scores. The Scarlet Knights saw Langan, QB Gavin Wimsatt, QB Evan Simon and WR Joshua Youngblood all take snaps behind center, as nine different players recorded a reception.
• Rutgers improved to 10-4 in season openers under Schiano, including wins in each of the last five, and 80-64-9 all-time.
• Rutgers was the only team in the Big Ten to open the season with a non-conference road game.
 

OFFENSE

• A native of Glen Ridge, New Jersey, Sean Gleeson is in his third season as offensive coordinator at Rutgers. He was named a candidate for the 2020 Broyles Award, which annually honors the top assistant coach in college football.
• Monangai led the team with 64 rushing yards on a career-high 19 carries in the win at Boston College.
• Wimsatt and Simon combined to record completions to nine different receivers in the season opener.
 

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).
• DB Christian Braswell and DB Robert Longerbeam recorded interceptions at Boston College, while DL Wesley Bailey recovered a fumble to make it three takeaways. Bailey contributed 1.5 of the team's four sacks. DB Christian Izien had a team-high 10 tackles.
• The unit held the Eagles to 29 rushing yards, the 11th time under Schiano holding an opponent to 30 yards or less (all wins).
 

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). P Adam Korsak has 131 consecutive attempts without a touchback dating back to 2019 (23 games), with only five career touchbacks (1.7 percent of attempts) and 116 downed inside the 20 (41.2 percent). Korsak earned a spot on the weekly Ray's 8 after netting 41.3 yards with no return yards against at Boston College.
• PK Jude McAtamney connected on a 33-yard field goal and an extra point in his Rutgers debut.
• Since 2009, Rutgers has blocked 57 kicks (field goals, extra points & punts) on special teams. Breaking down the blocked kicks since 2009, Rutgers has swatted 24 punts, 24 field goals and nine extra points. The Scarlet Knights have scored directly 10 times after a block, picking up eight touchdowns, one safety and a defensive two-point conversion. The Scarlet Knights have 92 rejections overall since 2002. RU has blocked 62 kicks under Schiano, including last year a punt by DB Max Melton at Syracuse and an extra point by DL Ifeanyi Maijeh that led to DB Kessawn Abraham returning it 85 yards for two points against Maryland.

VERSUS WAGNER

• Rutgers and Wagner are set to meet for the first time. The Scarlet Knights are 105-67-1 all-time when playing a team for the first time, with victories the last three occasions (2019 Liberty, 2018 Texas State, 2017 Purdue).
•  Rutgers has 13 New Yorkers on the roster: DB Kessawn Abraham (Brooklyn), OL Ireland Brown (Jamaica), WR Aron Cruickshank (Brooklyn), DL Jahzion Harris (Staten Island), DB Christian Izien (Far Rockaway), WR Shameen Jones (Bronx), DL Ifeanyi Maijeh (Far Rockaway), OL David Nwaogwugwu (Bronx), DL Caleb Patterson (Jamesville), WR Sean Ryan (Brooklyn), WR Jordan Smikle (Farmingdale), TE Jordan Walker (Rochester) and LB Moses Walker (Staten Island).
 

UP NEXT

Rutgers returns to the road to face Temple Sept. 17 at Lincoln Financial Field. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. on ESPN+. Fans coming to the Philadelphia area are invited to attend an official pregame pep rally/tailgate at Xfinity Live. The festivities begin at noon, with the Marching Scarlet Knights, national champion Rutgers Spirit Squad, Riot Squad and Sir Henry all scheduled to be in attendance. RU last visited the Owls in 2012, also winning last season's meeting in Piscataway.



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