RUTGERS (5-6, 2-6) vs. PENN STATE (5-6, 2-6)
November 29, 2025 • 3:30 p.m. ET • Big Ten Network
SHI Stadium • Piscataway, N.J.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football completes its 2025 home schedule hosting Penn State Saturday for Senior Day/Thank You Fans. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network. The Scarlet Knights enter 4-2 at SHI Stadium this season and will honor the senior class during the Scarlet Walk.

Fans can purchase single game tickets at ScarletKnights.com. Group tickets are available by calling 866-445-GORU.

The Rutgers Boardwalk, presented by Visit New Jersey, opens at 11 a.m. and will be turned into a Winter Wonderland. Meet Santa Claus and more of your favorite holiday friends, plus stop by Sir Henry's castle for a build-your-own hot chocolate station (while supplies last) and decorate your own Rutgers ornament. At the Coca Cola Holiday Caravan, take part in crafts, write a letter to Santa and pick up giveaways.

In an effort to give back to the community, the R Fund, Rutgers University Athletics' Development team, is once again organizing a food drive at Saturday's game to support local families in need. As part of their ongoing commitment to community outreach, the R Fund is partnering with REPLENISH and the Rutgers Food Pantry to collect non-perishable food items. Fans attending the game are encouraged to bring donations, as collection bins will be at the football truck stationed near the circle at the top of The Rutgers Boardwalk and near many of the entrance gates leading into SHI Stadium. Acceptable donations include non-perishable, non-glass food and hygiene products. Most-needed items include rice, tuna, peanut butter, canned vegetables and meats, beans, soups, pasta, baby supplies, personal care items and paper towels. Clothing will not be accepted. The R Fund's initiative aims to provide essential resources for families facing food insecurity, and together, we can make a difference this holiday season.

Fans will see an improved entry process at SHI Stadium. Through the feedback received from postgame surveys completed by season ticket holders, fans and guests, the following adjustments will continue to remain in place:

• Fans are permitted to enter ALL gates with an approved bag.
• Fans are permitted to walk through the weapons detection system with an approved bag. A full list of approved bag sizes and dimensions are available here. An exception will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection.

Fans are advised to arrive early to ensure a smooth entry into the stadium before kickoff. The walk-through weapons detection system, familiar to spectators who have attended other events in the region, does not require individuals to empty their pockets to enter. Those attending the event are asked to follow the instructions of public safety personnel.

In an effort to encourage a safe environment for fans, as well as improve the ease of entry into the stadium, Rutgers continues to use digital tickets, which can be added to an Apple Wallet or Google Wallet app. Digital tickets provide for contactless entry, which can speed up entry time into the venue and also offers a secure means to transfer and exchange tickets. Representatives from the Rutgers ticket staff will be on hand to help assist customers with any digital ticket related matters. Fans will also receive digital parking passes that they can manage like their digital tickets. Fans are encouraged to download digital tickets and parking passes to their Apple Wallet or Google Wallet apps prior to arriving at the stadium.

SHI Stadium is cashless at all merchandise and concession stands, and now the ticket office and parking lots. Only credit or debits cards will be accepted. A cash-to-card kiosk (no fees) is available at section 113 to convert cash to a debit card. Cards can be loaded for any value up to $500 and cards will work anywhere in the U.S. that accepts MasterCard. No cardholder information is gathered, while purchases and refunds are handled like any other credit card. Food trucks on The Rutgers Boardwalk determine their own payment system and may accept cash.

Fans who park in the Jersey Mike's Arena lots can take the free campus buses over to SHI Stadium (MAP). The drop-off area is located at Lot 53A, allowing fans to walk through The Rutgers Boardwalk on the way to the stadium. The return to Jersey Mike's Arena picks up near the Bubble on the Green Lot side. Buses from College Ave will run to Johnson Park and back. All buses operate three hours prior to kickoff and return up to one hour following the conclusion of the game. The ADA shuttles will continue to take passengers to and from the stadium with locations at the Blue Lot, Silver Lot and Jersey Mike's Arena, in service until 2.5 hours after the game.

Guests are advised to review Football Game Day Central before arriving.



TV: Big Ten Network (FOX Sports app)
Play-By-Play: Jeff Levering
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 137/195, SXM app, Audacy app, Scarlet Knights app
Play-By-Play: Chris Carlin
Analyst: Eric LeGrand
Analyst: Mike Teel
Sideline: Anthony Fucilli
Engineer: Paul Shrager
Pre/Post: Marc Malusis & Julian Pinnix-Odrick

Student Radio: WRSU 88.7-FM
Phil Jaccoma & Nick Hart
 

SCOUTING RUTGERS

• Rutgers ranks fourth nationally with three blocked punts, fifth in fewest penalty yards against per game (31.7), 11th in fewest fumbles lost (3), 14th in fewest turnovers lost (10), 15th in time of possession (32:31), 21st in fourth down conversion percentage (65.6), 24th in yards per completion (13.1), 24th in net punt average (41.6) and 26th in first downs gained (252).
• By yards per game, Rutgers has the third-leading passer (QB Athan Kaliakmanis, 253.3), rusher (RB Antwan Raymond, 95.6) and receiver (WR KJ Duff, 87.0) in the Big Ten.
• Since 2020, RU is 20-3 when not committing a turnover in a game.
• Rutgers has scored 66 non-offensive touchdowns under 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 1,433 games in program history on record dating back to 1869, the most in the sport.


 

LAST TIME OUT

• Playing on the road for the fifth time in seven games, Rutgers lost at No. 1 Ohio State, 42-9. It was the sixth game in program history facing the AP Poll's No. 1 team.
• LB Abram Wright and DB Bo Mascoe each forced fumbles on defense, as LB Dariel Djabome had a season-high 10 tackles with a fumble recovery.
• RB Antwan Raymond rushed for 52 yards and a touchdown, while PK Jai Patel drilled a 44-yard field goal.
 

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.
• In conference play, Rutgers is seventh in the league with 371.1 yards of offense per game, on pace for its best mark since joining the league (351.2 in 2024).
• QB Athan Kaliakmanis ranks seventh in Rutgers history with 5,482 passing yards, 416 completions and 35 touchdown passes. He is 18th nationally with 2,786 passing yards in 2025, recording four games with at least 300 yards.
• RB Antwan Raymond became the ninth player in program history to reach 1,000 rushing yards in a season. He has scored 13 touchdowns (12 rushing, one receiving) in 2025 and is one of 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award.
• Rutgers is the only team in the Big Ten with three receivers over 500 receiving yards this season: WR KJ Duff (957), WR Ian Strong (725) and WR DT Sheffield (550).


 

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 limited Maryland to three points, 93 yards and 1-for-6 on third down in the second half.
• DL Eric O'Neill leads the team with 8.5 tackles-for-loss on the season, joining DL Bradley Weaver with 2.5 sacks.
• LB Dariel Djabome, a Third Team All-Big Ten selection in 2024, owns 186 career tackles with four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
• DB Jett Elad leads the team with 69 tackles, adding two interceptions.
• DB Cam Miller leads the team lead with seven passes defended (six 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 43-of-55 career field goals with a long of 51 yards. He has 13 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 45-of-81 career attempts with 11 punts of at least 50 yards and 24 downed inside the 20. He downed a 65-yard punt at the two at Ohio State, as Rutgers ranks 24th nationally in net punt average (41.6).
• PK Jack Scullion has kicked a touchback on 33-of-61 attempts this season.


 

VERSUS PENN STATE

• Rutgers and Penn State will meet for the 11th time in a Big Ten contest, 15th time in New Jersey and for the 35th 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 nine players on its roster from the state of Pennsylvania: DL Oliver Billotte (Clearfield), RB Samuel Brown V (Philadelphia), DL Wydeek Collier (Philadelphia), DL Darold DeNgohe (Philadelphia), DB Davoun Fuse (Washington), OL Tyler Needham (Newtown), PK Dane Pizzaro (Bensalem), OL Emir Stinette (Philadelphia) and DB Timmy Ward (Canton).
• Head coach Greg Schiano worked on the Penn State staff for six seasons as a graduate assistant (1990) and secondary coach (1991-95).
• Assistant coaches Kirk Ciarrocca (2020), Robb Smith (2023-24), Vic Hall (2024) and Pat Flaherty (1982-83) previously served on the Nittany Lions' staff.
• Rutgers game highs versus Penn State:
Rushing Yards: Mike Botti, 112 (1988)
Passing Yards: Eric Hochberg, 367 (1983)
Receiving Yards: Andrew Baker, 210 (1983)

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