RUTGERS (6-3, 3-3) at IOWA (7-2, 4-2)
November 11, 2023 • 3:30 p.m. ET • Big Ten Network
Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, Iowa

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – On the road each of the next two weeks, Rutgers football travels to Iowa this Saturday to face the Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. local.

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 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: Cory Provus
Analyst: Jake Butt
Reporter: Brooke Fletcher

Radio: RWJBarnabas Health Rutgers Sports Network
WFAN 660-AM/101.9-FM, FOX Sports New Jersey 93.5-FM/1450-AM, SiriusXM 385, 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
Alex Carmenaty & Alec Crouthamel


 

SCOUTING RUTGERS

• Rutgers is 6-3, the most wins in a season since going 8-5 in 2014.
• Rutgers has scored most in the fourth quarter with 93 points.
• Rutgers has scored points on its opening drive in 6-of-9 games (four touchdowns, two field goals).
• Rutgers is 12-1 since 2020 when not committing a turnover in a game.
• Rutgers leads the nation in kickoff returns (36.7), ranks sixth in passing defense (159.9), sixth in fewest sacks allowed (0.89), 10th in total defense (282.4), 11th in fewest penalties (4.33), 14th in red zone defense (0.731), 16th in time of possession (32:18), 20th in scoring defense (17.9), 20th in fewest interceptions thrown (5), 21st in fumbles recovered (7), 24th in turnover margin (0.56, +5), 33rd in rushing defense (122.6) and 33rd in rushing offense (184.7).
 

LAST TIME OUT

• Rutgers led 9-7 at halftime and outgained Ohio State overall, 361-328, but the Buckeyes put up four touchdowns in the second half to take a 35-16 win at SHI Stadium.
• Rutgers led in time of possession (35:36-24:24), rushing yards (232-139) and first downs (22-15).
• RB Kyle Monangai rushed for 159 yards, the second-best rushing total for a Scarlet Knight against a ranked opponent behind Ray Rice's 181 versus No. 2 USF in 2007.
• WR JaQuae Jackson scored his first touchdown as a Scarlet Knight on a 19-yard pass from QB Gavin Wimsatt.
• LB Deion Jennings matched his career high with 13 tackles, while LB Mohamed Toure picked up a sack and interception.
• PK Jai Patel went 3-for-3 on field goals.
 

OFFENSE

• Rutgers is the most improved team in the Big Ten in total offense (+48.8) and scoring offense (+9.4) compared to 2022.
• Rutgers has four games with over 250 rushing yards this season (nine games), matching the number of such games the previous six seasons combined (70 games). The Scarlet Knights are second in the Big Ten in rushing offense (184.7).
• 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 eighth nationally) with seven rushing touchdowns and is second with 411 rushing yards. The rushing total of 411 yards is the most by a quarterback in a season in Rutgers history.
• RB Kyle Monangai leads the Big Ten with 903 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, 28 receptions and 363 yards.
 

DEFENSE

• Rutgers has four defensive scoreless halves, including two in Big Ten play.
• Rutgers ranks sixth nationally in passing defense (159.9) with seven opponents held under 200 yards and four under 150 yards.
• Rutgers has had seven 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 third in the Big Ten with 1.11 pass defended per game (nine breakups, one interception).
• LB Deion Jennings ranks 10th in the Big Ten with 7.1 tackles per game.
 

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 three returns for 22 yards and forced 20 fair catches.


 

VERSUS IOWA

• Saturday will mark the fourth all-time game on the gridiron between Rutgers and Iowa and second at Kinnick Stadium.
• Last year at a sold-out SHI Stadium, Rutgers dropped its Big Ten opener to Iowa, 27-10. The Scarlet Knights scored first on a 28-yard field goal by PK Jude McAtamney to cap a 12-play, 66-yard drive. However, Iowa took advantage of two RU turnovers to score two touchdowns on defense to take the lead heading into halftime. QB Evan Simon found WR Aron Cruickshank for an 18-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. Rutgers out-gained the Hawkeyes, 361-277, and held the visitors to 1-for-9 on third down. Simon went 28-for-49 passing, the seventh-most passing attempts in a game in program history, with a career-high 300 yards to 10 different receivers. Christian Izien totaled a career-best 15 tackles with a sack, while LB Deion Jennings picked up 10 stops with two for loss.
• In 2019 in Iowa City, Rutgers fell to No. 20 Iowa, 30-0. Adam Korsak was named the Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week after averaging 47.6 yards on 10 attempts, finishing with a net of 46.5. The Aussie had seven punts downed inside the 20, five inside the 10 and four inside the 5. That included a 69-yarder that settled at the 1.
• Iowa won the first meeting in the Big Ten opener for both teams in 2016 in Piscataway. Rutgers had more total offense, 383-355, but the Hawkeyes posted a go-ahead touchdown with 8:35 left in the game to win, 14-7. RU scored on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Chris Laviano to Andre Patton to cap a 13-play drive. Robert Martin contributed 106 rushing yards on the day.
• Rutgers' one win against Kirk Ferentz was a 40-17 victory over his Maine Black Bears at Rutgers Stadium on Oct. 12, 1991.
• Rutgers game highs versus Iowa:
Rushing Yards: Robert Martin, 106 (2016)
Passing Yards: Evan Simon, 300 (2022)
Receiving Yards: Janarion Grant, 98 (2016)
 

UP NEXT

Rutgers travels to No. 9 Penn State on Nov. 18. Kickoff is set for noon on either FOX or FS1, determined after this weekend's action.

Follow Rutgers football on Twitter (@RFootball & @RutgersFBfans), Facebook (/RFootballShow) and Instagram (@rfootball) for the latest news and updates. Also subscribe to the YouTube channel.