Game Week: Rutgers
NEBRASKA vs. RUTGERS
Oct. 5, 2024 | MEMORIAL STADIUM
LINCOLN, NEB. | 3 PM CT
HUSKERS
Record: 4-1, 1-1 B1G
Last Game: at Purdue (W, 28-10)
Rankings: AP – RV/Coaches – RV
Head Coach: Matt Rhule
Career/NU Record: 56-51 (9th Year)/9-8 (2nd Year)
vs. Rutgers: 0-0
SCARLET KNIGHTS
Record: 4-0, 1-0 B1G
Last Game: vs. Washington (W, 21-18)
Rankings: AP – RV/Coaches – RV
Head Coach: Greg Schiano
Career/RUT Record: 91-95 (16th Year)/Same
vs. Nebraska: 0-2
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time Series: Nebraska leads, 6-0
At Lincoln: Nebraska, 2-0
Last Game: Nebraska, 14-13 (2022)
Win Streak: Nebraska, 6 game
BROADCAST INFO
TV – FS1 (Alex Faust, Robert Smith)
RADIO - Huskers Radio Network (Greg Sharpe, Damon Benning, Jessica Coody)
INTERNET AUDIO - Huskers.com
APP AUDIO - Official Huskers App
The Matchup
Nebraska returns to Lincoln for Homecoming Weekend as the Huskers take on Rutgers in a Big Ten Conference matchup at Memorial Stadium. Game time is set for 3 p.m. CT with FS1 providing the television coverage of the contest. The game can also be heard on the Huskers Radio Network and the Huskers App.
The Huskers stand at 4-1 on the season and 1-1 in Big Ten Conference play following a 28-10 road victory at Purdue. After trailing 3-0 deep into the third quarter, Nebraska exploded for 28 points in just over 12 minutes of action to pull away for the victory. The Nebraska defense limited Purdue to just three points until the game's final minutes, while the balanced Husker offense drove into Purdue territory on every possession in the game.
Rutgers comes to Lincoln with a 4-0 record following a 21-18 victory on Friday night against Washington in the Scarlet Knights' Big Ten opener. The win over the Huskies followed a perfect non-conference slate highlighted by a road victory at Virginia Tech. Coach Greg Schiano's team features one of the nation's top rushing offenses, as Rutgers averages 237.8 rushing yards per contest and better than 420 yards per game in total offense. The Scarlet Knights have committed just two turnovers through four games in the 2024 season.
Saturday's game marks the first matchup between the schools in Lincoln since 2017. The past two meetings between Nebraska and Rutgers have been in Piscataway with the Huskers winning in both 2020 and 2022. Overall, Nebraska has won all six meetings in the series, including both games at Memorial Stadium.
Series History: Nebraska vs. Rutgers
Nebraska and Rutgers will be meeting for the seventh time overall and the sixth time as Big Ten Conference opponents. The Huskers have won each of the six matchups in the series, including victories at Memorial Stadium in 2014 and 2017.
• The most recent meeting occurred in a Friday night matchup at Rutgers in the 2022 season, with the Huskers winning 14-13.
• Saturday's game will be the first matchup in Lincoln since the 2017 season when Nebraska posted a 27-17 victory over the Scarlet Knights.
• Before the 2014 matchup in Lincoln, the schools had not met since a 28-0 Nebraska victory in 1920 at the famous New York Polo Grounds.
Nebraska Showing Ability to Control Games
Nebraska controlled its first three games from start to finish. The Huskers did not trail in their three first games and outscored the opposition by a total of 102-20. While Illinois prevailed with an overtime score, Nebraska trailed for less than 12 minutes of regulation game action against the Illini and followed by trailing for only four minutes at Purdue.
• Nebraska won each of its first three games by at least 18 points. It marked the first time NU won three straight games by at least 18 points since the middle of the 2014 season, when the Huskers defeated Northwestern (21), Rutgers (18) and Purdue (21). The Huskers added a fourth win by at least 18 points with its 28-10 win at Purdue.
• Nebraska scored on its opening drive in each of the first three games. Those scoring drives covered 72, 49 and 75 yards.
• In five games, Nebraska has outscored the opposition 58-3 in the second quarter. In 2023, Nebraska was outscored 81-66 in the second quarter. The Blackshirts held Purdue scoreless in the first half, marking the second opponent that NU has shut out in the opening half (Colorado).
• Opponents have had very little success early in games. Dating back to 2023, Nebraska has allowed just two first-quarter touchdowns in its past 12 games. Just two opponents in the past 18 games have scored a touchdown on its opening drive.
Winning the Turnover Margin
Nebraska's defense has posted multiple takeaways three times in 2024 (UTEP, Colorado, Illinois), and single takeaways against UNI and Purdue. The Huskers have a takeaway in all five games, Nebraska's longest streak since a six-game stretch spanning the 2022 (final two games) and 2023 (first four games) seasons. In turn, the offense has just three turnovers in five games, giving Nebraska a +5 turnover margin. Last year, NU posted a -17 turnover margin. Nebraska is currently 18th nationally in turnover margin at +1.0 per game.
• The multiple takeaways in consecutive games (UTEP, Colorado) marked the first time the Husker defense accomplished that since 2020 when Nebraska had multiple takeaways against Northwestern and Penn State.
• The first two games was the first time Nebraska had a positive turnover margin in consecutive games since the final two games of the 2022 season when the Huskers had a +1 (Wisconsin) and +3 (Iowa) turnover margin in consecutive games. The Huskers have followed up with positive turnover margins in consecutive games against Illinois and Purdue.
• The Huskers have outscored opponents 31-0 in points off turnovers this season following John Bullock’s interception return for a touchdown at Purdue.
Veteran Receivers Making Quick Impact
Nebraska added a pair of veteran receivers through the transfer portal in the offseason. Jahmal Banks joined the Huskers from Wake Forest, while Isaiah Neyor came to Nebraska after previously playing at Texas and Wyoming. The two seniors each check in at 6-4 and 220 pounds and have shown an immediate connection with quarterback Dylan Raiola.
• The duo has combined for 37 receptions for 543 yards and six touchdowns. Neyor has 17 catches for 291 yards and four touchdowns, while Banks has 20 catches for 252 yards and two touchdowns.
• Neyor posted his fourth career 100-yard receiving game and first since 2021 with six receptions for 121 yards and a 59-yard touchdown against UTEP. Neyor's six catches matched his career high and his 121 yards were just five yards shy of a career high. He added four catches for 31 yards against Colorado, had a TD catch against UNI, and a pair of touchdowns against Illinois. Neyor leads Nebraska in receiving yards and touchdowns.
• Banks also made his mark in the opener with four catches for 61 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown catch just two seconds before halftime. He had a pair of catches against Colorado, and one against UNI. He tied his career high with eight receptions for 94 yards against Illinois, then led Nebraska with five catches for 82 yards and a touchdown at Purdue.
• Both players have had productive collegiate careers before joining the Huskers. Banks now has 127 career catches for 1,656 yards and 15 career touchdowns. Neyor has 70 catches for 1,431 yards and 16 touchdowns in his career. Neyor averages an impressive 20.4 yards per catch in his career.
This Week’s Numbers
1 - Saturday's game is the only scheduled college game this season matching head coaches with NFL head coaching experience. Nebraska Coach Matt Rhule led the Carolina Panthers for three seasons, and Rutgers Coach Greg Schiano was the head coach of the Tampa Buccaneers for two seasons.
24 - Nebraska has scored at least 24 points in each of its five games. It marks the first time Nebraska has scored at least 24 points in its first five games since 2016 when NU scored at least 24 in the first seven games. It marks Nebraska's first five-game streak with at least 24 points at any point since a five-game span between the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
113 - Saturday's game is the 113th Homecoming game in University of Nebraska history. The Huskers are 85-23-4 on Homecoming and have won 12 of their last 14 Homecoming games. Nebraska is 9-2 against Big Ten opponents on Homecoming, including 1-0 vs. Rutgers.
