PISCATAWAY, NJ – The Rutgers football team will be on the road for the first time this season, taking on Virginia Tech on Saturday. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. on the ACC Network. The Scarlet Knights last visited Lane Stadium in 2002.

RU ranks first nationally in sacks allowed (0.0), fourth in running game (307.0), fifth in red zone defense (50.0), sixth in third down conversion rate (57.9), ninth in point defense (46.5), 13th in fewest penalties per game (4.0), 16th in total offense (495.5), 20th in pass defense (133.5), 23rd in time of possession (32:52) and 25th in point defense (12.0).

TV: ACC Network (Watch ESPN)
Match report: Chris Cotter
Analyst: Mark Herzlich
Reporter: Coley Harvey

Radio: RWJBarnabas Health Rutgers Sports Network
WFAN 660-AM/101.9-FM, FOX Sports New Jersey 93.5-FM/1450-AM, SiriusXM 108/197, SXM app, Audacy app, Scarlet Knights app
Match report: Chris Carlin
Analyst: Julian Pinnix-Odrick
Sideline: Anthony Fucilli
Engineer: Paul Shrager
Before/After: Marc Malusis and Eric LeGrand

Student radio: WRSU 88.7-FM
Eddie Kalegi and Woody Silverstein

• Rutgers looks to start 3-0 for the fourth straight season.
• Rutgers rushed for 614 yards, the most by the Scarlet Knights in two games in a season since 1973 (635).
• Rutgers scored at least 40 points in each of its first two games of the season for the first time in program history. The Scarlet Knights scored points in each of the first eight quarters.
• Rutgers has recorded a takeaway in 10 consecutive games since last season, its longest streak since a 19-game streak from 2011-13.
• Rutgers has a record of 11-6 after a week off, 12-4 in season openers and 6-2 in bowl games under the head coach Greg Schiano.
• Rutgers has won nine consecutive nonconference games and 13 of its last 14. The Scarlet Knights have a combined record of 52-20 in such games under Schiano.
• Rutgers, “the birthplace of college football,” has played 1,411 games in the program’s history since 1869, the most in the sport.

• RB Kyle Monaghan ran for a career-high 208 yards and three touchdowns to help Rutgers to a 49-17 victory over Akron at SHI Stadium, the second-ever meeting between the two teams and the first since 1990.
• Rutgers managed 515 yards of offense, the first time it topped 500 yards against an FBS opponent since 2019 against Massachusetts, and had a streak of six consecutive drives with a touchdown to pull away from the Zips.
• Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis finished the game with 14 completions for 230 yards and three touchdowns and found WR KJ DuffTE Kenny Fletcher and WR Chris Long on moves that score points.
• Monangai averaged 7.7 yards per carry during his career, including a career-high 62 yards in the first half. With his 208 yards on the ground, Monangai became the first RU player since 2014 (Josh Hicks) to rush for 200 yards in a game. His performance earned him Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors, his second time receiving the honor.
• Kaliakmanis’ 230 passing yards and Monangai’s 208 rushing yards marked the first time a Scarlet Knights player reached 200 in both categories in a game since Mike Teel (303 passing) and Ray Rice (280 rushing) both reached that number against Ball State in the 2008 International Bowl.
• The defense held the Zips to three points in the first half. DL Malcolm Ray and DB Eric Rogers both registered bags, DB Shaquan Loyal recorded his first interception of the season and DB Robert Longbeam two passes blocked.

• Kirk Ciarrocca is in his second season as Rutgers’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2024. Ciarrocca has more than 30 years of coaching experience (including 20 as offensive coordinator). He was selected as a semifinalist for the Broyles Award and coached 27 players selected in the NFL Draft (six in the first round). Ciarrocca has coached the Big Ten’s best runner in each of the last two seasons (Monangai, Mohamed Ibrahim).
• Rutgers has eight games with at least 200 rushing yards and six games with at least 250 since 2023.
• Rutgers has scored a touchdown on 11 of 13 attempts to get into the red zone this year.
• Monangai ranks second nationally with 186.5 rushing yards per game, fourth with 8.1 yards per carry and sixth with 12.0 points scored per game. He has yet to run in the fourth quarter this year and has rushed for at least 100 yards in four consecutive games since last year.
• Kaliakmanis has thrown six touchdown passes in two games, including a 58-yard touchdown pass to Long, the longest of his career. WR Dymere Miller leads the unit with eight catches for 114 yards, while Fletcher has scored a touchdown in each of the first two weeks.

• Joe Harasymiak is in his third season as the Rutgers football team’s defensive coordinator in 2024. Harasymiak, a native of Waldwick, New Jersey, also leads the linebackers and was nominated for the Broyles Award each of the past two seasons. The Scarlet Knights have improved by 83 yards per game since he joined the team.
• Rutgers has not allowed a point in the first quarter in two games.
• LB Dariel Djabome leads the team with 19 tackles, including 14 in the first game against Howard.
• Loyal and Rogers have each recorded interceptions and 10 different players have been involved in a tackle for loss.
• Longerbeam leads the unit with 31 career passes defensed (26 breakups, three interceptions) and five forced fumbles.

• Rutgers has blocked 71 kicks under Schiano (41 punts, 17 field goals, 13 extra points), including 12 games with multiple blocks and a 9-4 record in returning or recovering a blocked punt for a touchdown in a game.
• PK Jai Patel made 15 of 18 (83.3 percent) field goals last year, the most accurate season in program history. He has converted all 13 kicks so far this season (12 extra points, one field goal).
• P Jacob Anderson sunk three of his first four attempts inside the 20.

• Rutgers will face Virginia Tech for the 17th time overall and the seventh time in Virginia. The Hokies lead the series 12-4. The last meeting at Lane Stadium was in 2002.
• Last year at SHI Stadium, Rutgers defeated Virginia Tech 35-16. The win ended a 12-game losing streak to the Hokies. The Scarlet Knights capitalized on an early Virginia Tech fumble that was recovered by DL. Wesley Bailey. Monangai took the next snap 19 yards to the end zone. He finished the game with 143 yards and three touchdowns, including one for 55 yards, and was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. WR Christian Dremel scored a 4-yard touchdown. LB Tyreem Powell collected 11 tackles and DB, which is a career high Flip Dixon added an interception in defense.
• The programs played every season from 1992 to 2003 as members of the Big East Conference.
• RU and VT met in the 2012 Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando. Khaseem Greene scored the first touchdown on a fumble recovery in the end zone and Nick Borgese kicked a field goal to make it 10-0 at halftime. However, the Hokies responded, tying the game and sending it to overtime, where they won on a field goal, 13-10. Defensively, Rutgers recorded three total turnovers, four sacks and 10 tackles-for-loss and held Virginia Tech to just 196 total yards and three rushing yards, both RU bowl records.
• One of the most memorable games in Rutgers history was the 1992 Halloween victory over Virginia Tech in Piscataway. RU fell behind 42-23 in the third quarter before outscoring the Hokies 27-7 from there to complete the comeback. Trailing 49-44 with 1:32 remaining, Bryan Fortay led a game-winning 78-yard drive that included a 46-yard Hail Mary pass to Mario Henry with seven seconds left. Chris Brantley then broke free in the back right corner of the end zone to score the opening goal with zero left on the clock. It was Brantley’s fourth receiving touchdown of the game, a program record. Malik Jackson added three interceptions on defense, tying the school record. The shootout included a total of 1,164 yards of offense on 167 plays with 54 first downs, 10 interceptions and 14 touchdowns.
• The series began with a home win for RU in 1920 (19-6). The next meeting in 1953 was also a home win for Rutgers (20-13).
• Longerbeam (Alexandria) is the only current RU player from Virginia.
• Rutgers had five games with a player rushing for at least 100 yards against Virginia Tech, two games with a player throwing for at least 300 yards and five games with a player receiving 100 or more yards.
• Rutgers has a 4-1 record against the ACC since 2021, including road wins at Syracuse and Boston College.
• Rutgers vs. Virginia Tech game highlights:
Mileage: Terrell Willis, 155 (1993)
Passing yards: Ray Lucas, 374 (1994)
Receiving Yards: Reggie Funderburk, 172 (1994)

Big Ten play will begin with the blackout set for the Friday, Sept. 27 game at SHI Stadium against Washington. The game will be presented by Horizon. Fans are asked to wear black clothing and arrive early to see the pregame light and fireworks show. The team will be wearing their black uniforms and helmets. Game time is 8 p.m. on FOX.

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