Game 2: Football vs. Akron - Rutgers University Athletics (2024)

RUTGERS (1-0) vs. AKRON (0-1)
September 7, 2024 • Noon ET • Big Ten Network
SHI Stadium • Piscataway, N.J.

PISCATAWAY, N.J.– Rutgers football returns to SHI Stadium to face Akron Saturday on Big Ten Network. The game, slated for a noon kickoff, is presented byGGL Law Firm. The Scarlet Knights seek to start 2-0 for the fourth straight season.

The annual R Community Game is highlighted by a celebration of Eric LeGrand's "A Walk to Believe," which culminates with No. 52 leading participants down the parade along The Rutgers Boardwalk. The parade will take place at 9 a.m. and lead into the pregame pep rally, team arrival and Scarlet Walk. LeGrand's walk is sponsored byPrudentialandGGL Law Firm.

Rutgers has introduced security enhancements at all SHI Stadium gates with the implementation of a new walk-through weapons detection system. Fans are advised to arrive early to ensure a smooth entry into the stadium before kickoff. The 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.

Thebag policyfrom previous years remains in place, but fans with bags must enter through North Gate C, Auxiliary Gate 1, Auxiliary Gate 2 or between Gates G & H (students gate) for inspection. All other gates will not accept bags.

The Rutgers Boardwalk, presented by VisitNJ.org, will open at 8 a.m. this week. Join mascot "Sir Henry" and friends from across the region to celebrate his birthday. There will be a mascot autograph/selfie station in front of the stage just before and after the pep rally and team arrival at 9:30 a.m. The Rutgers Boardwalk features top food trucks in New Jersey, plus free rides, mini golf, petting zoos, pony rides, prizes and live entertainment from "OK Otter" on the stage. Get to The Rutgers Boardwalk early for the pregame parade and pep rally featuring The Marching Scarlet Knights, Spirit Team, mascot "Sir Henry," the Scarlet Knight horse "Excalibur" with the Knight and the football team arrival. Giveaways include "Beat Akron" buttons, limited-edition posters and shakers.

New on The Rutgers Boardwalk this year, all kids 12 and under can stop by the Rutgers Kid's Club next to the stage to pick up their exclusive Rutgers Kid's Club Credential and game-theme specific pin for their lanyard. Kids who collect all seven pins will receive a free pizza and ice cream at the final home game of the year. This week's pin is Sir Henry in honor of his birthday.

In an effort to encourage a safe environment for fans, as well as improve the ease of entry into the stadium, Rutgers continues to use mobile tickets, which can be added to an Apple Wallet or Google Wallet app. Digital tickets provide for contactless entry, which can speed up entry time into the venue and also offers a secure means to transfer and exchange tickets. Representatives from the Rutgers ticket staff will be on hand to help assist customers with any digital ticket-related matters. Fans will also receive mobile parking passes that they can manage like their digital tickets. Fans are encouraged to download mobile tickets and parking passes to their Apple Wallet or Google Wallet apps prior to arriving at the stadium.

SHI Stadium is now cashless at all merchandise and concession stands with the exception of parking lots, the ticket office and food trucks on The Rutgers Boardwalk. Cash-to-card kiosks (no fees) are available at sections 104 and 124 to convert cash to a debit card. Cards can be loaded for any value up to $500 and cards will work anywhere in the U.S. that accepts MasterCard. No cardholder information is gathered, while purchases and refunds are handled like any other credit card.

Fans who park in the Jersey Mike's Arena lots can take the free campus buses over to SHI Stadium (MAP). The drop-off area is located at Lot 53A, allowing fans to walk through The Rutgers Boardwalk on the way to the stadium. The return to Jersey Mike's Arena picks up near the Bubble on the Green Lot side. Buses from College Ave will run to Johnson Park and back. All buses operate three hours prior to kickoff and return up to one hour following the conclusion of the game. TheADA shuttleswill continue to take passengers to and from the stadium with locations at the Blue Lot, Silver Lot and Jersey Mike's Arena, in service until 2.5 hours after the game.

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

The game will broadcast on Big Ten Network. Viewers can find the channel throughbtn.com/gamefinderand through theNew Jersey listing. The FOX Sports app will also stream the game.

TV: Big Ten Network (FOX Sports app)
Play-By-Play: Jason Horowitz
Analyst: Adam Breneman
Reporter: Taryn Hatcher

Radio: RWJBarnabas Health Rutgers Sports Network
WFAN 660-AM/101.9-FM, FOX Sports New Jersey 93.5-FM/1450-AM, SiriusXM 106/195, 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 & Julian Pinnix-Odrick

Student Radio: WRSU 88.7-FM
Eddie Kalegi, Tyler Levy & Jess Buckley

• Rutgers has won eight consecutive non-conference games and 12 of the last 13. The Scarlet Knights are 51-20 overall in such games under head coach Greg Schiano.
• Rutgers is 14-1 since 2020 when not committing a turnover in a game.
• Rutgers has scored 63 non-offensive touchdowns under Schiano, including 12 since 2020. The Scarlet Knights are 39-17 in such games.
• Rutgers saw 15 players make their team debut in the opener, 10 make their collegiate debut and five earn their first career start.
• Rutgers, "The Birthplace of College Football," has played 1,410 games in program history on record dating back to 1869, the most in the sport.

• DB Eric Rogers recorded a 52-yard pick-six on the first defensive series of the season on the way to leading Rutgers to a 44-7 win over Howard at SHI Stadium. The Scarlet Knights scored on six of their final seven offensive drives (five touchdowns).
• Rutgers improved to 12-4 in season openers under head coach Greg Schiano. It was the seventh straight season RU won its opener, improving to 82-64-9 all-time.
• RB Kyle Monangai matched his career high with 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, its most in a game since recording 375 versus Howard in 2016.
• QB Athan Kaliakmanis threw three touchdown passes in his first game as a Scarlet Knight, finding WR Dymere Miller, RB Samuel Brown V and TE Kenny Fletcher for scores.
• LB Dariel Djabome led the team with 14 tackles as one of four players on defense to make their first collegiate start (DB Kaj Sanders, DL Jordan Thompson, LB Moses Walker).

• 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).
• In 2023, Rutgers was the most improved team in the Big Ten by total offense (+24.1) and one of just four teams in the league to increase its average from 2022 (Wisconsin +17.6, Illinois +13.0, Indiana +4.6).
• Rutgers has 12 quarters since 2023 possessing the ball for at least 10 minutes, six such fourth quarters.
• Kaliakmanis found eight different receivers for 15 total completions and matched his career high with three touchdown passes in the opener. Miller, Brown V and Fletcher all had their first receiving score for the Scarlet Knights.
• Monangai moved to 13th on the Rutgers career rushing leaderboard (2,107) with his ninth 100-yard game. The 165 yards against the Bison tied his high, also done in 2023 versus Temple, and was the most by a Big Ten player week one.

• 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.
• In 2023, Rutgers ranked 16th nationally in total defense (313.5), posting its best mark and ranking for a season in the Big Ten era and best since 2012 (311.6, 10th nationally). RU held five opponents under 300 yards.
• Djabome posted a career-high 14 tackles in his first collegiate start. Seven different players combined for six tackles-for-loss in the opener.
• Rogers posted his first interception for RU, third career, and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown. The previous Rutgers pick-six was in 2022 by Christian Braswell versus Indiana.
• DB Robert Longerbeam leads the unit with 29 career passes defended (26 breakups, three interceptions) and five forced fumbles.

• Rutgers has blocked 71 kicks (41 punts, 17 field goals, 13 extra points) under 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 went 15-of-18 (83.3 percent) on field goals last year, the most accurate season in program history. He made his first kick (36 yards) in 2024.
• P Jakob Anderson debuted by pinning attempts at the 15 and 10.

• Rutgers and Akron are set to meet for the second time. The previous matchup was a 20-17 home win for the Scarlet Knights on Oct. 27, 1990.
• Trailing 17-13 with just over five minutes remaining, Vince Hall capped a six-play, 50-yard drive with a two-yard rushing touchdown to help RU pick up a victory over Akron on Homecoming. Shaun Smith's interception in the end zone with 44 seconds on the clock sealed the victory.
• Rutgers is 12-5-1 against teams currently in the MAC.
• Rutgers has three players on the roster from Ohio: OL Kwabena Asamoah (Pickerington), DL Elijah King (Gahanna) and OL Dominic Rivera (Olmstead Falls).
• Rutgers game highs versus Akron:
Rushing Yards: Tekay Dorsey, 78 (1990)
Passing Yards: Tom Tarver, 190 (1990)
Receiving Yards: Chris Brantley, 74 (1990)

Rutgers has an open week before traveling to Virginia Tech (Sept. 21) for the first time since 2002. The Scarlet Knights won last season's matchup against the Hokies, 35-16, at SHI Stadium.

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