RUTGERS (3-0, 1-0) at No. 2 MICHIGAN (3-0, 0-0)
September 23, 2023 • Noon ET • Big Ten Network
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, Mich.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Coming off a 3-0 homestand, Rutgers football heads to the road for the first time in 2023 to face No. 2 Michigan Saturday at Michigan Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon. The Scarlet Knights have eight road wins since 2020.

RU ranks second nationally in sacks allowed per game (0.3), seventh in scoring defense (10.0), 11th in interceptions defensively (5), 11th in rushing defense (69.7), 15th in fewest penalties (11), 15th in turnover margin (+4), 17th in time of possession (33:04) and 20th in rushing offense (210.7).

The 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 101.9-FM, FOX Sports New Jersey 93.5-FM/1450-AM, SiriusXM 158 or 196, 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
Dylan Allen & Eddie Kalegi


 

SCOUTING RUTGERS

• Rutgers seeks to start 4-0 for the first time since 2012 and 2-0 in Big Ten play for the first time since joining the league.
• Rutgers is one of six teams that rank in the top 20 nationally in both rushing offense and defense (Air Force, Oregon State, Syracuse, TCU, UCLA).
• Rutgers is 9-2 in September games since 2021.
• Rutgers is 10-1 since 2020 when not committing a turnover in a game.
 

LAST TIME OUT

• Rutgers defeated Virginia Tech, 35-16, to improve to 3-0 for the third consecutive season. The victory snapped a 12-game skid against the Hokies.
• Rutgers took advantage of an early Virginia Tech fumble that was recovered by DL Wesley Bailey. RB Kyle Monangai took the next snap 19 yards to the end zone. He finished with 143 yards and three scores, including one for a career-long 55 yards, and earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.
• QB Gavin Wimsatt rushed for a career-high 87 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown run. He also found WR Christian Dremel (first career touchdown) for a four-yard passing score.
• LB Tyreem Powell racked up a career-high 11 tackles, his second game in double figures. DB Flip Dixon added an interception on defense.
• Rutgers has won its last nine non-conference games in the regular season dating back to 2019.
 

OFFENSE

• Kirk Ciarrocca is in his first season back as Rutgers' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Ciarrocca, who has over 30 years of coaching experience (19 as an offensive coordinator), returns to Piscataway after serving on Schiano's staff for three seasons and winning two bowl games from 2008-10. He has previously been selected as a semifinalist for the Broyles Award and coached 26 players who had their name called in the NFL Draft (six in the first round).
• Rutgers ranks 20th nationally in rushing offense (210.7). The team topped 250 rushing yards in back-to-back games for the first time since 1993. The unit has allowed just one sack so far this season, ranking second nationally and best in the Big Ten.
• QB Gavin Wimsatt has started the season with 34 completions for 407 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He has added 144 yards and two scores on the ground. RB Kyle Monangai leads the Big Ten with 126.7 all-purpose yards per game and 357 rushing yards (sixth nationally), scoring five touchdowns.
 

DEFENSE

• Joe Harasymiak is in his second season as defensive coordinator and was named a nominee for the 2022 Broyles Award. Statistically, the unit allowed 46.7 fewer yards per game last season compared to 2021, 28.1 fewer passing yards and 18.6 fewer rushing yards. The Scarlet Knights posted their best mark in total defense (349.8) in 10 years.
• Rutgers has allowed just 30 points through two games, the best start since 2012 (25).
• LB Tyreem Powell is fifth in the Big Ten in tackles per game (9.7), while LB Deion Jennings is seventh (8.3). Eight different players have recorded a sack and five have hauled in an interception.
 

SPECIAL TEAMS

• RU has blocked 67 kicks under head coach Greg Schiano (12 times scoring off a blocked punt), including five in 2022. That includes 12 games under Schiano with multiple blocked kicks.
• 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 versus Temple.
• P Flynn Appleby and the punt unit have netted 39.5 yards on 15 attempts.


 

VERSUS MICHIGAN

• Rutgers will play Michigan for the 10th time since joining the Big Ten in 2014. The programs did not previously meet.
• Rutgers has played the most games in college football history (1,398), while Michigan ranks third (1,381).
• Last season at SHI Stadium, Rutgers took a 17-14 lead into halftime, but No. 4 Michigan countered with four touchdowns in the third quarter on the way to a 52-17 win. DB Max Melton blocked a punt in the first quarter, which was scooped up by DB Timmy Ward and returned seven yards for a touchdown.
• In 2021 at Michigan Stadium, Rutgers rallied from down 20-3 at halftime to make it a one-score game, but came up short, 20-13. The Scarlet Knights' defense forced four-straight three-and-outs to start the second half, allowing just 42 yards (35 rushing, seven passing) and two first downs after halftime. Overall, Rutgers held the nation's leading rushing team (350.3 yards per game entering) to 112 yards on the ground, including only 48 after the first drive. The unit also stopped the Wolverines on each of the last seven third downs. Noah Vedral connected for a 14-yard touchdown to RB Aaron Young to cap a 91-yard drive, while Valentino Ambrosio connected for two field goals. Isiah Pacheco rushed for a game-high 107 yards.
• In 2020 at SHI Stadium, Rutgers put together a 16-play, 75-yard drive over 4:40 to tie the game with 27 seconds remaining against Michigan. Vedral found Aron Cruickshank on fourth-and-nine for an 11-yard touchdown and then ran in for the tying two-point conversion to force overtime. Vedral finished with a career-high 381 passing yards, eighth-most in a game in program history. After each team missed a field goal in the first frame, Jovani Haskins started the second extra period with a 25-yard receiving score, but the Wolverines matched. Michigan then recorded six points and held on for the 48-42 victory in triple overtime.
• In one of the more memorable games in Rutgers football history, the Scarlet Knights earned a 26-24 victory over Michigan on Oct. 4, 2014, in a home night game to pick up the program's first league win as a member of the Big Ten Conference. Gary Nova led RU with 404 passing yards (third-most in RU history) and three touchdowns, while Kyle Federico kicked two field goals. The game was sealed with 3:01 remaining in the fourth quarter when Kemoko Turay skied above the line to block a potential go-ahead 56-yard field goal. The sellout crowd of 53,327 stormed the field to celebrate the win.
• Both the longest rushing (Pacheco 80-yard touchdown in 2018) and passing (Nova to WR Andrew Turzilli 80-yard touchdown in 2014) play for Rutgers in conference play against a Big Ten opponent came against Michigan.
• Rutgers game highs versus Michigan:
Rushing Yards: Isiah Pacheco, 142 (2018)
Passing Yards: Gary Nova, 404 (2014)
Receiving Yards: Shameen Jones, 127 (2020)
 

UP NEXT

Rutgers is back at SHI Stadium to host Wagner on Sept. 30 for $1 Slice Day, presented by Pizza Hut. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network.

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