Game 4: Football vs. Howard

Friday, September 25

Piscataway, N.J.

7:00 PM

Rutgers

Howard

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Sep 21 | Football

Tickets Game Notes

Sir Henry's Birthday Bash (R Community Day: Featuring Eric LeGrand's A Walk to Believe)

RUTGERS (0-3) vs. HOWARD (1-2)
September 25, 2026 • 7 p.m. ET • Big Ten Network
SHI Stadium • Piscataway, N.J.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football continues its three-game homestand against Howard Friday at SHI Stadium, presented by GGL Injury Lawyers. Kickoff for R Community Day is set for 7 p.m. on Big Ten Network.

Taking place at The Rutgers Boardwalk, presented by Visit New Jersey, Eric LeGrand will lead the pregame parade to celebrate the 16th annual "A Walk to Believe." LeGrand, a member of the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame, is one of the most recognizable names and faces to ever attend Rutgers University and play for the Scarlet Knights. A source of inspiration, hope and perseverance for people around the world, his No. 52 is the only retired number in Rutgers football history. He was recently inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni in April. LeGrand launched Team LeGrand, a fundraising arm of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, to help individuals living with spinal cord injury and their families by supporting quality of life initiatives and emerging therapies that will get us to the end zone — cures for spinal cord injuries. To donate, please visit the Reeve Foundation.

Celebrate Sir Henry's birthday with his favorite mascot friends from around the tri-state area. Sign a giant birthday card for Sir Henry on The Rutgers Boardwalk and join in singing "Happy Birthday." The exclusive Sir Henry Collection by Horn Legend is now available. Order today.

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

The Rutgers Boardwalk, presented by Visit New Jersey, returns for year five to highlight the pregame festivities around SHI Stadium. The fun on Scarlet Knight Way begins at 3 p.m. and is free for all fans to enjoy. Check out the top food trucks in New Jersey, plus free rides, mini golf, petting zoos, pony rides, prizes and live entertainment. Get to The Rutgers Boardwalk early for the pregame parade and pep rally featuring The Marching Scarlet Knights, Spirit Team, our mascot "Sir Henry," the Scarlet Knight horse "Excalibur" with the Knight and the Scarlet Walk.

Rutgers Athletics is proud to announce the launch of R Guest Services, a new game day unit dedicated to providing exceptional support and assistance to fans attending Scarlet Knights sporting events. R Guest Services has been established to enhance the overall fan experience by serving as a visible, approachable resource throughout athletic venues on game day. Team members will be stationed strategically across venues to answer questions, provide directions and information, assist with guest needs and respond to customer concerns in real time. A new helpline will be available to fans to report issues and receive assistance in venue when they text "KNIGHTS" to 69050 on game days. The R Guest Services staff can also be reached via email at guestservices@scarletknights.com.

Fans will see an improved entry process at SHI Stadium with additional screening and ticket scanners throughout. Visitors will be directed to access optimal gates. 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 stadium gates with an approved bag.
• All students must enter the stadium through the South Gate (G&H).
• A full list of approved bag sizes and dimensions is available here. An exception will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection.
• Lockers for a $12 fee are located in Athletes Glen across from North Gate (C&D) and South Gate (G&H).

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.

Third-party experts Populous and WSP conducted an extensive review of traffic patterns and parking, and pedestrian flow last season. As a result of those findings, fans will see an improved process for ingress and egress at the parking lots and gates at SHI Stadium. Traffic flows have been modified to direct vehicles into the most optimal routes for respective parking lots when leaving the stadium postgame.

Parking lots are set to open five hours prior to kickoff. Game day lots at Jersey Mike's Arena cost $32 per car (tax included). Johnson Park is no longer a parking option.

Rutgers will operate a courtesy shuttle on the Busch campus to serve fans parking in the outer lots. Shuttle bus pickup begins three hours before kickoff between the Purple and Black Lots on the corner of Brett Road and Bartholomew Road, and it will drop fans off near Athletes Glen. The shuttle will run for one hour following the game. Rutgers will continue to provide ADA shuttle service as in years past with pickup locations at Jersey Mike's Arena, the Busch Student Center and Lot 53. Click here for more information on complimentary shuttles available on game day. Additionally, ridesharing apps offer fans another safe and reliable option to travel to and from SHI Stadium. The Light Blue Lot (Taylor Road, Piscataway NJ 08854) is designated as the drop-off and pick-up location on game day.

Game Day Timeline: 2026 Howard

TV: Big Ten Network (FOX One App)
Play-by-Play: Chris Vosters
Analyst: Anthony Herron
Reporter: Dannie Rogers

Radio: RWJBarnabas Health Rutgers Sports Network
WFAN 660-AM/101.9-FM, FOX Sports New Jersey 93.5-FM/1450-AM, SiriusXM 83, 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 & Gus Zilinskas

Student Radio: WRSU 88.7-FM
Jayden Tomlinson, Noah Addeo & Reggie Smith

SCOUTING RUTGERS
• WR KJ Duff ranks second nationally with six receiving touchdowns, third with 139.7 receiving yards per game and sixth with eight receptions per game.
• OL Kwabena Asamoah and RB Antwan Raymond join Duff Jr. as preseason All-America picks, giving the Scarlet Knights three such selections for the first time since 2008.
• Since 2020, Rutgers is 20-3 when not committing a turnover in a game.
• Rutgers has scored 66 non-offensive touchdowns under head coach Greg Schiano, including 15 since 2020 and three last season.
• Rutgers has blocked 76 kicks (46 punts, 17 field goals, 13 extra points) under Schiano, including three blocked punts returned for touchdowns last season.
• 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.
• Rutgers, "The Birthplace of College Football," has played 1,437 games in program history, dating back to 1869, the most in the sport.

LAST TIME OUT
• Rutgers produced five touchdown drives of at least 75 yards, but fell one score short, 42-35, at SHI Stadium in the Big Ten opener against USC, ranked No. 12 in the AP Poll and No. 11 by the coaches.
• The 35 points were the most by the Scarlet Knights against a ranked opponent since posting 52 in a win over No. 17 Pittsburgh in 2008. The offense picked up 460 yards, went 6-for-11 on third down, held possession for 33:08 and had nine different players record a reception.
• QB Dylan Lonergan passed for 252 yards and tossed touchdown passes to WR Vernon Allen III, WR Elias Coke and WR KJ Duff. RB Antwan Raymond finished with 161 total yards (122 rushing, 39 receiving) and a rushing touchdown, while RB Clay Thevenin added his first rushing score as a Scarlet Knight.
• DB Kaj Sanders led the defense with nine tackles, while DL Zaire Angoy picked up a sack. On special teams, P Jakob Anderson connected with DB Jesse Ofurie to gain 40 yards on a fake punt.

OFFENSE
• 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.
• QB Dylan Lonergan and QB AJ Surace have combined for 841 passing yards and nine touchdowns through three games.
• RB Antwan Raymond owns 1,996 career rushing yards on 406 carries, including seven games with at least 100 yards. The Canadian has 22 career rushing touchdowns, one shy of moving into the program's top-10 career list.
• WR KJ Duff owns 111 career receptions for 1,928 yards and 14 touchdowns. The New York native has recorded a receiving touchdown in four straight games dating back to last season, as no player in program history has previously had five consecutive games with a receiving touchdown.

Kaj Sanders

DEFENSE
• 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.
• Rutgers is 56-8 under head coach Greg Schiano when allowing fewer than 300 yards of total offense.
• DL Rondo Porter leads the defensive line with nine tackles through three games.
• LB Abram Wright returned to the field against USC and posted five tackles, while LB Moses Walker recorded two interceptions and a sack at Boston College.
• DB Kaj Sanders has totaled 118 career tackles, adding two blocked punts in 2025.

SPECIAL TEAMS
• 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.
• PK Dane Pizzaro earned the starting placekicker job over the offseason and converted all 11 extra points this season.
• P Jakob Anderson has forced a fair catch on 48-of-89 career attempts with 13 punts of at least 50 yards and 26 downed inside the 20. He completed a pass for 40 yards on a fake punt against USC.
• PK Jack Scullion has booted 78-of-150 (52 percent) career kickoffs for a touchback.

Rutgers, Howard captains

VERSUS HOWARD
• Rutgers and Howard are set to meet on the gridiron for the seventh time. All meetings have taken place in Piscataway.
• Rutgers has won the previous six matchups by a combined margin of 261-60, including a 26-0 shutout in 2012. The series started in 2006.
• In the last meeting in the 2024 season opener, Eric Rogers recorded a 52-yard pick-six on the first defensive series on the way to leading Rutgers to a 44-7 win. The Scarlet Knights scored on six of their final seven offensive drives (five touchdowns). Kyle Monangai recorded 165 rushing yards on 19 carries (8.7 average). He joined RB Antwan Raymond with a rushing score. Rutgers posted 329 yards on the ground overall. Athan Kaliakmanis threw three touchdown passes in his first game as a Scarlet Knight. Dariel Djabome led the team with 14 tackles.
• In 2016, Janarion Grant combined for 248 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns in a 52-14 win. The Scarlet Knights found the end zone five times in the second half while limiting the Bison to five yards of total offense after halftime.
• Rutgers is 16-0 all-time against teams from the MEAC.
• Rutgers game highs versus Howard:
Rushing Yards: Kyle Monangai, 165 (2024)
Passing Yards: Gary Nova, 282 (2014)
Receiving Yards: Tim Brown, 132 (2009)

UP NEXT
• Rutgers hosts No. 5 Indiana for Homecoming & Family Weekend/The Blackout on Saturday, Oct. 3, presented by RWJBarnabas Health. Kickoff at SHI Stadium is set for 8 p.m. on Big Ten Network.

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