RUTGERS (3-0) vs. IOWA (2-1)
September 19, 2025 • 8 p.m. ET • FOX
SHI Stadium • Piscataway, N.J.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football opens Big Ten play welcoming Iowa to SHI Stadium on Friday. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. on FOX. The Blackout Game is presented by Horizon, as the Scarlet Knights will bring out their black uniforms and helmets in seeking to start 4-0 for the second straight season.

Fans are encouraged to wear black and be in their seats by 7:30 p.m. for the debut of "Light Up The Knight," a stadium-wide, fully-integrated pregame fan experience. Immediately following the arrival of the Scarlet Knight and his horse "Excalibur," the entire stadium will unite in a synchronized light show powered through the Scarlet Knights App (download now). Stay tuned for more details on "Light Up The Knight."

The evening will showcase special "Jersey Centric" moments celebrating the state's culture and pride, along with appearances from celebrity guests. Fans will also experience a New Jersey-style Blackout performance from The Marching Scarlet Knights and the Rutgers Spirit Team, adding to the electric atmosphere at SHI Stadium.

The first 12,000 students in through the gates will receive exclusive 2025 Blackout t-shirts. Fans will receive shakers upon entry while supplies last.

The Rutgers Boardwalk, presented by Visit New Jersey, begins at 4 p.m. and includes an appearance by The World Cup Road Tour. The parade, pep rally, team arrival and Scarlet Walk take place starting at 5:30 p.m. Check out the top food trucks in New Jersey, plus free rides, mini golf, petting zoos, pony rides, prizes and live entertainment. Giveaways for the game include "Beat Iowa" buttons, posters and more.

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 now 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: FOX (FOX Sports app)
Play-By-Play: Connor Onion
Analyst: Mark Helfrich
Reporter: Jennifer Hale

Radio: RWJBarnabas Health Rutgers Sports Network
WFAN 101.9-FM, FOX Sports New Jersey 93.5-FM/1450-AM, SiriusXM 84, 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 & Jayden Tomlinson
 

SCOUTING RUTGERS

• Rutgers has scored at least 30 points in a program-record seven consecutive games dating back to last season.
• Rutgers ranks first nationally with three blocked punts, third in first downs gained (88), fifth in time of possession (35:59), 13th in scoring offense (46.3), 19th in fewest penalties per game (4.0), 21st in completion percentage (71.3), 24th in passing offense (296.3) and 25th in third down conversions (50.0).
• Rutgers is 19-10 in home night games with fans under head coach Greg Schiano (excludes 2020).
• Rutgers is 3-2 in Big Ten openers under Schiano, including a 21-18 home win over Washington at home last season.
• Since 2020, RU is 20-2 when not committing a turnover in a game. The Scarlet Knights are one of nine teams nationally with no turnovers lost in 2025.
• Rutgers, "The Birthplace of College Football," has played 1,425 games in program history on record dating back to 1869, the most in the sport.
 

LAST TIME OUT

• Rutgers returned two blocked punts for touchdowns and scored on eight consecutive offensive drives on the way to a 60-10 win over Norfolk State.
• The offense posted a season-high 563 yards of total offense, totaled 33 first downs and went 9-for-14 on third down. That included 12 passing plays of at least 15 yards. Rutgers reached 60 points for the fourth time under head coach Greg Schiano.
• QB Athan Kaliakmanis finished 18-of-26 for 309 yards and a touchdown pass to WR Ben Black. In his collegiate debut, QB AJ Surace found WR Dino Kaliakmanis and WR Michael Thomas III in the end zone for their first career scores. WR KJ Duff led the team with six receptions for 119 yards, his first game in triple figures.
• On the ground, RB Antwan Raymond ran for two touchdowns on 79 yards, while RB Ja'shon Benjamin totaled 68 rushing yards with a score.
• DL Eric O'Neill picked up a team-high two tackles-for-loss, DB Jett Elad hauled in his first interception for Rutgers and DL Henry Hughes Jr. recovered a fumble on defense.
• DB Kaj Sanders blocked a punt returned for a touchdown by WR Dylan Braithwaite and later scored himself on a blocked punt by Elad. PK Jai Patel went 2-for-2 on field goals.
• Rutgers had 84 players see game action, including 24 who made their collegiate debut.
• Rutgers improved to 15-0 in regular season non-conference games since Schiano returned, sweeping non-conference games in the regular season for the fifth straight year. The Scarlet Knights are now 56-21 in non-conference games overall under Schiano.
• Rutgers improved to 5-0 versus Norfolk State and 16-0 against opponents from the MEAC.


 

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 points on 20-of-27 drives to start the season, including three drives that ran out the clock to end a half.
• QB Athan Kaliakmanis ranks tied for ninth in Rutgers history with 25 touchdown passes and 12th with 3,516 passing yards. In 2025, he is 14th nationally with a 72.9 completion percentage and 23rd (third in the Big Ten) with 273.2 passing yards per game.
• RB Antwan Raymond has scored in five consecutive games and leads the team with 248 rushing yards. He ranks sixth nationally and second in the Big Ten with five rushing touchdowns this season.
• WR KJ Duff is coming off a career-high 119 yards last week and ranks fifth in the Big Ten with 81.3 receiving yards per game. He joins WR DT Sheffield and WR Ian Strong with multiple receiving touchdowns this season.
 

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 has gained three turnovers the past two weeks, with DB Jett Elad and DB Bo Mascoe each recording an interception and DL Henry Hughes Jr. recovering a fumble.
• DB Kaj Sanders leads the team with 16 tackles, while DL Eric O'Neill has 2.5 tackles-for-loss.
• LB Dariel Djabome, a Third Team All-Big Ten performer in 2024, is coming off a 105-tackle season, second among returning Big Ten players.
• Mascoe leads the unit with three passes defended (two 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 last week to make it 13 for the Scarlet Knights since 2022, the most in the nation.
• PK Jai Patel has connected on 35-of-42 career field goals with a long of 51 yards and has hit 18 consecutive attempts, a school record. He has 10 career games with multiple makes, three with at least three makes and a career high of four makes.
• P Jakob Anderson forced 29 fair catches with 15 punts overall downed inside the 20 on 50 attempts in his debut season in 2024. The Aussie pinned both of his attempts inside the 20 so far in 2025.
• PK Jack Scullion has kicked a touchback on 17-of-25 attempts was the kickoff coverage unit has held opponents to eight yards per return, 12th nationally.


 

VERSUS IOWA

• Friday will mark the fifth all-time game on the gridiron between Rutgers and Iowa and third in New Jersey. This will be the fourth time playing the Hawkeyes to open Big Ten play.
• Rutgers fell to No. 22 Iowa at Kinnick Stadium, 22-0, in the most recent matchup in 2023. The Hawkeyes scored 19 points in the second half to expand a 3-0 advantage at halftime. Max Melton recorded his seventh career interception in the red zone late in the second quarter.
• In 2022 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 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. Evan Simon found 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 with 300 yards to 10 different receivers. Christian Izien totaled 15 tackles with a sack.
• 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 five. That included a 69-yarder that settled at the one.
• 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 heads on the road for the first time this season to face Minnesota Sept. 27 at Huntington Bank Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon ET/11 a.m. local on Big Ten Network. The Scarlet Knights won last season's matchup in New Jersey, 26-19.

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