TO CLOSE

With the Old Bridge HS football coaches hiring him, local favorite Artur Sitkowski left quickly as a quarterback of Rutgers football.
Jerry Carino, @ njhoopshaven

Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Artur Sitkowski (8) lost ground against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first half at Ohio Stadium.(Photo: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports)

Writer John Rowe explores 10 burning questions in college football in week 3:

How busy is Rutgers?

Very concerned. The Scarlet Knights' seven home games in 2017 averaged 39,749, down 11%, and season ticket sales in the offseason dropped further. A secondary market selling tickets sells $ 3 for next week's game against Buffalo. The 16-year-old crowd of 100,000 or more from Ohio State was interrupted last week when 93,057 people showed up to see the Buckeyes evolve with Rutgers.

Has Rutgers gained ground in the Big Ten?

Not really. In many ways, Rutgers has signed more than three star players, against the four and five star Penn State, Ohio State and others have signed. Antonio Alfano of Colonia, a defensive tackle who is the number one consensus player in the state, has opted for Alabama at the expense of big schools and others.

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MORE: Rutgers frosh QB Artur Sitkowski not seriously hurt; Day to day with a shoulder injury

What time does Rutgers go to the best rookies?

Very early. The Scarlet Knights have already offered scholarships to a couple of Catholic recruits from Bergen: Tyler Booker, a defensive tackle, and Jaeden Gould, a cornerback already starting for British Columbia. He is the son of Scott Gould, a former linebacker from the UK.

Does Chris Ash have an NFL prospect on his list?

Probably not. At the start of the season, Tariq Cole, the left-back starter for the past three seasons, was seen as a prospect, but his fortune is declining after many problems trying to block Ohio State star Nick Bosa last week. Bosa., Chargers star brother, Joey Bosa, is the No. 1 potential draft pick.

How did Penn State coach James Franklin upset Pitt fans last week?

James Franklin, who has the habit of getting under the skin of his opponents, has come close to a few feathers when he challenged a Nittany Lions fumble with just over a minute behind Pittsburgh. . That came after quarterback quarterback Sean Clifford pitched a TD pass to make 41-6.

Are Herm Edwards coaches surprised by a 2-0 start at Arizona State?

Most are not surprised. They knew that Herm Edwards was following the game when he was a studio analyst and most are convinced that he has more energy than any 64-year-old man they know. ASU Athletic Director Ray Anderson, who was Edwards' agent on his NFL days, is expected to bow to the hiring.

Why does former Penn State star Clifton, Dave Szott, care so much about football in Arizona?

Because Dave Szott's son, Josh, is a first year receiver for the Wildcats. He caught 41 passes for 1,021 yards and 17 touchdowns at Hun School last season. Former Jets player manager Szott was an NFL offensive guard for 14 years, including posts in Kansas City, Washington DC and the Jets.

Why are Texas A & M and Texas ranked 1-2 in the list of the most valuable college programs?

Because boosters with deep pockets contribute to their causes. Forbes reports that A & M has generated $ 141 million in revenue over the last three seasons, with a profit of $ 107 million. A & M, Michigan, Alabama and Ohio State round out the top 5. You can bet their football tickets are well over $ 3.

What extra benefit does Michigan get from QB Shea Patterson?

Shea Patterson has only played two games for the Wolverines, but his younger brother, Nick, a junior winger from San Antonio, Texas, has verbally committed to Michigan. The young Patterson is considered a three-star rookie by major recruiting services.

What is the unique story of QB Brevin White's recruitment by Princeton?

The 4.0-point student from Stevenson Ranch, Calif., Who threw 54 touchdowns in his senior season, chose Princeton on Alabama, Washington and Arizona State. The recruiting services said Bama coach Nick Saban was trying to convince Brevin White to join Bama.

John Rowe University Football

Alabama (-21) at the end of * Mississippi – The rebel offensive is able to score, even against Bama, but their defense would not contain the Catholic of Bergen, let alone the best team of the country.

x-TCU (+12) vs. Ohio State – The Buckeyes should win. Will they cover? This could be another story. Look for a late TCU score to provide Texans with a back cover.

Boise State (+2 ½) vs. * Oklahoma State – Expect a lot of points in this shootout. Boise State is looking forward to the opportunity to prove that it belongs to the same class as a Big 12 team.

Rowe's Day Game

* Auburn (-8) vs. LSU: Quarterback Auburn Jarett Stidham played badly in a loss to LSU last season, but he beat Georgia and Alabama in three weeks last November.

Other choices

Washington (-6) over * Utah; USC (+ 3½) against * Texas; * San Diego State (+4 ½) against Arizona State; * State of Iowa (+17) against Oklahoma.

home team

x-Arlington, Tex.

Last week: 4-3-1

Season: 9-6-1

Games of the day: 1-1