Rutgers 2016 Season Game 12: Maryland

                                                                                                        (AP Photo)

WHO: Rutgers (2-9, 0-8 Big Ten) at Maryland (5-6, 2-6 Big Ten)

WHEN: Saturday at noon ET

WHERE: Maryland Stadium, College Park, Maryland; ESPNews (TV); WOR 710AM, WCTC 1450AM, WENJ 97.3FM, WNJE 920AM, WRSU 88.7FM (Radio)

COACHES: Rutgers: Chris Ash (first season, 2-9); Maryland: DJ Durkin (first season, 5-6)

SERIES: This marks the 12th meeting between the schools. Rutgers is 5-6 all-time against Maryland dating back to 1920. The Scarlet Knights are 2-2 in College Park, most recently winning 41-38 in 2014 with a school-record 25-point comeback. The Terrapins won last season in Piscataway, 46-41.

LAST WEEK: Rutgers lost at home to Penn State, 39-0. Maryland fell on the road at Nebraska, 28-7.

RUTGERS WINS IF: The Scarlet Knights’ offensive line shows pride in the season finale. The unit has been bullied off the ball the last two weeks, rendering Rutgers largely one-dimensional in shutouts against Penn State and Michigan State. Can fifth-year seniors Derrick Muller (C) and Chris Muller (RG) rally this group to go out with a bang against a more manageable opponent? Establishing the run (Maryland yields 224.4 yards per game) will be critical in order for Gio Rescigno, limited with his mobility since hurting his hamstring Oct. 22 at Minnesota, to capitalize. If Rutgers can control the clock and score some points again, look for the defense led by linemen Darius Hamilton and Julian Pinnix-Odrick to reciprocate with a spirited effort and give the Knights a chance.

MARYLAND WINS IF: The Terrapins effectively gash Rutgers on the ground. Maryland is fourth in the Big Ten in rushing offense (195.3 yards per game). Rutgers is last in rushing defense (259.3 yards per game), only once limiting an opponent to fewer than 200 yards since the start of October. Maryland features a pair of underclassmen running backs, Ty Johnson and Lorenzo Harrison, each averaging more than seven yards per carry. If Rutgers fails to secure the edge and tackle in space, a nine-game losing streak to end the season is likely. A Maryland victory clinches bowl eligibility for the Terps.

EXTRA POINTS: Ash’s first season has been a rough one. Rutgers will end the season with its most losses since at least 2002 (11), when Greg Schiano was a second-year head coach. ... Rutgers wide receivers coach Jafar Williams played at Maryland from 2000-03, totaling 90 receptions for 1,301 yards. ... Maryland quarterback Perry Hills, questionable to play (shoulders), leads the Big Ten in pass efficiency rating (150.1) and completion percentage (66.7) in nine games played. ... Maryland rosters four New Jersey natives, including New Egypt’s Nicolas Pritchard, a backup punter.

PREDICTION: Maryland 24, Rutgers 7

Game week stories

Entering final game against Maryland, Rutgers players eye big picture under Chris Ash

Darius Hamilton, Julian Pinnix-Odrick form lifelong bond at Rutgers

Rutgers coaches reflect on growing pains for freshman QB Tylin Oden

Got a comment or feedback? You can tweet me @gregp_j or email gjohnson@trentonian.com.

— Greg Johnson

Rutgers 2016 Season Game 11: Penn State

                                                                                       (AP Photo)

WHO: No. 9 Penn State (8-2, 6-1) at Rutgers (2-8, 0-7 Big Ten)

WHEN: Saturday at 8 p.m. ET

WHERE: High Point Solutions Stadium; Big Ten Network (TV); WOR 710AM, WCTC, 1450AM, WENJ 97.3FM, WNJE 920AM, WRSU 88.7FM (Radio)

COACHES: Rutgers: Chris Ash (first season, 2-8); Penn State: James Franklin (third season, 22-14)

SERIES: This marks the 27th all-time meeting between the schools and the third since Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2014. Penn State leads the series, 24-2, and won the first two Big Ten matchups. The 2014 primetime contest set the High Point Solutions Stadium attendance record at 53,774.

LAST WEEK: Rutgers lost at Michigan State, 49-0. Penn State won at Indiana, 45-31.

RUTGERS WINS IF: The Scarlet Knights limit running back Saquon Barkley in the trenches and receive a career performance from quarterback Gio Rescigno. Barkley ignites Penn State’s offense, totaling six touchdowns over the past three weeks against Purdue, Iowa and Indiana. The two times Rutgers held a Big Ten opponent to fewer than 200 yards rushing yards (Iowa, Indiana), it lost by a touchdown a less. Meanwhile, Rescigno must rebound at home after Michigan State negated Rutgers’ zone-read scheme and forced the junior (6-for-16 passing, 40 yards, two interceptions) to become one-dimensional.

PENN STATE WINS IF: The Nittany Lions’ defensive line dictates the evening. Penn State leads the Big Ten in sacks (26) and is third in opponent third-down conversion rate (31.5 percent). Defensive end Garrett Sickels leads the front seven with six sacks and 10.5 tackles-for-loss. Displacing a struggling Rutgers offensive line is the blueprint for success on the road. Rutgers is 4-for-28 on third downs over the last two weeks.

EXTRA POINTS: Rutgers will honor 17 seniors in a pregame ceremony for Senior Day: WR Carlton Agudosi, TE Nick Arcidiacono, DB Anthony Cioffi, OL J.J. Denman, P Tim Gleeson, RB Justin Goodwin, DL Darius Hamilton, LB Isaiah Johnson,LB Greg Jones, DL Quanzell Lambert, LB Kevin Marquez, WR Vance Matthews, OL Chris Muller, OL Derrick Nelson, DB Marcus Parker, WR Andre Patton and DL Julian Pinnix-Odrick. ... This marks Penn State’s fifth visit to Piscataway (2014, 1955, 1953, 1951). ... The Nittany Lions have 19 players from New Jersey on their roster, including Hun School alum and Hamilton native Wendy Laurent.

PREDICTION: Penn State 34, Rutgers 17

Game week stories

Rutgers to host Saquon Barkley, Penn State in primetime on Senior Day

Anthony Cioffi exemplifies durability, perseverance during Rutgers career

Uncertainty surrounding Janarion Grant's Rutgers future swirls

Got a comment or feedback? You can tweet me @gregp_j or email gjohnson@trentonian.com.

— Greg Johnson

Rutgers 2016 Season Game 10: Michigan State

                                                                                     (AP Photo)

WHO: Rutgers (2-7, 0-6 Big Ten) at Michigan State (2-7, 0-6 Big Ten)

WHEN: Saturday at noon ET

WHERE: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan; Big Ten Network (TV); WOR 710AM, WCTC 1450AM, WENJ 97.3FM, WNJE 920AM, WRSU 88.7FM (Radio)

COACHES: Rutgers: Chris Ash (first season, 2-7); Michigan State: Mark Dantonio (10th season, 89-40)

SERIES: This marks the eighth meeting between the schools. Rutgers is 3-4 all-time against Michigan State. The Spartans won the previous two matchups beginning in 2014, when the Knights joined the Big Ten.

LAST WEEK: Rutgers lost at home to Indiana, 33-27. Michigan State lost at Illinois, 31-27.

RUTGERS WINS IF: The Scarlet Knights are opportunistic offensively and relatively thorough in all three phases. In two games with Gio Rescigno as the starting quarterback, Rutgers has shown more versatility and big-play ability, yet turnover proneness one week and shoddy offensive line play the next. It needs to put it all together on the road this week against the Big Ten’s 12th-ranked scoring defense. Michigan State is also far and away last in the league in sacks (seven). Of course, Rutgers will need to be clean across the board, an elusive achievement in Big Ten play. The defense forced three turnovers the last time out, and Spartan quarterback Tyler O’Connor (concussion) could be susceptible to more miscues if he suits up this week.

MICHIGAN STATE WINS IF: The Spartans’ ground game has its way. Rutgers’ last-place run defense (248.4 yards per game) showed drastic improvement in the trenches and on the edges against Indiana, but was it an outlier? Michigan State’s two-man rushing duo of L.J. Scott and Gerald Holmes guided the Spartans to 175 rushing yards against Illinois. With a questionable quarterback situation because of O’Connor’s injury, dictating the line of scrimmage and controlling the clock at home is critical.

EXTRA POINTS: Rutgers boasts two victories at Michigan State in its history: 14-7 in 1991 and 17-13 in 1988. This season, the Knights are 0-3 on the road. ... Rutgers is averaging 29.5 points per game. It averaged 3.5 points per game in the Knights’ first four Big Ten contests. ... Michigan State has dropped seven straight, the school’s longest losing streak in nearly 35 years, and is 0-6 in conference for the first time since joining the Big Ten in 1953. ... The Spartans feature two New Jerseyans on their roster: wide receiver Cam Chambers of Sicklerville and defensive lineman Gerald Owens of Thorofare.

PREDICTION: Michigan State 27, Rutgers 23

Game week stories

Rutgers, Michigan State to square off in battle of winless Big Ten teams

Improved Rutgers cornerback Isaiah Wharton looks to bounce back from tough outing

Chris Ash: Rutgers linebackers 'played their best game' against Indiana

Got a comment or feedback? You can tweet me @gregp_j or email gjohnson@trentonian.com.

— Greg Johnson

Rutgers 2016 Season Game 9: Indiana

                                                                                                        (AP Photo)

WHO: Indiana (4-4, 2-3 Big Ten) at Rutgers (2-6, 0-5 Big Ten)

WHEN: Saturday at noon ET

WHERE: High Point Solutions Stadium; Big Ten Network (TV); WOR 710AM, WCTC 1450AM, WENJ 97.3FM, WNJE 920AM, WRSU 88.7FM (Radio)

COACHES: Rutgers: Chris Ash (first season, 2-6); Indiana: Kevin Wilson (sixth season, 24-45)

SERIES: This will be the third meeting between the schools. Rutgers won the first two by scores of 45-23 in 2014 at home and 55-52 in 2015 on the road.

LAST WEEK: Rutgers was one of the final two Big Ten teams (Iowa) to have a bye week. Indiana won at Maryland, 42-36.

RUTGERS WINS IF: The Scarlet Knights’ improved health at linebacker and safety manifests on the field. Rutgers is dead last in the Big Ten in run defense (261.1 yards per game). Coming off a bye, that figure must improve against the Hoosiers’ up-tempo zone-read system. Assignment football along the perimeter is paramount, or Rutgers’ improving yet still inefficient offense will be in for a dangerous shootout.

INDIANA WINS IF: The Hoosiers own the turnover battle and play smart in the secondary. Rutgers has coughed up the football eight times over its last two games. Quarterback Gio Rescigno, still learning the tendencies of defensive backs on reads, was responsible for four of those turnovers.

EXTRA POINTS: For the 10th anniversary of the 2006 team, Rutgers will honor more than 50 members at halftime. Those Scarlet Knights finished 11-2, won the school’s first bowl game and were ranked as high as No. 7 nationally in November. ... The only Indiana player from New Jersey is Hillsborough native Joshua Brown, a redshirt freshman defensive lineman.

PREDICTION: Indiana 34, Rutgers 28

Game week stories

After bye week, Rutgers hosts Indiana to begin final four-game stretch

Rutgers getting healthier at safety as season winds down

Amid Rutgers' rebuilding project, left tackle Tariq Cole proving to be a dominant force

Got a comment or feedback? You can tweet me @gregp_j or email gjohnson@trentonian.com.

— Greg Johnson

Rutgers 2016 Season Game 8: Minnesota

                                                                                                        (AP Photo)

WHO: Rutgers (2-5, 0-4 Big Ten) at Minnesota (4-2, 1-2 Big Ten)

WHEN: Saturday at noon ET

WHERE: TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota; ESPNU (TV); WOR 710AM, WCTC 1450AM, WENJ 97.3FM, WNJE 920AM, WRSU 88.7FM (Radio)

COACHES: Rutgers: Chris Ash (first season, 2-5); Minnesota: Tracy Claeys (second season, 6-6)

SERIES: This marks the first-ever meeting between the schools. Rutgers is 0-6 all-time against Big Ten West teams (Nebraska, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois).

LAST WEEK: Rutgers lost on Homecoming to Illinois, 24-7. Minnesota won at Maryland, 31-10.

RUTGERS WINS IF: The Scarlet Knights hold onto the ball and turn a corner offensively under new starting quarterback Gio Rescigno. The redshirt sophomore passed for 120 yards and rushed for 37 more in the second half last week to provide a spark to an offense held scoreless for 11 straight quarters. Will that translate on the road? Five turnovers was the line of demarcation against Illinois. That obviously cannot happen again for Rutgers to have any chance in Minneapolis.

MINNESOTA WINS IF: The Gophers' ball-control offense subjects Rutgers' defense to another strenuous outing. Led by Rodney Smith, Minnesota rushed for 229 yards last week at Maryland, which yields 84.2 yards per game fewer than Rutgers. Oh, and Minnesota ranks fifth in the Big Ten in time of possession. Rutgers' banged up defense, particularly at linebacker, has to find a way to string together some three-and-outs.

EXTRA POINTS: Minnesota is the 11th different Big Ten opponent Rutgers will have faced in three seasons. Only Purdue and Northwestern remain. ... Rutgers is one of two Big Ten teams to be playing for an eighth straight week without a bye, the first time the program has done so since 2008. ... TCF Bank Stadium is the newest Big Ten stadium, opening in 2009 with a capacity of 50,805, nearly two thousand fewer seats than High Point Solutions Stadium. ... The Gophers have no players from New Jersey, Pennsylvania or New York on their roster. Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. is the son of former All-Pro NFL cornerback Antoine Winfield.

PREDICTION: Minnesota 34, Rutgers 10

Game week stories

Rutgers heads back on road to Minnesota with Gio Rescigno as new starting quarterback

Rutgers' Myles Nash on rough patch in new era: 'It's not on the coaches at all'

Gio Rescigno replaces Chris Laviano as Rutgers' starting quarterback

Got a comment or feedback? You can tweet me @gregp_j or email gjohnson@trentonian.com.

— Greg Johnson

Rutgers 2016 Season Game 7: Illinois

                                                                                                       (AP Photo)

WHO: Illinois (1-4, 0-2 Big Ten) at Rutgers (2-4, 0-3 Big Ten)

WHEN: Saturday at noon ET

WHERE: High Point Solutions Stadium; ESPNews (TV); WOR 710-AM, WCTC 1450-AM, WENJ 97.3-FM, WNJE 920-AM (Radio)

COACHES: Illinois: Lovie Smith (first season, 1-4); Rutgers: Chris Ash (first season, 2-4)

SERIES: The schools are tied 1-1 all-time. Illinois won the first meeting in 2005 in Champaign, 33-30 in overtime. Rutgers won the second contest in 2006 back in Piscataway, 33-0.

LAST WEEK: Rutgers lost to No. 4 Michigan, 78-0, its worst shutout defeat since 1888. Illinois fell to Purdue at home in overtime, 34-31.

RUTGERS WINS IF: The Scarlet Knights' offense finds its mojo again. It has been 135 minutes and 45 seconds of game time since Rutgers scored a point dating back to Sept. 4 against Iowa. The Knights have completed five forward passes and tallied 155 total yards since the day, but the nightmarish stretch against Ohio State and Michigan is over now. In enters the Big Ten West's cellar dweller. It's now or never for Chris Laviano & Co.

ILLINOIS WINS IF: The Illini exploit Rutgers' defense on the edge. Securing perimeter leverage continues to be an issue for the Knights, who even struggled to stop outside runs and read-option against the likes of Howard and New Mexico (443 total rushing yards). With pocket-passing quarterback Wes Lunt likely to sit this week, dual-threat man Chayce Crouch is a wild card for Illinois and potential matchup problem for Rutgers.

EXTRA POINTS: High Point Solutions Stadium is hosting Homecoming. Rutgers is 53-29-2 all-time in the event, snapping a three-game losing streak last season with a 27-14 win against Kansas. ... This marks Rutgers' 10th unique Big Ten opponent and would be the program's first victory against the Big Ten West. ... Illinois ranks third nationally and first in the Big Ten for fewest turnovers (four). ... Defensive lineman Sean Adesanya (Rahway) and long snapper Sean Mills (Metuchen) are the lone New Jersey natives on Illinois' roster.

PREDICTION: Rutgers 24, Illinois 20

Game week stories

Rutgers recruit Everett Wormley, Burlington Township crush Ewing football

Captain urges Rutgers to not 'quit on life' entering season's second half, Illinois matchup

Rutgers braces for two Illinois quarterbacks this week

Notes: After three games against top-five teams, Rutgers shows 'outstanding' attitude

Got a comment or feedback? You can tweet me @gregp_j or email gjohnson@trentonian.com. Enjoy Rutgers' first primetime game this season.

— Greg Johnson

Rutgers 2016 Season Game 6: Michigan

                                                                                    (AP Photo)

WHEN: Saturday at 7 p.m. ET

WHERE: High Point Solutions Stadium; ESPN2 (TV); WCTC 1450-AM, WFAN 101.9-FM, WENJ 97.3-FM, WNJE 920-AM (Radio)

COACHES: Michigan: Jim Harbaugh (second season, 15-3); Rutgers: Chris Ash (first season, 2-3)

SERIES: The schools are tied 1-1 all-time. Rutgers won the 2014 meeting in Piscataway, 26-24, the Scarlet Knights' first-ever Big Ten victory. Michigan dominated last season in Ann Arbor, 49-16.

LAST WEEK: Rutgers suffered a 58-0 defeat at No. 2 Ohio State, the program's first road shutout since 2002. Michigan grinded out a 14-7 win over then-No. 8 Wisconsin at home.

RUTGERS WINS IF: The Scarlet Knights' defense plays stingy and physical against the Wolverines' power formations. Rutgers' only realistic chance at an upset will be to make this a messy, low-scoring game. Third downs will be especially critical. Michigan is 27th nationally in conversion percentage (47.2%) and first in third-down defense (15.4%). Against a similar pro-style Iowa offense two weeks ago, Rutgers limited the Hawkeyes to 3-of-11 on third downs.

MICHIGAN WINS IF: The Wolverines' offensive line wins the battle up front. Through five games, Michigan averages 209.8 rushing yards. Should the Wolverines' gap schemes overwhelm Rutgers' front seven, QB Wilton Speight and the play-action game will find comfort in Piscataway. Michigan's uber-talented defense, elite in several categories, should have few issues hindering Rutgers' last-place Big Ten offense (333 yards per game).

EXTRA POINTS: High Point Solutions Stadium is holding its first-ever #StripeTheBirthplace promotion. Fans in odd numbered sections will wear black, while those in even numbered sections will wear scarlet. Those in the student section will wear black. ... The 2014 primetime game had a sellout crowd of 53,327, third-largest in school history. ... Michigan's roster features nine players from New Jersey, including three from Paramus Catholic (Jabrill Peppers, Rashan Gary, Juwann Bushell-Beatty). ... This is Michigan's first road game in 2016 after opening the season with a five-game homestand.

PREDICTION: Michigan 31, Rutgers 7

Game week stories

Rutgers welcomes Michigan, third top-five opponent, to primetime atmosphere

As Rutgers receivers struggle with press coverage, Michigan All-American Jourdan Lewis looms

Likely down one starter, Rutgers' offensive line faces another stiff test in Michigan

Rutgers' Ross Douglas, a former Michigan player: 'Some people may misunderstand' Jim Harbaugh

Got a comment or feedback? You can tweet me @gregp_j or email gjohnson@trentonian.com. Enjoy Rutgers' first primetime game this season.

— Greg Johnson