RUTGERS (5-2, 2-2) at INDIANA (2-4, 0-3)
October 21, 2023 • Noon ET • Big Ten Network
Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, Ind.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Off to a 5-2 start, Rutgers football heads back on the road this week to face Indiana Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon. The Scarlet Knights seek their third Big Ten win to match the program high set in 2014, 2017 and 2020.

RU leads the nation in kickoff returns (36.7), ranks fifth in passing defense (160.6), eighth in total defense (277.3), eighth in fumbles recovered (6), 12th in fewest sacks allowed (0.86), 12th in scoring defense (16.0), 14th in fewest penalties (4.29), 15th in red zone defense (0.70), 16th in fourth down conversions (0.73) and 26th in turnover margin (0.57, +4).

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.

Big Ten Network (FOX Sports app)
Play-By-Play: Connor Onion
Analyst: Matt Millen
Reporter: Elise Menaker

Radio: RWJBarnabas Health Rutgers Sports Network
WFAN 660-AM/101.9-FM, FOX Sports New Jersey 93.5-FM/1450-AM, SiriusXM 389, SXM app, 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
Dylan Allen & Joseph Henry


 

SCOUTING RUTGERS

• Rutgers is 5-2 for the first time since 2014 and seeks to start 6-2, last achieved when beginning 7-1 in 2012.
• Rutgers is outscoring opponents in the fourth quarter by a mark of 79-34.
• Rutgers is 11-1 since 2020 when not committing a turnover in a game.
• Rutgers has scored points on its first offensive drive in five games.
 

LAST TIME OUT

• Rutgers scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to erase an 18-point deficit and defeat Michigan State, 27-24. It was the largest comeback for a win in Big Ten play since rallying from 25 points down at Indiana in 2015 and largest overall since erasing a 21-point deficit in 2016 versus New Mexico.
• Rutgers won for the 15th time under head coach Greg Schiano when trailing in the fourth quarter. The 18 points overcome matched the largest deficit to win in the Schiano era, tying the 34-16 deficit at Vanderbilt to win 37-34 in 2004.
• Rutgers outgained Michigan State by 140 yards, 120 to minus 20, in the fourth quarter.
• RB Kyle Monangai recorded 148 rushing yards (107 in the fourth quarter) on 24 carries. He scored his seventh rushing touchdown of the season to put RU ahead with 8:21 remaining.
• The go-ahead score was setup by a recovered sky kick by DB Thomas Amankwaa.
• RB Aaron Young recovered a fumble in the end zone and QB Gavin Wimsatt found WR Isaiah Washington for a four-yard touchdown pass as part of the comeback.
• DB Desmond Igbinosun recorded a career-high four tackles-for-loss and DB Robert Longerbeam forced two fumbles on defense.
• Rutgers won on Homecoming for the second-straight year, improving to 55-33-1 all-time in the game. The attendance of 52,879 marked the highest for a Homecoming game.
 

OFFENSE

• Kirk Ciarrocca is in his first season back as Rutgers' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Ciarrocca, who has over 30 years of coaching experience (19 as an offensive coordinator), returns to Piscataway after serving on Schiano's staff for three seasons and winning two bowl games from 2008-10. He has previously been selected as a semifinalist for the Broyles Award and coached 26 players who had their name called in the NFL Draft (six in the first round).
• Compared to 2022, Rutgers is averaging 46.8 more yards of total offense per game, 36.7 more rushing yards and 10.3 points. The unit is 11-for-15 on fourth down.
• QB Gavin Wimsatt has accounted for 11 touchdowns (seven passing, four rushing) to rank fifth in the Big Ten in points responsible for (66).
• RB Kyle Monangai is first in the Big Ten (20th nationally) with 635 rushing yards on 120 carries with seven scores.
• WR JaQuae Jackson leads the team with 282 receiving yards, while WR Christian Dremel has scored three touchdowns on 21 receptions.
 

DEFENSE

• Joe Harasymiak is in his second season as defensive coordinator and was named a nominee for the 2022 Broyles Award. Statistically, the unit allowed 46.7 fewer yards per game last season compared to 2021, 28.1 fewer passing yards and 18.6 fewer rushing yards. The Scarlet Knights posted their best mark in total defense (349.8) in 10 years.
• Rutgers has held three opponents to seven points or less.
• Rutgers has had 12 players combine for 17 sacks, led by three apiece from DL Wesley Bailey and DL Aaron Lewis.
• LB Tyreem Powell ranks eighth in the Big Ten with 7.1 tackles per game.
• DB Robert Longerbeam owns 21 career pass breakups.
 

SPECIAL TEAMS

• RU has blocked 67 kicks under head coach Greg Schiano (12 times scoring off a blocked punt), including five in 2022. That includes 12 games under Schiano with multiple blocked kicks.
• PK Jai Patel has two games with multiple makes, including a long of 51 yards versus Temple. PK Jude McAtamney has booted 25-of-36 attempts for a touchback.
• P Flynn Appleby and the punt unit have netted 40.3 yards with a long of 75 yards.


 

VERSUS INDIANA

• Saturday will mark the 10th meeting on the gridiron between Rutgers and Indiana since first playing in 2014. It will be the fifth game in Bloomington. The Scarlet Knights won the first two meetings, the Hoosiers won the next five and RU has claimed the last two.
• In 2022 at SHI Stadium, Rutgers rallied from a 14-0 deficit to score 24 unanswered points in a 24-17 win on Homecoming. 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. 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. Brown scored his third touchdown of the season to put Rutgers ahead in the third quarter. DB Christian Braswell recorded an interception on four passes defended. He returned the pick 12 yards for a touchdown.
• In 2021 in Bloomington, Rutgers rushed for five touchdowns and recorded six takeaways to top Indiana on the road, 38-3. The 35-point win was the largest margin of victory for the Scarlet Knights in a Big Ten game. It was also the largest margin of victory in program history in a conference road contest. Rutgers allowed a team-low three points in a Big Ten game, making it the first time not permitting a touchdown in such game. LB Mohamed Toure recovered a fumble on the first snap of the game, with Ifeanyi Maijeh, Billy Taylor and Rashawn Battle (on a force by DB Robert Longerbeam) also jumping on loose balls. Both LB Tyreem Powell and DB Max Melton hauled in interceptions. Isiah Pacheco punched in touchdowns on two of the first three drives. RB Aaron Young and Noah Vedral ran over the goal line, with Raiqwon O'Neal crossing as an offensive lineman.
• Rutgers won the first game of the series in 2014 by the score of 45-23.
• In the 2015 meeting in Bloomington, Rutgers tied its school record with a 25-point comeback in a 55-52 victory that featured 1,223 combined yards of total offense. The 55 points are the most scored by Rutgers in a Big Ten game since joining the conference. Rutgers rallied for 28 unanswered points to end the game, as Kyle Federico hit a 26-yard field as time expired.
• Rutgers game highs versus Indiana:
Rushing Yards: Robert Martin, 124 (2015)
Passing Yards: Chris Laviano, 386 (2015)
Receiving Yards: Leonte Carroo, 157 (2015)
 

UP NEXT

Rutgers is off next week before returning to action Nov. 4 to host No. 3 Ohio State at SHI Stadium for Military Appreciation Day. The game is presented by McDonald's. The Scarlet Knights are 5-0 at home this season.

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