For the first time in the 2026 season, IU football hits the road.
The No. 5/6 Hoosiers (4-0) will take on Rutgers (1-3) Saturday evening at 8 p.m. ET at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, N.J. (BTN).
Indiana is 5-5 all-time against the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers won the last meeting 31-14 in 2023. IU has lost three straight games in the series, with its last win coming in 2020.
Rutgers is led by head coach Greg Schiano, who is in his second stint running the program. He was the head coach from 2001-11 and now since 2020. Schiano 100-111 at the school, including 15-40 in the Big Ten. The Scarlet Knights have made a bowl game in three of his five prior seasons. Schiano also went 11-21 as head coach of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2012-13.
Rutgers is coming off its first win of the season against a foe IU knows well. They beat Howard 58-7 on Friday. That followed season opening losses to UMass (37-21), Boston College (28-21) and USC (42-35). This weekend will mark Rutgers’ fourth home game in five contests.
The announced crowd of 34,466 fans at SHI Stadium during their win over Howard marks the lowest announced attendance for any of the 36 home games Rutgers has hosted in Schiano’s second stint outside of the 2020 season. Reports from the game suggest that was a generous number of fans reported.
But Rutgers has big plans for this weekend’s night game against the reigning national champs, with a blackout in the crowd, pregame fireworks, and all-black uniforms to be worn by the Scarlet Knights. It is also homecoming weekend at the school.
Rutgers is averaging 33.8 points per game, good for 54th in the nation, and they are giving up 28.5 a contest, which comes in at No. 107.
PFF grades Rutgers as having the No. 39 offense and No. 113 defense in the country.
Rutgers has tried multiple quarterbacks this season and both have struggled at times.
6-foot-2 Boston College transfer Dylan Lonergan has completed 56.1% of his throws for 708 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. 6-foot-2 junior A.J. Surface has completed 62.8% of his throws for 347 yards with five touchdowns and four interceptions. Lonergan should be the starter on Saturday.
With 29 receptions, 550 yards, and seven scores, wideout K.J. Duff is the major offensive weapon IU must account for at all times. Running back Antwan Raymond (438 yards, four TDs) is very talented as well.
Neither quarterback has proven to be a major threat to run. They’ve combined for just five yards on the ground including sack adjustment. Rutgers has allowed nine sacks for 43 yards.
So what’s the outlook for this Saturday in New Jersey? The oddsmakers and computers like Indiana by more than three touchdowns.
As of Monday morning, the gambling forecast is calling Indiana a 24.5 point favorite.
ESPN’s FPI model gives IU a 96.6% chance to win. The Hoosiers are No. 7 in FPI while Rutgers is No. 84. ESPN’s SP+ model projects a 42-16 IU win, and gives them a 95% probability to pull it out.
The early weather forecast for Friday is calling for a partly cloudy day with a high temperature of 87 and a low of 62. Obviously you’ll want to check back on that later in the week.
We will of course have much more on this game in the days to come.
To help you plan for this Saturday, here are the gameday details:
GAMEDAY TIMELINE (ET)
- 3:00 p.m. – Parking lots open
- 6-6:30 p.m. – Stadium gates open
- 8:00 p.m. – Kickoff
TICKETS AND PARKING
Tickets are still available through Rutgers.
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