RUTGERS (6-4, 3-4) at No. 12 PENN STATE (8-2, 5-2)
November 18, 2023 • Noon ET • FS1
Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pa.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football takes on a ranked opponent for the third consecutive game and is on the road for the second-straight week with a trip to face No. 12 Penn State Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon.

RU owns three Big Ten wins, matching the program high previously set in 2014, 2017 and 2020. The Scarlet Knights are bowl eligible for the seventh time under head coach Greg Schiano and are poised to earn the 12th bowl invitation in program history. For fans interested in receiving bowl ticket information, please submit the 2023 Rutgers Bowl Interest Form. Details will be sent out as they become available in the coming weeks.

Saturday's game will broadcast on FS1, streaming on the FOX Sports app.

FS1 (FOX Sports app)
Play-By-Play: Chris Myers
Analyst: Robert Smith

Radio: RWJBarnabas Health Rutgers Sports Network
WFAN 660-AM/101.9-FM, FOX Sports New Jersey 93.5-FM/1450-AM, SiriusXM 387, SXM app, Audacy app, Scarlet Knights app
Play-By-Play: Chris Carlin
Analyst: Julian Pinnix-Odrick
Sideline: Mike Teel
Engineer: Paul Shrager
Pre/Post: Marc Malusis & Eric LeGrand

Student Radio: WRSU 88.7-FM
Dylan Allen & Eddie Kalegi


 

SCOUTING RUTGERS

• Rutgers is 6-4, the most wins in a season since going 8-5 in 2014.
• Rutgers is 12-1 since 2020 when not committing a turnover in a game.
• Rutgers leads the nation in kickoff returns (36.7), ranks fifth in fewest tackles-for-loss allowed (3.60), seventh in fewest sacks allowed (0.90), seventh in red zone defense (0.719), ninth in passing defense (166.2), 13th in total defense (294.4), 18th in fewest penalties (4.60) and 19th in scoring defense (18.3).
 

LAST TIME OUT

• Rutgers fell to No. 22 Iowa at Kinnick Stadium, 22-0. The Hawkeyes scored 19 points in the second half to expand a 3-0 advantage at halftime.
• DB Max Melton recorded his seventh career interception in the red zone late in the second quarter. LB Deion Jennings posted a game-high 11 tackles with one for a loss and LB Mohamed Toure reached double-digit stops (10) for the first time in his career.
 

OFFENSE

• Rutgers ranks first in the Big Ten in fewest sacks (0.90) and tackles-for-loss (3.60) allowed, fourth in rushing offense (169.6), fourth in time of possession (31:14) and fifth in scoring offense (24.1).
• Rutgers has four games with over 250 rushing yards this season (10 games), matching the number of such games the previous six seasons combined (70 games).
• Ten of the 28 offensive touchdown drives have been 10 plays or more and nine have taken at least five minutes.
• QB Gavin Wimsatt leads Big Ten quarterbacks (tied 11th nationally) with seven rushing touchdowns and is second with 409 rushing yards. The rushing total of 409 yards is the most by a quarterback in a season in Rutgers history.
• RB Kyle Monangai leads the Big Ten with 942 rushing yards, the most by a Scarlet Knight in a season in the Big Ten era and most overall since Jawan Jamison (1,075) in 2012.
• WR Christian Dremel paces the team with three receiving touchdowns, 30 receptions and 390 yards.
 

DEFENSE

• Rutgers has four defensive scoreless halves, including two in Big Ten play.
• Rutgers is 13th nationally in total defense (294.4), 19th in scoring defense (18.3) and 38th in rushing defense (128.2).
• Rutgers has had nine stops in the red zone.
• Twelve different players have combined for 18 sacks, led by three apiece by DL Wesley Bailey and DL Aaron Lewis.
• DB Robert Longerbeam ranks fourth in the Big Ten with one pass defended per game (nine breakups, one interception), while DB Max Melton has a team-high two interceptions.
• LB Deion Jennings ranks ninth in the Big Ten with 7.5 tackles per game with double-digit stops in each of the last two games.
 

SPECIAL TEAMS

• RU has blocked 68 kicks under head coach Greg Schiano (13 times scoring off a blocked punt), including five in 2022. DB Shaquan Loyal picked up the first block of the season at Indiana, deflecting a punt recovered by DB Eric Rogers for a 17-yard touchdown.
• 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. He is 11-for-13 on the season with three games with multiple makes.
• P Flynn Appleby and the punt unit have allowed just four returns for 25 yards and forced 26 fair catches.


 

VERSUS PENN STATE

• Rutgers and Penn State will meet for the 10th time in a Big Ten contest, 20th time in Pennsylvania and for the 34th 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 53,774 fans in Piscataway.
• Rutgers has 13 players on its roster from the state of Pennsylvania: RB Samuel Brown V (Philadelphia), WR Davoun Fuse (Washington), PK/P Michael Hartshorn (Clarks Summit), WR JaQuae Jackson (Pittsburgh), OL Cole Kozlowski (Holland), DB Kareem Lewis (Philadelphia), OL Tyler Needham (Newton), QB Colin O'Sullivan (Fort Washington), QB Evan Simon (Mount Joy), DL Cam'Ron Stewart (Shillington), OL Emir Stinette (Philadelphia), DB Timmy Ward (Canton) and RB Aaron Young (Coatesville).
• Head coach Greg Schiano worked on the Penn State staff for six seasons as a graduate assistant (1990) and secondary coach (1991-95).
• Offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca served in the same role at Penn State in 2020 and offensive line coach Pat Flaherty was assistant offensive line coach for the Nittany Lions from 1982-83.
• 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 returns to SHI Stadium on Nov. 25 to host Maryland for Senior Day/Thank You Fans. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network.

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