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Rutgers coach Greg Schiano’s 24-hour celebration rule can be removed. It’s time for Rutgers to turn to Michigan, like right now.
Rutgers’ official schedule unveiling has left Scarlet Knights fans dreaming of a 3-0 start. All three non-conference games were winnable, which meant Rutgers had a realistic chance of being spotless before their Big Ten opener against Michigan.
It was mission accomplished for the Scarlet Knights, who did what they needed to do on Saturday passing Delaware 45-13 in front of an announced crowd of 40,129 at SHI Stadium in Piscataway.
Noah Vedral threw for 323 yards on 21 passes in 25, with a pair of touchdowns and no interceptions, Isaih Pacheco rushed for 69 yards and two touchdowns and Bo Melton led the receiving effort with five receptions for 121 yards and 28 yards touchdown to lift Rutgers over his foe FCS.
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It was the third time in school history – and the first year since 1949 – that Rutgers had scored 40 or more points in back-to-back home games to start a season.
The victory gave Rutgers their first 3-0 start in nine years and puts Schiano’s side halfway to bowl eligibility.
He also hosts Rutgers’ biggest regular-season game since his 2014 game against Penn State. It was the Scarlet Knights’ first game in the Big Ten and it ended in a 13-10 loss in front of the biggest crowd in Rutgers Stadium history (53,774).
If you’re curious how important next Saturday’s game in Michigan will be, consider that the 3:30 p.m. affair has already been nominated for a national TV show on ABC or ESPN.
Michigan improved to 3-0 on Saturday with a 63-10 triumph over northern Illinois, scoring touchdowns on each of its first nine records in front of 106,263 fans at Michigan Stadium.
Here’s a look at the Scarlet Knights’ biggest test of the season:
Mighty Michigan: Michigan is ranked in the Top 25 for good reason. After struggling for a 2-4 record in a COVID-19-marred campaign, the Wolverines are once again a national power. Michigan entered the Associated Press’s Top 25 on Saturday and is set to advance after the convincing victory over a northern Illinois team that previously upset Georgia Tech on the road and lost a shootout to Wyoming.
Rutgers’ last victory over a Top 25 foe came on November 12, 2009 – a 31-0 shutout against the then number one. 23 USF at Piscataway.
The last trip to Ann Arbor didn’t go so well: The September 28, 2019 case in Michigan could be called Chris Ash’s Last Stand.
Rutgers was not competitive then-No. 20 Michigan, falling 52-0 while producing just 152 total yards.
Rutgers fired Ash the next day.
“I feel completely sick and horrible for our guys because they keep showing up everyday and working at work,” Ash told reporters afterwards.
Rutgers fired Ash the next day. His final record was 8-32.
The 2020 game was a classic: The most surprising result of last season for Rutgers was none of his three surprise wins. That’s the fear the Scarlet Knights put the Wolverines through before falling 48-42 in triple overtime on November 21, 2020.
The Scarlet Knights scored more points than in their previous five games (37) against the Wolverines and it still wasn’t enough.
Noah Vedral threw for a career-best 381 passing yards – the eighth-tallest in program history – and linebacker Olakunle Fatukasi recorded 17 tackles and two sacks in a Piscataway thriller.
After Michigan missed a field goal attempt to start the first overtime, Rutgers had a chance to win it, but Valentino Ambrosio missed a 45-yard attempt and Daxton Hill’s interception following a fourth touchdown from Hassan Hawkins won it for Michigan.
Michigan have won the previous five games by a combined margin of 258-37.
Watch out for Cade McNamara: The Michigan junior had a stellar performance against Rutgers last season, coming off the bench to throw for 260 yards and four touchdowns on 27 assists in 36 in a shootout.
McNamara has been formidable in Michigan’s 3-0 start this season, throwing for 371 yards and three touchdowns on 24 assists against 37. The 6-1, 212 pounds of Reno, Nevada, attempted 108 passes in his career without pitching. interception.
Rutgers Challenge # 1: The Scarlet Knights’ biggest test against Michigan will be stopping their much-vaunted hasty attack.
After averaging 339 yards per game in its first two wins, Michigan finished with 373 rushing yards on Saturday against Northern Illinois.
Blake Corum paced all the rushers with 125 yards and three touchdowns. It was the third straight 100-yard outing for the second from Marshall, Va.
Rutgers entered the action of Week 3 in fifth place in the Big Ten with a quick defense that had given up 90 yards per game rushing. Saturday’s result against Delaware was a disappointment for the Scarlet Knights, who surrendered 159 rushing yards to the Blue Hens, led by a 159-yard effort from Dejoun Lee.
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Keith Sargeant can be reached at [email protected].
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