Know Your Opponent: Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Image: Rutgers Athletics

Written by: Nate Comp (@NathanComp1)

Head Coach: Nunzio Campanile (Interim)

Overall: 1st Season, 0-1 (.000)

Bowl Appearances at Rutgers: 0

2018 Record: 1-11 (0-9, Big Ten East)

Bowl Appearances Since 2000: 9 (6-3)

Mascot: Scarlet Knight

Colors: Scarlet

Outfitter: adidas

National Titles: 1

Conference Titles: 1 (Big East)

Heisman Winners: 0

2019 Record: 1-4

Last Week: LOSS 48-7 vs Maryland

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing  Artur Sitkowski (44-68, 64.7 Comp %, 429 Passing Yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs)

Rushing Isaih Pacheco (75 attempts, 340 yards, 4.5 avg, 4 TDs)

Receiving Raheem Blackshear (29 receptions, 310 yards, 2 TDs)

Tackles Tyshon Fogg (46 TKLs, 1.0 TFL, 1 QBH)

Rutgers’ Talking Points

1. “If you have two QBs, you don’t have one.” But if you have no QBs…

You hear the phrase all the time when there’s a quarterback competition and the idea of playing both quarterbacks gets tossed around: “If you have two QBs, then you don’t have one.” Well, Rutgers had two quarterbacks. Then, they had one quarterback. Now, the position is up in the air.

After McLane Carter threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns against UMass in Rutgers’ season-opening 48-21 victory, Carter left the season’s second game with a concussion. Now, he has been ruled out for the remainder of the year. Art Sitkowski took over the job to replace Carter, but opted to sit out the game against Maryland on Saturday so that he can keep a year of eligibility and likely transfer.

Now, Johnny Langan has taken over as the leader of the offense. However, the true freshman threw for just 163 yards, most of which came on two jump balls that Rutgers receivers went up and made a play, and 2 interceptions against Maryland.

2. What should we expect in terms of play calling?

After the firing of Chris Ash and the loss to Maryland, Rutgers head coach Nunzio Campanile spoke to the press and explained that he had essentially attempted to completely overhaul the offense in just a couple days.

“The biggest thing is we kind of tried to rebuild an offense in four days. That’s not really going to get all the results you want but there were some good plays out there.”

Indiana DC Kane Wommack mentioned that having the luxury of seeing one week of play calling provides a level of comfort, but the defense will have to be on the lookout for a bit more of a QB run threat.

3. Scarlet Knights struggle against the Big Ten

If you were trying to remember the last time the Scarlet Knights won a conference game, you would have to go all the way back to November 4th, 2017. Since then, Rutgers has been a disaster against the conference. They are being outscored 130-7 against Big Ten opponents this season and have already fired their coach and offensive coordinator. Looking to Saturday, Indiana opens as 25-point favorites in a homecoming game they have historically struggled in.