RUTGERS (4-1, 1-1) at WISCONSIN (3-1, 1-0)
October 7, 2023 • Noon ET • Peacock
Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, Wis.
 
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football returns to Big Ten play with a trip to Camp Randall Stadium to face Wisconsin Saturday at noon ET/11 a.m. local. The Scarlet Knights are 4-1, the best start since beginning 5-1 in 2014.

The game will stream exclusively on Peacock. Peacock, NBCUniversal's direct-to-consumer streaming service, features the most live sports of any SVOD service in the United States. To celebrate the historic partnership with the Big Ten, NBCUniversal is offering both a student discount and an alumni and parent offer for new Peacock subscriptions. Students are eligible for a discounted 12-month plan at $1.99 per month. Alumni and parents have access to an annual offer of $39.99 for 12 months. Click here for more information on Peacock and to subscribe.

Peacock
Play-By-Play: Brendan Burke
Analyst: Kyle Rudolph
Reporter: Lewis Johnson

Radio: RWJBarnabas Health Rutgers Sports Network
WFAN 660-AM/101.9-FM, FOX Sports New Jersey 93.5-FM/1450-AM, SiriusXM 108 or 204, 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 & Ellis Gordon


 

SCOUTING RUTGERS

• Rutgers scored first in all five games this season. That includes points on the first offensive drive in 4-of-5 games.
• Rutgers has scored 154 points, the most through five games since posting 200 in 2013.
• Rutgers has allowed 64 points, the fewest through five games since permitting 54 in 2012.
• Rutgers is 11-1 since 2020 when not committing a turnover in a game.
• Rutgers has permitted just two sacks, leading the nation (0.40/game). The Scarlet Knights also rank fifth nationally in fewest interceptions thrown (1), 10th in total defense (267.8), 10th in fewest penalties per game (4.0), 12th in scoring defense (12.8), 14th in passing defense (169.2), 26th in turnover margin (0.60, +3), 23rd in time of possession (32:08), 24th in rushing defense (98.6) and 27th in rushing offense (195.2).
 

LAST TIME OUT

• Rutgers scored on 8-of-9 drives (seven touchdowns, one field goal) on the way to defeating Wagner, 52-3.
• Rutgers finished the non-conference portion of the schedule 3-0 for the third-straight season.
• Rutgers allowed 106 yards, the fewest for the Scarlet Knights in a game under head coach Greg Schiano. It was also the 20th time under Schiano allowing no offensive touchdowns.
• QB Gavin Wimsatt finished 12-of-19 for 146 passing yards along with a four-yard touchdown to WR Christian Dremel. The Scarlet Knights tallied six rushing touchdowns on the day, which included two from Wimsatt and one apiece from RB Ja'shon Benjamin, RB Samuel Brown V, RB Kyle Monangai and RB Aaron Young.
• DL Aaron Lewis posted a career-high two sacks.
 

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).
• The offense has surrendered just two sacks and two turnovers through five games, posting at least 250 rushing yards three times.
• QB Gavin Wimsatt has accounted for nine touchdowns (five passing, four rushing) with 57 completions for 733 yards.
• RB Kyle Monangai is third in the Big Ten with 471 rushing yards on 88 carries with six scores.
• WR Christian Dremel has a touchdown in each of the last three weeks, leading the team with 14 receptions. WR JaQuae Jackson owns a team-high 207 receiving yards.
 

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 3-of-5 opponents to seven points or less.
• Rutgers has had 10 players combine for 13 sacks, led by three by DL Aaron Lewis.
• LB Tyreem Powell ranks seventh in the Big Ten with 7.6 tackles per game.
• DB Robert Longerbeam and DB Max Melton both own 19 career pass breakups, while LB Deion Jennings leads the team with four this season.
 

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 was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week following the Temple win after going 3-for-3 with a long of 51 yards.
• P Flynn Appleby and the punt unit have netted 41.6 yards with a long of 75 yards.


 

VERSUS WISCONSIN

• Rutgers will play Wisconsin for the fifth time since joining the Big Ten in 2014. The programs did not previously meet. This will be the third meeting at Camp Randall Stadium.
• In 2021 in Piscataway, Avery Young hauled in an interception on the opening series, but Wisconsin answered with one of their own and scored a touchdown. The Badgers, ranked No. 21 in the College Football Playoff poll, added 24 points in the second quarter on the way to a 52-3 win.
• In the last meeting in Madison in 2018, Raheem Blackshear recorded 162 receiving yards with a touchdown in a 31-17 loss. Jonathan Hilliman added a touchdown on the ground and Justin Davidovicz converted a field goal. Saquan Hampton contributed two interceptions and two pass breakups.
• In its first trip to Wisconsin in 2015, Rutgers fell behind early and could not recover in a 48-10 loss to the Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Blessuan Austin highlighted the day for the Scarlet Knights with a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter.
• The initial meeting took place in Piscataway for Homecoming in 2014. Wisconsin scored 20 points in the first half on the way to a 37-0 win.
• Rutgers game highs versus Wisconsin:
Rushing Yards: Josh Hicks, 72 (2015)
Passing Yards: Artur Sitkowski, 261 (2018)
Receiving Yards: Raheem Blackshear, 162 (2018)
 

UP NEXT

Rutgers is back at SHI Stadium on Oct. 14 to host Michigan State for Homecoming & Family Weekend. Kickoff is set for noon on Big Ten Network. The Scarlet Knights are 4-0 at home this season.

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