RUTGERS (3-4, 0-4) at PURDUE (2-5, 0-4)
October 25, 2025 • Noon ET • Big Ten Network
Ross-Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, Ind.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football continues its stretch of 4-of-5 on the road with a trip to Purdue Saturday. Kickoff is set for noon ET on Big Ten Network. It will mark the Scarlet Knights' first game at Ross-Ade Stadium with fans in the stands, previously visiting in 2020.

Rutgers ranks third nationally with three blocked punts, 10th in time of possession (33:02), 10th in fewest penalty yards against per game (34.4), 13th in first downs gained (174), 21st in fewest turnovers lost (6) and 25th in passing offense (276.1).

TV: Big Ten Network (FOX Sports app)
Play-By-Play: Guy Haberman
Analyst: Yogi Roth
Reporter: Rhett Lewis

Radio: RWJBarnabas Health Rutgers Sports Network
WFAN 660-AM/101.9-FM, FOX Sports New Jersey 93.5-FM/1450-AM, SiriusXM 372, 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
Nick Hart & Tyler Levy


 

SCOUTING RUTGERS

• Since 2020, RU is 20-2 when not committing a turnover in a game.
• Rutgers has scored 66 non-offensive touchdowns under head coach Greg Schiano, including 15 since 2020 and three so far this season.
• Rutgers has blocked 76 kicks (46 punts, 17 field goals, 13 extra points) under Schiano, including three blocked punts so far this season.
• Rutgers, "The Birthplace of College Football," has played 1,429 games in program history on record dating back to 1869, the most in the sport.
 

LAST TIME OUT

• In the first meeting between the programs, Rutgers lost at home to No. 8 Oregon, 56-10.
• DB Jett Elad forced a fumble on the opening series, which was recovered by DL Jordan Walker. PK Jai Patel followed with a 51-yard field goal to tie his career long. DB Cam Miller added an interception in the third quarter and WR Ben Black recovered a fumble on punt coverage in the fourth quarter.
• RB Ja'shon Benjamin scored his second rushing touchdown of the season to go along with 69 yards on the ground.
 

OFFENSE

•  Kirk Ciarrocca is in his third season back as Rutgers' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2025. Ciarrocca, who has over 30 years of coaching experience (21 as an offensive coordinator), previously served on head coach Greg Schiano's staff for three seasons, winning two bowl games from 2008-10. He has been selected as a semifinalist for the Broyles Award and coached 28 players who had their name called in the NFL Draft (six in the first round). Ciarrocca has coached the Big Ten's leading rusher two of the past three seasons.
• Rutgers has scored on its opening drive in 5-of-7 games (four touchdowns, one field goal).
• QB Athan Kaliakmanis ranks seventh in Rutgers history with 4,560 passing yards, seventh with 359 completions and tied for eighth with 29 touchdown passes. He ranks 17th nationally (third in the Big Ten) with 266.3 passing yards per game.
• RB Antwan Raymond has scored 10 touchdowns (nine rushing, one receiving) and ranks 22nd nationally with 615 rushing yards.
• WR KJ Duff (team-high four receiving touchdowns) and WR Ian Strong (96 career receptions) recently joined WR DT Sheffield (four receptions of at least 40 yards) on the 2025 Biletnikoff Award watch list. The trio are all top 12 in the Big Ten in receiving yards per game this season. Rutgers is one of three teams with three representatives (Ohio State, Ole Miss) and has multiple selections for the first time since 2008 (Kenny Britt, Tiquan Underwood).


 

DEFENSE

• Robb Smith is in his seventh season at Rutgers in 2025 and serves as co-defensive coordinator and play caller. A native of Leechburg, Pennsylvania, Smith previously worked on the Scarlet Knights' staff in various roles, including as defensive coordinator, from 2009-12 and from 2020-21. He is joined by co-defensive coordinator Zach Sparber, a native of Norwood, New Jersey, who comes from James Madison and has been to five bowl games.
• Rutgers recorded a season-high three takeaways against Oregon, its most in a Big Ten game since recording three versus Michigan State in 2023.
• DL Eric O'Neill leads the team with 4.5 tackles-for-loss on the season, while DL Bradley Weaver has picked up 2.5 sacks.
• LB Dariel Djabome, a Third Team All-Big Ten selection in 2024, owns 158 career tackles and had two forced fumbles at Washington.
• DB Jett Elad leads the team with 44 tackles, adding an interception.
• DB Bo Mascoe leads the unit with four passes defended (three pass breakups, one interception).
 

SPECIAL TEAMS

• Rutgers has blocked 76 kicks (46 punts, 17 field goals, 13 extra points) under head coach Greg Schiano. That includes 16 games with multiple blocks, 18 touchdowns off blocks and two resulting in safeties. DB Jett Elad and DB Kaj Sanders each blocked punts versus Norfolk State to make it 13 for the Scarlet Knights since 2022, the most in the nation.
• PK Jai Patel has connected on 38-of-49 career field goals with a long of 51 yards, matched last week versus Oregon. He has 11 career games with multiple makes, three with at least three makes and a career high of four makes.
• P Jakob Anderson has forced a fair catch on 40-of-68 career attempts with nine punts of at least 50 yards and 21 downed inside the 20.
• PK Jack Scullion has kicked a touchback on 26-of-43 attempts this season.


 

VERSUS PURDUE

• Rutgers will take on Purdue for the third time in making its second visit to Ross-Ade Stadium, first with fans in the stands. The Scarlet Knights lead the series, 2-0.
• In the last meeting in 2020, Rutgers overcame a 23-13 halftime deficit by outscoring Purdue in the second half, 24-7, to claim a 37-30 victory in its first visit to Ross-Ade Stadium. The Scarlet Knights owned time of possession in the second half with 21:57 of ball control. That included an 18-play drive lasting 9:38 from the third quarter into the fourth. The drive resulted in a Valentino Ambrosio field goal that extended the lead to 37-30. After a three-and-out capped by a tackle-for-loss by Mike Tverdov, RU converted two first downs on rushes by Johnny Langan to wipe off the final 5:26. Purdue took its last offensive snap with 6:09 remaining on the clock and ran only three plays in the fourth quarter, as RU possessed for 13:17 in the last period. Artur Sitkowski connected with Shameen Jones for a pair of 14-yard touchdown passes in the first quarter. Langan rushed for 95 yards on 21 carries with nine first downs picked up on the ground. Aron Cruickshank ripped off a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the third quarter.
• Rutgers won the first meeting in Piscataway, the 2017 Homecoming game, by the score of 14-12. Gus Edwards recorded a 74-yard touchdown to give the Scarlet Knights a 7-0 lead 2:37 into the game. Giovanni Rescigno found Raheem Blackshear for a 35-yard passing score in the third quarter to extend the advantage to 14-6. The Boilermakers scored a touchdown to pull within 14-12 with 25 seconds remaining. However, RU denied the two-point conversion attempt to seal the victory.
• Rutgers has one Indiana native on the roster, DL DJ Allen (Leo).
• Rutgers game highs versus Purdue:
Rushing Yards: Johnny Langan, 95 (2020)
Passing Yards: Artur Sitkowski, 152 (2020)
Receiving Yards: Shameen Jones, 88 (2020)
 

UP NEXT

• Rutgers is on the road for the fourth time in five games to face No. 23 Illinois Nov. 1. Kickoff is set for noon ET/11 a.m. local on NBC. The Scarlet Knights won the last meeting at Memorial Stadium in 2021, 20-14.

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