RUTGERS (4-0, 1-0) at NEBRASKA (4-1, 1-1)
October 5, 2024 • 4 p.m. ET • FS1
Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Neb.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Holding a 4-0 record, Rutgers football hits in the road in the Big Ten for the first time with a trip to face Nebraska Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. on FS1.

Rutgers ranks second nationally in red zone defense (54.5), fifth in fewest penalties per game (4.0), eighth in time of possession (33:38), 12th in rushing offense (237.8), 17th in third down conversion percentage (51.0), 18th in first downs defense (66), 21st in fewest sacks allowed (1.0) and 29th in scoring defense (16.3).

TV: FS1 (FOX Sports app)
Play-By-Play: Alex Faust
Analyst: Robert Smith

Radio: RWJBarnabas Health Rutgers Sports Network
WFAN 660-AM/101.9-FM, FOX Sports New Jersey 93.5-FM/1450-AM, SiriusXM 384, 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
Eddie Kalegi & Will Carmenaty


 

SCOUTING RUTGERS

• Rutgers is 4-0 for the first time as a Big Ten member and first time overall since 2012, a season that started 7-0. The Scarlet Knights seek to move to 5-0, a feat achieved seven times previously in program history (1918, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1976, 2006, 2012).
• Rutgers has scored a touchdown on 16-of-23 trips to the red zone (70 percent), while holding opponents to 4-for-11 (36 percent).
• Rutgers is 15-1 since 2020 when not committing a turnover in a game.
• Rutgers has scored 63 non-offensive touchdowns under head coach Greg Schiano, including 12 since 2020.
• Rutgers, "The Birthplace of College Football," has played 1,413 games in program history on record dating back to 1869, the most in the sport.
 

LAST TIME OUT

• Rutgers held off Washington to win its Big Ten opener, 21-18, at SHI Stadium. It was the Scarlet Knights' first win over the Huskies in three attempts.
• Rutgers won its Big Ten opener for the third time in five years under head coach Greg Schiano.
• Rutgers scored touchdowns on both of its trips to the red zone and held Washington scoreless on three of its possessions inside the 20 and to 2-for-12 on third down.
• RB Kyle Monangai rushed for 132 yards on 25 attempts, adding a touchdown. RB Samuel Brown V ripped off a 37-yard score on the ground, while QB Athan Kaliakmanis found WR Ian Strong for a 15-yard touchdown pass.
• LB Dariel Djabome led the team with 12 tackles.
• The attendance of 54,079 marked the second-highest in stadium history.


 

OFFENSE

• Kirk Ciarrocca is in his second season back as Rutgers' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2024. Ciarrocca has over 30 years of coaching experience (20 as an offensive coordinator). He has been selected as a semifinalist for the Broyles Award and coached 27 players who had their name called in the NFL Draft (six in the first round). Ciarrocca has coached the Big Ten's leading rusher each of the past two seasons (Monangai, Mohamed Ibrahim).
• Rutgers has 13 quarters since 2023 possessing the ball for at least 10 minutes, six such fourth quarters. The Scarlet Knights rank eighth nationally with an average time of possession of 33:38.
• QB Athan Kaliakmanis has thrown seven touchdowns compared to one interception and just four sacks through four games.
• RB Kyle Monangai ranks third nationally with 147.3 rushing yards per game and 16th with six rushing touchdowns. He is 37 yards away from moving into sixth on the program's career rushing leaderboard.
• WR Dymere Miller has multiple receptions in all four games and leads the team with 227 receiving yards. TE Kenny Fletcher paces the offense with 16 catches.
 

DEFENSE

• Joe Harasymiak is in his third season as the Rutgers football defensive coordinator in 2024. A native of Waldwick, New Jersey, Harasymiak also leads the linebackers and has been a nominee for the Broyles Award each of the past two seasons. The Scarlet Knights have improved by 83 yards per game since he joined the staff.
• Rutgers has not allowed a touchdown in the first quarter through four games.
• LB Dariel Djabome leads the team with 36 tackles, ranking 24th nationally and second in the Big Ten with 9.0 tackles per game.
• DB Robert Longerbeam, DB Shaquan Loyal and DB Eric Rogers each have interceptions so far.
• Longerbeam leads the unit with 33 career passes defended (29 breakups, four interceptions) and five forced fumbles.
 

SPECIAL TEAMS

• Rutgers has blocked 71 kicks (41 punts, 17 field goals, 13 extra points) under head coach Greg Schiano. That includes 12 games with multiple blocks and a 9-4 record when returning or recovering a blocked punt for a touchdown in a game.
• PK Jai Patel has connected on 20-of-22 kicks (all 18 extra points, 2-for-4 on field goals). He set the program record for accuracy on field goals last season (15-for-18).
• P Jakob Anderson has forced a fair catch on 11-of-15 attempts and pinned five inside the 20.


 

VERSUS NEBRASKA

• Rutgers will take on Nebraska for the sixth time since joining the Big Ten in 2014, seventh time overall and third time in Lincoln.
• In the last meeting on a Friday in 2022, Rutgers jumped out to a 13-0 lead at halftime. However, the Cornhuskers took advantage of three turnovers, posted two touchdowns and took a 14-13 win. Noah Vedral scored a 21-yard rushing touchdown, with Jude McAtamney connecting for field goals from 25 and 40. RB Samuel Brown V rushed for 63 yards on 16 carries. Both Max Melton and Christian Braswell hauled in interceptions, with DL Aaron Lewis notching a sack.
• Rutgers concluded its 2020 season hosting Nebraska on a Friday night at SHI Stadium. The Cornhuskers won, 28-21. Christian Izien was involved in gaining four turnovers, including two interceptions, while WR Aron Cruickshank recorded a 98-yard kickoff return touchdown.
• In 2017 at Memorial Stadium, Rutgers put together an 11-play, 75-yard opening drive that ended with a two-yard rushing touchdown by Gus Edwards, but Nebraska answered and went on to win, 27-17. The game featured three lead changes. Both Blessuan Austin and Kiy Hester recorded interceptions, with Hester returning his pick for a 33-yard touchdown.
• Nebraska won the first meeting in Piscataway in 2015, 31-14. After falling behind 21-0, Robert Martin scored a one-yard rushing touchdown and Chris Laviano hauled in a five-yard pass from Janarion Grant to make it 21-14 in the third quarter. The Cornhuskers responded with a touchdown and a field goal. RU had three picks on the day, its most in a Big Ten game.
• The first Big Ten game took place in Lincoln in 2014. Leonte Carroo totaled 127 receiving yards, including a 71-yard touchdown from Gary Nova. Both Martin and Desmon Peoples added rushing scores against the 16th-ranked Cornhuskers.
• The first meeting between the programs took place in 1920 in a game played at the Polo Grounds in New York City, as the Cornhuskers prevailed, 28-0.
• The next game in the series in scheduled for 2026 in Piscataway.
• Rutgers previously faced Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule when he led Temple in 2013, with the Scarlet Knights winning in Piscataway, 23-20.
• Running backs coach Damiere Shaw was on Rhule's staff at Temple from 2013-16 and at the beginning of his stint in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers in 2020.
• Rutgers game highs versus Nebraska:
Rushing Yards: Samuel Brown V, 63 (2022)
Passing Yards: Chris Laviano, 165 (2015)
Receiving Yards: Leonte Carroo, 127 (2014)
 

UP NEXT

The Scarlet Out is set for the Oct. 12 game versus Wisconsin at SHI Stadium, presented by PNC. It will also be Band Day with special performances during the game and at halftime featuring bands from schools throughout the state. Kickoff is set for noon on FOX or Big Ten Network, determined following this weekend's action.

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.