Saturday, October 24
Evanston, Ill.
Noon
Rutgers
at
Northwestern
Photo by: Dakota Moyer/Rutgers Athletics
Game 7: Football at No. 24/23 Northwestern
Oct 19 | Football
RUTGERS (2-4, 1-2) at No. 24/23 NORTHWESTERN (5-1, 2-1)
October 24, 2026 ā¢ Noon ET ā¢ Peacock
Ryan Field ā¢ Evanston, Ill.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. ā Coming off a victory at Maryland, Rutgers football is back on the road against Northwestern Saturday. Kickoff is set for noon ET/11 a.m. local at Ryan Field. The Scarlet Knights have played 29 Big Ten games since last facing the Wildcats.
The game will stream exclusively on Peacock. Peacock, NBCUniversal's direct-to-consumer streaming service, features the most live sports of any SVOD service in the United States. Click here for more information on Peacock and to subscribe.
TV: Peacock
Play-by-Play: Paul Burmeister
Analyst: Yogi Roth
Reporter: Caroline Pineda
Radio: RWJBarnabas Health Rutgers Sports Network
WFAN 660-AM/101.9-FM, FOX Sports New Jersey 93.5-FM/1450-AM, SiriusXM 257, SXM App, Audacy App, Scarlet Knights App
Play-by-Play: Chris Carlin
Analyst: Mike Teel
Sideline: Anthony Fucilli
Engineer: Paul Shrager
Pre/Post: Marc Malusis & Eric LeGrand
Student Radio: WRSU 88.7-FM
Will Carmenaty & Reggie Smith
SCOUTING RUTGERS
ā¢ Rutgers ranks first nationally in fewest penalty yards per game (28.67), fourth in punt return defense (0.0), 14th in kickoff return defense (13.43), 15th in yards per completion (14.63) and 16th in net punting (42.94).
ā¢ WR KJ Duff ranks third nationally with nine receiving touchdowns, fifth with 123.5 receiving yards per game and 11th with seven receptions per game. After leading the nation with 22 contested catches last season, Duff Jr. again is first with 13 contested catches so far in 2026 (Pro Football Focus).
ā¢ Since 2020, Rutgers is 21-4 when not committing a turnover in a game.
ā¢ Rutgers has scored 66 non-offensive touchdowns under Schiano, including 15 since 2020 and three last season.
ā¢ Rutgers has blocked 76 kicks (46 punts, 17 field goals, 13 extra points) under Schiano, including three blocked punts returned for touchdowns last season.
ā¢ Rutgers has at least one NFL Draft pick each of the past five years, matching a program record also done from 1981-85. A Scarlet Knight has scored a touchdown in the NFL each of the past 31 seasons dating back to 1996.
ā¢ Rutgers, "The Birthplace of College Football," has played 1,440 games in program history, dating back to 1869, the most in the sport.
LAST TIME OUT
ā¢ Down 10 at halftime, Rutgers scored 24 straight points on the way to picking up a road win at Maryland, 37-30. It marked the third straight win for the Scarlet Knights over the Terrapins.
ā¢ Rutgers held the ball for 35:52, recorded 28 first downs, went 9-for-14 on third down and scored on all six trips to the red zone (five touchdowns). The defense forced three three-and-outs, held Maryland to 4-for-13 on third down and registered six tackles-for-loss.
ā¢ QB Dylan Lonergan passed for a season-high 291 yards and three scores, finding WR KJ Duff twice and RB Clay Thevenin for touchdowns. Seven different players recorded a reception overall. Duff Jr. posted 113 receiving yards, while Thevenin rushed for 109 yards. RB Antwan Raymond added a touchdown on the ground.
ā¢ Defensively, LB Sean Allison posted eight tackles, DL Malachi Davis had two tackles-for-loss, DL Sekou Kromah picked up a sack and DB Jesse Ofurie recorded two pass breakups. Rutgers limited Maryland to seven points in the second half, including a late stand to force a turnover on downs.
ā¢ Rutgers improved to 14-8 coming off a bye week under head coach Greg Schiano.
OFFENSE
ā¢ Kirk Ciarrocca is in his fourth season back as Rutgers' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2026. Ciarrocca, who has over 30 years of coaching experience (22 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 29 players who had their name called in the NFL Draft (six in the first round). Ciarrocca has mentored a first or second team All-Big Ten running back each of the past four seasons, as the Scarlet Knights are the only power conference program to feature a 1,200-yard rusher each of the past three seasons. In 2025, the RU offense produced three All-America selections.
ā¢ QB Dylan Lonergan has passed for 1,066 yards and 10 touchdowns in five starts. He owns four games this season with over 200 passing yards and multiple touchdowns.
ā¢ RB Antwan Raymond is up to 2,196 career rushing yards on 449 carries, including eight games with at least 100 yards. The Canadian has 26 career rushing touchdowns, tied for eighth most in program history. RB Clay Thevenin has scored a rushing touchdown in four straight games.
ā¢ WR KJ Duff, named to the Associated Press Midseason All-America Second Team and most recentlyĀ Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, has scored a touchdown in 5-of-6 games and posted at least 100 receiving yards four times in 2026. He is one receiving touchdown shy of tying Leonte Carroo (2014 & 2015), Brandon Coleman (2012) and Marco Battaglia (1995) for the school record for most receiving touchdowns in a season (10).
DEFENSE
ā¢ Travis Johansen is in his first season as Rutgers' defensive coordinator in 2026. Leading South Dakota to the FCS Playoffs quarterfinals in his first season as head coach in 2025 and previously winning a national championship at Grand View, the Minnesota native has directed six top-10 defenses in bringing 14 years of defensive coordinator experience to New Jersey. Johansen has produced 16 defensive players who have gone on to be drafted in the NFL, signed as a free agent or received camp invites in his coaching career.
ā¢ Rutgers held Maryland to 4-for-13 on third down, forced three three-and-outs and registered six tackles-for-loss.
ā¢ DL Sekou Kromah has posted two sacks and four tackles-for-loss on 14 stops.
ā¢ LB Sean Allison led the team with eight tackles at Maryland and is up to 315 collegiate tackles.
ā¢ DB Chris Joines and DB Bradlee Jones tie for the team lead with 30 tackles, with Jones adding two interceptions, two pass breakups and a forced fumble.
SPECIAL TEAMS
ā¢ Rutgers has blocked 76 kicks (46 punts, 17 field goals, 13 extra points) under head coach Greg Schiano, including three blocked punts returned for touchdowns last season.
ā¢ PK Dane Pizzaro is 23-for-24 on extra points and 4-for-5 on field goals for 35 points scored in 2026.
ā¢ P Jakob Anderson has forced a fair catch on 51-of-98 career attempts with 15 punts of at least 50 yards and 29 downed inside the 20. He completed a pass for 40 yards on a fake punt against USC and was named to the Ray Guy Award's Ray's 8 following three inside the 20 with a long of 57 yards versus Indiana.
ā¢ PK Jack Scullion has booted 90-of-170 (52.9 percent) career kickoffs for a touchback.
VERSUS NORTHWESTERN
ā¢ Rutgers takes on Northwestern for the seventh time, fourth time in a Big Ten game and for the third time in Evanston. The Scarlet Knights lead the series, 4-2.
ā¢ Rutgers opened the 2023 season with a 24-7 home victory over Northwestern. The Scarlet Knights scored touchdowns on a pair of 16-play drives to start the game, running 32 of the first 37 plays and ending with a time of possession of 37:56. The defense held the Wildcats to 201 total yards and 12 rushing yards, the fewest permitted by RU in a Big Ten game, and held NU scoreless until 19 seconds remaining in the game.
ā¢ In 2021, Rutgers made its first trip to Northwestern for a Big Ten game, falling on the short end of a 21-7 game at Ryan Field. Noah Vedral completed 18 passes for 152 yards and an 18-yard touchdown pass to Bo Melton. The score capped a 97-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter, the longest touchdown drive by the team in Big Ten play since joining the conference. Melton produced eight catches for 101 yards overall. Olakunle Fatukasi totaled a game-high 13 tackles, while Robert Longerbeam led the secondary with four pass breakups.
ā¢ In the first Big Ten meeting in 2018, Rutgers held the lead at halftime and through three quarters, but Northwestern came back for an 18-15 win in Piscataway. Isiah Pacheco had a 44-yard rushing touchdown, Justin Davidovicz added two field goals and Willington Previlon registered a sack in the end zone for a safety. Adam Korsak set the school record with a 79-yard punt.
ā¢ In 1991, Antoine Moore rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns and Gary Melton raced 96 yards for a kickoff return touchdown, adding 63 receiving yards. Shawn Williams sealed the 22-18 win with a sack on fourth down after Northwestern had driven to the eight.
ā¢ Rutgers first traveled to Evanston in 1989 and came away with a 38-27 victory in the 1,000th game in program history. Scott Erney went 13-of-28 for 308 yards passing, while Randy Jackson recorded 90 and 83-yard receptions for touchdowns. The Scarlet Knights outgained the Wildcats, 515-430, in a matchup that was nationally televised (ESPN).
ā¢ The first contest, which was played in Newark in 1919, ended as a 28-0 RU win to close the 5-3 season under coach George Foster Sanford, who later earned induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
ā¢ Rutgers has five players on the active roster from the state of Illinois: LB Sean Allison (Hinsdale), DL Raedyn Bruens (Casey-Westfield), WR Dino Kaliakmanis (Antioch), LB Alex Szczesniak (Orland Park) and DB Messiah Tilson (Rockford).
ā¢ Rutgers game highs versus Northwestern:
Rushing Yards: Antoine Moore, 140 (1991)
Passing Yards: Scott Erney, 308 (1989)
Receiving Yards: Randy Jackson, 173 (1989)
UP NEXT
ā¢ Rutgers is back home to host Michigan on Oct. 31 at SHI Stadium. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network. The game is presented by PNC Bank.
Follow Rutgers football on X (@RFootball & @RUboardwalk), Facebook (/RFootballShow) and Instagram (@rfootball & @ruboardwalk) for the latest news and updates. Also subscribe to the YouTube channel.
October 24, 2026 ā¢ Noon ET ā¢ Peacock
Ryan Field ā¢ Evanston, Ill.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. ā Coming off a victory at Maryland, Rutgers football is back on the road against Northwestern Saturday. Kickoff is set for noon ET/11 a.m. local at Ryan Field. The Scarlet Knights have played 29 Big Ten games since last facing the Wildcats.
The game will stream exclusively on Peacock. Peacock, NBCUniversal's direct-to-consumer streaming service, features the most live sports of any SVOD service in the United States. Click here for more information on Peacock and to subscribe.
TV: Peacock
Play-by-Play: Paul Burmeister
Analyst: Yogi Roth
Reporter: Caroline Pineda
Radio: RWJBarnabas Health Rutgers Sports Network
WFAN 660-AM/101.9-FM, FOX Sports New Jersey 93.5-FM/1450-AM, SiriusXM 257, SXM App, Audacy App, Scarlet Knights App
Play-by-Play: Chris Carlin
Analyst: Mike Teel
Sideline: Anthony Fucilli
Engineer: Paul Shrager
Pre/Post: Marc Malusis & Eric LeGrand
Student Radio: WRSU 88.7-FM
Will Carmenaty & Reggie Smith
SCOUTING RUTGERS
ā¢ Rutgers ranks first nationally in fewest penalty yards per game (28.67), fourth in punt return defense (0.0), 14th in kickoff return defense (13.43), 15th in yards per completion (14.63) and 16th in net punting (42.94).
ā¢ WR KJ Duff ranks third nationally with nine receiving touchdowns, fifth with 123.5 receiving yards per game and 11th with seven receptions per game. After leading the nation with 22 contested catches last season, Duff Jr. again is first with 13 contested catches so far in 2026 (Pro Football Focus).
ā¢ Since 2020, Rutgers is 21-4 when not committing a turnover in a game.
ā¢ Rutgers has scored 66 non-offensive touchdowns under Schiano, including 15 since 2020 and three last season.
ā¢ Rutgers has blocked 76 kicks (46 punts, 17 field goals, 13 extra points) under Schiano, including three blocked punts returned for touchdowns last season.
ā¢ Rutgers has at least one NFL Draft pick each of the past five years, matching a program record also done from 1981-85. A Scarlet Knight has scored a touchdown in the NFL each of the past 31 seasons dating back to 1996.
ā¢ Rutgers, "The Birthplace of College Football," has played 1,440 games in program history, dating back to 1869, the most in the sport.
LAST TIME OUT
ā¢ Down 10 at halftime, Rutgers scored 24 straight points on the way to picking up a road win at Maryland, 37-30. It marked the third straight win for the Scarlet Knights over the Terrapins.
ā¢ Rutgers held the ball for 35:52, recorded 28 first downs, went 9-for-14 on third down and scored on all six trips to the red zone (five touchdowns). The defense forced three three-and-outs, held Maryland to 4-for-13 on third down and registered six tackles-for-loss.
ā¢ QB Dylan Lonergan passed for a season-high 291 yards and three scores, finding WR KJ Duff twice and RB Clay Thevenin for touchdowns. Seven different players recorded a reception overall. Duff Jr. posted 113 receiving yards, while Thevenin rushed for 109 yards. RB Antwan Raymond added a touchdown on the ground.
ā¢ Defensively, LB Sean Allison posted eight tackles, DL Malachi Davis had two tackles-for-loss, DL Sekou Kromah picked up a sack and DB Jesse Ofurie recorded two pass breakups. Rutgers limited Maryland to seven points in the second half, including a late stand to force a turnover on downs.
ā¢ Rutgers improved to 14-8 coming off a bye week under head coach Greg Schiano.
OFFENSE
ā¢ Kirk Ciarrocca is in his fourth season back as Rutgers' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2026. Ciarrocca, who has over 30 years of coaching experience (22 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 29 players who had their name called in the NFL Draft (six in the first round). Ciarrocca has mentored a first or second team All-Big Ten running back each of the past four seasons, as the Scarlet Knights are the only power conference program to feature a 1,200-yard rusher each of the past three seasons. In 2025, the RU offense produced three All-America selections.
ā¢ QB Dylan Lonergan has passed for 1,066 yards and 10 touchdowns in five starts. He owns four games this season with over 200 passing yards and multiple touchdowns.
ā¢ RB Antwan Raymond is up to 2,196 career rushing yards on 449 carries, including eight games with at least 100 yards. The Canadian has 26 career rushing touchdowns, tied for eighth most in program history. RB Clay Thevenin has scored a rushing touchdown in four straight games.
ā¢ WR KJ Duff, named to the Associated Press Midseason All-America Second Team and most recentlyĀ Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, has scored a touchdown in 5-of-6 games and posted at least 100 receiving yards four times in 2026. He is one receiving touchdown shy of tying Leonte Carroo (2014 & 2015), Brandon Coleman (2012) and Marco Battaglia (1995) for the school record for most receiving touchdowns in a season (10).
DEFENSE
ā¢ Travis Johansen is in his first season as Rutgers' defensive coordinator in 2026. Leading South Dakota to the FCS Playoffs quarterfinals in his first season as head coach in 2025 and previously winning a national championship at Grand View, the Minnesota native has directed six top-10 defenses in bringing 14 years of defensive coordinator experience to New Jersey. Johansen has produced 16 defensive players who have gone on to be drafted in the NFL, signed as a free agent or received camp invites in his coaching career.
ā¢ Rutgers held Maryland to 4-for-13 on third down, forced three three-and-outs and registered six tackles-for-loss.
ā¢ DL Sekou Kromah has posted two sacks and four tackles-for-loss on 14 stops.
ā¢ LB Sean Allison led the team with eight tackles at Maryland and is up to 315 collegiate tackles.
ā¢ DB Chris Joines and DB Bradlee Jones tie for the team lead with 30 tackles, with Jones adding two interceptions, two pass breakups and a forced fumble.
SPECIAL TEAMS
ā¢ Rutgers has blocked 76 kicks (46 punts, 17 field goals, 13 extra points) under head coach Greg Schiano, including three blocked punts returned for touchdowns last season.
ā¢ PK Dane Pizzaro is 23-for-24 on extra points and 4-for-5 on field goals for 35 points scored in 2026.
ā¢ P Jakob Anderson has forced a fair catch on 51-of-98 career attempts with 15 punts of at least 50 yards and 29 downed inside the 20. He completed a pass for 40 yards on a fake punt against USC and was named to the Ray Guy Award's Ray's 8 following three inside the 20 with a long of 57 yards versus Indiana.
ā¢ PK Jack Scullion has booted 90-of-170 (52.9 percent) career kickoffs for a touchback.
VERSUS NORTHWESTERN
ā¢ Rutgers takes on Northwestern for the seventh time, fourth time in a Big Ten game and for the third time in Evanston. The Scarlet Knights lead the series, 4-2.
ā¢ Rutgers opened the 2023 season with a 24-7 home victory over Northwestern. The Scarlet Knights scored touchdowns on a pair of 16-play drives to start the game, running 32 of the first 37 plays and ending with a time of possession of 37:56. The defense held the Wildcats to 201 total yards and 12 rushing yards, the fewest permitted by RU in a Big Ten game, and held NU scoreless until 19 seconds remaining in the game.
ā¢ In 2021, Rutgers made its first trip to Northwestern for a Big Ten game, falling on the short end of a 21-7 game at Ryan Field. Noah Vedral completed 18 passes for 152 yards and an 18-yard touchdown pass to Bo Melton. The score capped a 97-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter, the longest touchdown drive by the team in Big Ten play since joining the conference. Melton produced eight catches for 101 yards overall. Olakunle Fatukasi totaled a game-high 13 tackles, while Robert Longerbeam led the secondary with four pass breakups.
ā¢ In the first Big Ten meeting in 2018, Rutgers held the lead at halftime and through three quarters, but Northwestern came back for an 18-15 win in Piscataway. Isiah Pacheco had a 44-yard rushing touchdown, Justin Davidovicz added two field goals and Willington Previlon registered a sack in the end zone for a safety. Adam Korsak set the school record with a 79-yard punt.
ā¢ In 1991, Antoine Moore rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns and Gary Melton raced 96 yards for a kickoff return touchdown, adding 63 receiving yards. Shawn Williams sealed the 22-18 win with a sack on fourth down after Northwestern had driven to the eight.
ā¢ Rutgers first traveled to Evanston in 1989 and came away with a 38-27 victory in the 1,000th game in program history. Scott Erney went 13-of-28 for 308 yards passing, while Randy Jackson recorded 90 and 83-yard receptions for touchdowns. The Scarlet Knights outgained the Wildcats, 515-430, in a matchup that was nationally televised (ESPN).
ā¢ The first contest, which was played in Newark in 1919, ended as a 28-0 RU win to close the 5-3 season under coach George Foster Sanford, who later earned induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
ā¢ Rutgers has five players on the active roster from the state of Illinois: LB Sean Allison (Hinsdale), DL Raedyn Bruens (Casey-Westfield), WR Dino Kaliakmanis (Antioch), LB Alex Szczesniak (Orland Park) and DB Messiah Tilson (Rockford).
ā¢ Rutgers game highs versus Northwestern:
Rushing Yards: Antoine Moore, 140 (1991)
Passing Yards: Scott Erney, 308 (1989)
Receiving Yards: Randy Jackson, 173 (1989)
UP NEXT
ā¢ Rutgers is back home to host Michigan on Oct. 31 at SHI Stadium. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network. The game is presented by PNC Bank.
Follow Rutgers football on X (@RFootball & @RUboardwalk), Facebook (/RFootballShow) and Instagram (@rfootball & @ruboardwalk) for the latest news and updates. Also subscribe to the YouTube channel.
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