PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football (1-0, 1-0) delivered a Big Ten Conference win to open the 2023 season, defeating Northwestern (0-1, 0-1), 24-7, on Sunday afternoon in front of 53,026 fans at SHI Stadium. The Scarlet Knights scored on their first two drives and held the Wildcats scoreless the first 59 minutes, outgaining NU, 285-201.
QB Gavin Wimsatt accounted for both a rushing and passing score, as he completed 17 passes for 163 yards and an 11-yard touchdown pass to WR Ian Strong. RB Kyle Monangai rushed for 49 yards and a 15-yard touchdown to pace RU’s rushing attack.
Rutgers’ defense allowed just 13 first downs and 12 rushing yards, which was the lowest rushing total allowed by the defense in a Big Ten game. DL Rene Konga, DB Shaquan Loyal, LB Tyreem Powell, LB Mohamed Toure and DL Kenny Fletcher all registered sacks, while DB Robert Longerbeam and DB Max Melton recorded interceptions. The 201 total yards against were also the least permitted in a Big Ten game since joining the conference.
NOTES
- Rutgers defeated Northwestern for the fourth time and first time since 1991. It was the Scarlet Knights’ first Big Ten victory over the Wildcats. RU has won 4-of-6 meetings overall and is 2-1 versus NU in New Jersey.
- Rutgers improved to 11-4 in season openers under head coach Greg Schiano. It was the fourth-straight season RU won its opener, improving to 81-64-9 all-time.
- Rutgers improved to 102-40-11 all-time in home openers, winning 12 of the last 14, and 10-5 under Schiano.
- Rutgers opened with a Big Ten home game for the first time since joining the Big Ten in 2014.
- Rutgers improved to 4-0 all-time in games played on Sunday, opening a season with a Sunday game for the first time in program history. The previous occurrences were Oct. 29, 2006 versus Connecticut (24-13), Sept. 21, 1980 against Cincinnati (24-7) and Nov. 25, 1979 at Louisville (31-7).
- Rutgers is now 7-2 in September games since 2021.
- Rutgers improved to 59-32 under Schiano when scoring first, 73-31 when scoring at least 20 points, 27-0 when allowing 10 or fewer points, 58-20 when winning the turnover battle and 27-2 when recording at least five sacks.
- Rutgers held Northwestern to 201 total yards of offense and 12 rushing yards, both the fewest allowed in a Big Ten game since joining the conference.
- Rutgers held the ball for 37:56 of clock, the second-highest mark in a Big Ten play. That included 13:34 in the first quarter.
- Rutgers opened with back-to-back touchdown drives of 16 plays each. It marked the first consecutive touchdown drives of 15 or more plays in a Big Ten game at any point in a game. It was also the first time starting a season with back-to-back touchdown drives since 2018 versus Texas State.
- Rutgers allowed just one touchdown, the fourth time in Big Ten play allowing one or fewer in a game.
- Rutgers allowed no sacks, the seventh overall and fourth time in a Big Ten game since 2020.
- WR Ian Strong scored his first career touchdown on his first career catch. He became the first Rutgers true freshman wide receiver to score a touchdown since WR Isaiah Washington in 2019 versus Liberty.
- QB Gavin Wimsatt scored his career rushing touchdown on a six-yard run in the second quarter.
- PK Jai Patel converted his first career field goal attempt from 32 yards out, ending the game with six points total.
- RB Kyle Monangai scored his seventh career rushing touchdown in the third quarter.
- DL Rene Konga posted a career-high two tackles-for-loss with a sack.
- DB Max Melton recorded his sixth career interception and DB Robert Longerbeam hauled in his third pick.
UP NEXT
Rutgers continues its three-game homestand hosting Temple at SHI Stadium on Sept. 9 in a game presented by Rutgers Health. The Blackout is set for a 7:30 p.m. start and will include a pregame light show. Big Ten Network will broadcast the matchup.
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