Know Your Opponent: Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

Head Coach: Greg Schiano

Overall: 14th season – 79-84

Bowl Appearances at Rutgers: 7 (1 in this current tenure)

2021 Record: 5-8 (2-7)

Mascot: Sir Henry the Scarlet Knight

Colors: Scarlet and White

Outfitter: adidas

National Titles: 1 (1869)

Conference Titles: 1 (Big East)

Heisman Winners: None

Last Week: Bye Week

Statistical Leaders

Passing: Evan Simon – 71-123 (57.7%) for 740 yards with four TDs and six INTs

Rushing: Samuel Brown – 58 runs for 273 yards (4.71 yards per carry)

Receiving: Aron Cruickshank – 25 catches for 243 yards with two touchdowns

Tackles: Deion Jennings – 46 tackles with 28 solo

Stat of the Week: The Rutgers Scarlet Knights have played three Big Ten contests and have scored a total of 33 points. They had ten against Ohio State and Iowa and 13 against Nebraska. If you take out the 66-7 romp over Wagner, Rutgers has not surpassed 22 points in any game this season. It’s easy to see why they fired the offensive coordinator (Sean Gleeson) after their last game. With an extra bye week to prepare, Greg Schiano is hoping interim OC Nunzio Campanile can improve the unit. Campanile was the tight end coach and has been an interim OC and head coach previously for Rutgers.

Scarlet Knights Talking Points

1. New Voice on Offense For Young RU Attack

The Scarlet Knights have played three quarterbacks so far this season and the Hoosiers should expect to see sophomore Evan Simon along with senior Noah Vedral. Vedral is more of a mobile threat (something that gave IU trouble on Saturday with Billy Edwards Jr. gashing the Hoosiers) while Simon is more of a passer. The top three rushers are all underclassmen with Samuel Brown, the leading rusher, being a freshman. The offensive line is relatively young as well. Rutgers is coming off a bye week and they will have used that week to work with new interim offensive coordinator Nunzio Campanile. The Scarlet Knights enter the game averaging 5.02 yards per play but have struggled mightily in Big Ten play. What adjustments will Campanile make as the new voice leading the attack?

2. Strong Defense Will Present a Challenge For IU

Greg Schiano has always built his squads on a strong defense and this team is no different. The Scarlet Knights are stout up front, holding opponents to just 2.89 yards per rushing attempt. Nebraska only had 304 yards against them two weeks ago, Iowa had just 277, Boston College was held to 312 yards in the season opener. The Scarlet Knights play at a slow and deliberate pace, stop the running game and try to limit explosive plays by the opposing offense. IU attempts to play quickly, struggles mightily to run the ball and hopes to hit big plays with receivers like Cam Camper. The team that can establish their style of play on this game has the big edge.

3. Rock Bottom

The 2021 season was a complete disaster for the Indiana Hoosiers and the lowest point of the Tom Allen tenure thus far came near the end of the season as IU was shellacked at home by Greg Schiano’s Scarlet Knights. IU went 1-14 on third down, 1-4 on fourth down, was outgained on the ground 218 to 82, turned it over six times with four fumbles being lost and Rutgers dismantled IU 38-3. Indiana has lost four games in a row and another loss to Rutgers would end any hope of the Hoosiers getting to a bowl game. The Scarlet Knights are in a similar situation, sitting at 3-3 after starting 3-0. Both teams will be viewing this as a must-win contest.