2023 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team

2023 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football
Pinstripe Bowl champion
Pinstripe Bowl, W 31–24 vs. Miami (FL)
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record7–6 (3–6 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorKirk Ciarrocca (3rd season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorJoe Harasymiak (2nd season)
Base defense4–3 or 4–2–5
Home stadiumSHI Stadium
Seasons
← 2022
2024 →
2023 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
No. 1 Michigan xy$#^   9 0     15 0  
No. 10 Ohio State   8 1     11 2  
No. 13 Penn State   7 2     10 3  
Maryland   4 5     8 5  
Rutgers   3 6     7 6  
Michigan State   2 7     4 8  
Indiana   1 8     3 9  
West Division
No. 24 Iowa xy   7 2     10 4  
Northwestern   5 4     8 5  
Wisconsin   5 4     7 6  
Illinois   3 6     5 7  
Minnesota   3 6     6 7  
Nebraska   3 6     5 7  
Purdue   3 6     4 8  
Championship: Michigan 26, Iowa 0
  • # – College Football Playoff champion
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2023 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University in the East Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Scarlet Knights were led by Greg Schiano in the fourth year of his second stint (15th overall season) as Rutgers' head coach. This was Rutgers first winning season since 2014.

The Scarlet Knights played their home games at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey.

Offseason

[edit]

Coaching changes

[edit]

On October 9, 2022, offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson was fired in the middle of the 2022 season.[1] On January 7, 2023, Minnesota offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca was hired to replace Gleeson.[2] This is Ciarrocca's second stint at Rutgers, having served as a co-offensive coordinator in 2009 and 2010.[3][4]

Andrew Aurich transitioned from running backs coach to tight ends coach.[5]

Preseason

[edit]

Big 10 media poll

[edit]

The Scarlet Knights were predicted to finish sixth in the Big 10's East Division.[6]

Big 10 media poll East Division
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Michigan 248 (27)
2 Ohio State 226 (8)
3 Penn State 192 (2)
4 Maryland 143
5 Michigan State 105
6 Rutgers 74
7 Indiana 48

Schedule

[edit]
DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 312:00 p.m.NorthwesternCBSW 24–753,026
September 97:30 p.m.Temple*
  • SHI Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
BTNW 36–745,317
September 163:30 p.m.Virginia Tech*
  • SHI Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
BTNW 35–1652,657
September 2312:00 p.m.at No. 2 MichiganBTNL 7–31109,756
September 303:30 p.m.Wagner*
  • SHI Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
BTNW 52–340,065
October 712:00 p.m.at WisconsinPeacockL 13–2474,885
October 1412:00 p.m.Michigan Statedagger
  • SHI Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
BTNW 27–2452,879
October 2112:00 p.m.at IndianaBTNW 31–1443,611
November 412:00 p.m.No. 1 Ohio State
  • SHI Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
CBSL 16–3553,703
November 113:30 p.m.at No. 22 IowaBTNL 0–2269,250
November 1812:00 p.m.at No. 12 Penn StateFS1L 6–27105,114
November 253:30 p.m.Maryland
  • SHI Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
BTNL 24–4247,012
December 282:15 p.m.vs. Miami (FL)*ESPNW 31–2435,314
Schedule Source:[7]

Game summaries

[edit]

Northwestern

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Wildcats 0 0 0 7 7
Scarlet Knights 7 10 7 0 24
Statistics NU RUTG
First downs 13 20
Total yards 201 285
Rushing yards 12 122
Passing yards 189 163
Turnovers 2 1
Time of possession 22:04 37:56
Team Category Player Statistics
Northwestern Passing Ben Bryant 20/36, 169 yards, 2 INT
Rushing Brendan Sullivan 4 rushes, 11 yards
Receiving Camron Johnson 4 receptions, 45 yards
Rutgers Passing Gavin Wimsatt 17/29, 163 yards, TD
Rushing Kyle Monangai 14 rushes, 49 yards, TD
Receiving Isaiah Washington 4 receptions, 36 yards

Temple

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Owls 0 0 0 7 7
Scarlet Knights 7 6 0 23 36
Statistics TEM RUTG
First downs 20 20
Total yards 298 452
Rushing yards 68 254
Passing yards 230 198
Turnovers 2 1
Time of possession 25:01 34:59
Team Category Player Statistics
Temple Passing E. J. Warner 20/47, 230 yards, TD, 2 INT
Rushing Joquez Smith 9 rushes, 45 yards
Receiving Dante Wright 6 receptions, 67 yards, TD
Rutgers Passing Gavin Wimsatt 10/21, 198 yards, TD
Rushing Kyle Monangai 28 rushes, 165 yards, TD
Receiving JaQuae Jackson 4 receptions, 95 yards

Virginia Tech

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Hokies 0 3 7 6 16
Scarlet Knights 7 14 0 14 35
Statistics VT RUTG
First downs 18 14
Total yards 319 302
Rushing yards 129 256
Passing yards 190 46
Turnovers 2 0
Time of possession 33:44 26:16
Team Category Player Statistics
Virginia Tech Passing Kyron Drones 19/32, 190 yards, TD, INT
Rushing Kyron Drones 22 rushes, 74 yards
Receiving Daquan Felton 6 receptions, 84 yards, TD
Rutgers Passing Gavin Wimsatt 7/16, 46 yards, TD
Rushing Kyle Monangai 16 rushes, 143 yards, 3 TD
Receiving Christian Dremel 3 receptions, 34 yards, TD

At No. 2 Michigan

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Scarlet Knights 7 0 0 0 7
No. 2 Wolverines 7 7 10 7 31
Statistics RUTG MICH
First downs 10 20
Total yards 257 415
Rushing yards 77 201
Passing yards 180 214
Turnovers 1 0
Time of possession 23:52 36:08
Team Category Player Statistics
Rutgers Passing Gavin Wimsatt 11/21, 180 yards, TD, INT
Rushing Gavin Wimsatt 6 rushes, 28 yards
Receiving Christian Dremel 3 receptions, 85 yards, TD
Michigan Passing J. J. McCarthy 15/21, 214 yards, TD
Rushing Blake Corum 21 rushes, 97 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Colston Loveland 5 receptions, 75 yards

Wagner

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Seahawks 0 3 0 0 3
Scarlet Knights 10 14 14 14 52
Statistics WAG RUTG
First downs 6 28
Total yards 106 436
Rushing yards 83 267
Passing yards 23 169
Turnovers 0 0
Time of possession 22:23 37:37
Team Category Player Statistics
Wagner Passing Steven Krajewski 4/6, 19 yards
Rushing Rickey Spruill 7 carries, 36 yards
Receiving Kobi Ray-Reed 2 receptions, 10 yards
Rutgers Passing Gavin Wimsatt 12/19, 146 yards, 1 TD
Rushing Kyle Monangai 19 carries, 87 yards, 1 TD
Receiving JaQuae Jackson 4 receptions, 71 yards

At Wisconsin

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Scarlet Knights 0 0 6 7 13
Badgers 3 14 0 7 24
Statistics RUTG WIS
First downs 16 23
Total yards 275 358
Rushing yards 64 213
Passing yards 211 145
Turnovers 1 2
Time of possession 27:13 32:47
Team Category Player Statistics
Rutgers Passing Gavin Wimsatt 16/35, 181 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Gavin Wimsatt 9 carries, 43 yards
Receiving Isaiah Washington 3 receptions, 53 yards
Wisconsin Passing Tanner Mordecai 17/31, 145 yards, 1 TD
Rushing Braelon Allen 21 carries, 101 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Will Pauling 8 receptions, 68 yards

Michigan State

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Spartans 7 10 7 0 24
Scarlet Knights 3 3 0 21 27
Statistics MSU RUTG
First downs 22 20
Total yards 247 306
Rushing yards 113 125
Passing yards 134 181
Turnovers 3 3
Time of possession 29:16 45:44
Team Category Player Statistics
Michigan State Passing Katin Houser 18/29, 133 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Nathan Carter 20 carries, 52 yards
Receiving Montorie Foster Jr. 5 receptions, 48 yards, 1 TD
Rutgers Passing Gavin Wimsatt 13/28, 181 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing Kyle Monangai 24 carries, 148 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Christian Dremel 6 receptions, 80 yards

At Indiana

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Scarlet Knights 7 10 7 7 31
Hoosiers 7 7 0 0 14
Statistics RUTG IU
First downs 20 18
Total yards 315 279
Rushing yards 276 153
Passing yards 39 126
Turnovers 0 1
Time of possession 37:38 22:22
Team Category Player Statistics
Rutgers Passing Gavin Wimsatt 5/12, 39 yards
Rushing Gavin Wimsatt 16 carries, 143 yards, 3 TD
Receiving Christian Dremel 2 receptions, 14 yards
Indiana Passing Brendan Sorsby 15/31, 126 yards, 1 TD
Rushing Trent Howland 9 carries, 54 yards
Receiving Omar Cooper Jr. 1 reception, 35 yards, 1 TD

No. 1 Ohio State

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
No. 1 Buckeyes 7 0 14 14 35
Scarlet Knights 0 9 0 7 16
Statistics OSU RUTG
First downs 15 22
Total yards 328 361
Rushing yards 139 232
Passing yards 189 129
Turnovers 1 1
Time of possession 24:23 35:37
Team Category Player Statistics
Ohio State Passing Kyle McCord 19/26, 189 yards, 3 TD, INT
Rushing TreVeyon Henderson 22 rushes, 128 yards, TD
Receiving TreVeyon Henderson 5 receptions, 80 yards
Rutgers Passing Gavin Wimsatt 10/25, 129 yards, TD, INT
Rushing Kyle Monangai 24 rushes, 159 yards
Receiving Christian Dremel 5 receptions, 69 yards

At No. 22 Iowa

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Scarlet Knights 0 0 0 0 0
No. 22 Hawkeyes 0 0 0 0 0
Statistics RUTG IOWA
First downs 7 21
Total yards 127 402
Rushing yards 34 179
Passing yards 93 223
Turnovers 1 1
Time of possession 21:38 38:22
Team Category Player Statistics
Rutgers Passing Gavin Wimsatt 7/18, 93 yards, INT
Rushing Kyle Monangai 13 carries, 39 yards
Receiving Ian Strong 3 receptions, 47 yards
Iowa Passing Deacon Hill 20/31, 223 yards, TD, INT
Rushing Leshon Williams 13 carries, 63 yards
Receiving Addison Ostrenga 8 receptions, 47 yards

At No. 12 Penn State

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Scarlet Knights 3 3 0 0 6
No. 12 Nittany Lions 0 10 3 14 27
Statistics RUTG PSU
First downs 13 16
Total yards 229 322
Rushing yards 99 234
Passing yards 130 88
Turnovers 3 1
Time of possession 32:00 28:00
Team Category Player Statistics
Rutgers Passing Gavin Wimsatt 10/16, 130, INT
Rushing Kyle Monangai 16 carries, 39 yards
Receiving Isaiah Washington 5 receptions, 55 yards
Penn State Passing Drew Allar 6/13, 79 yards
Rushing Beau Pribula 8 carries, 71 yards, TD
Receiving Tyler Warren 2 receptions, 32 yards

Maryland

[edit]
1 2 3 4 Total
Terrapins 21 7 7 7 42
Scarlet Knights 3 14 0 7 24
Statistics MD RUTG
First downs 24 20
Total yards 498 355
Rushing yards 137 190
Passing yards 361 165
Turnovers 2 1
Time of possession 25:39 34:21
Team Category Player Statistics
Maryland Passing Taulia Tagovailoa 24/31, 361 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Roman Hemby 15 carries, 113 yards
Receiving Tai Felton 5 receptions, 140 yards, 1 TD
Rutgers Passing Gavin Wimsatt 13/34, 165 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Kyle Monangai 20 carries, 118 yards
Receiving Isaiah Washington 3 receptions, 67 yards

vs Miami (FL) (Pinstripe Bowl)

[edit]
2023 Bad Boys Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
Miami Hurricanes (7-5, 3-5) vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights (6-6, 3-6) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Rutgers 7 7 71031
Miami 0 10 7724

at Yankee StadiumBronx, New York

  • Date: Thursday, December 28, 2023
  • Game time: 2:15 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 52 °F (11 °C) • Wind: 8 mph (13 km/h) NE
  • Game attendance: 35,314
  • Referee: Justin Elliott
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Drew Carter (play-by-play), Rod Gilmore (analyst), and Taylor Davis (sideline)
  • Box score
Game information
First quarter
  • (6:54) RUTG – Gavin Wimsatt 1 yard run, Jai Patel kick (Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 8:06; Rutgers 7–0)
Second quarter
  • (7:37) RUTG – Kyle Monangai 7-yard run, Jai Patel kick (Drive: 6 plays, 42 yards, 4:14; Rutgers 14–0)
  • (3:19) MIA – Jacurri Brown 7 yard run, Andres Borregales kick (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:18; Rutgers 14–7)
  • (0:00) MIA – Andres Borregales 35 yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 73 yards, 0:45; Rutgers 14–10)
Third quarter
  • (10:33) MIA – Xavier Restrepo 30 yard pass from Jacurri Brown, Andres Borregales kick (Drive: 8 plays, 69 yards, 4:27; Miami 17–14)
  • (5:06) RUTG – Timmy Ward 0 yard return of blocked punt, Jai Patel kick (Drive: 3 plays, 6 yards, 2:17; Rutgers 21–17)
Fourth quarter
  • (11:51) RUTG – Gavin Wimsatt 1 yard run, Jai Patel kick (Drive: 6 plays, 65 yards, 3:04; Rutgers 28–17)
  • (2:35) RUTG – Jai Patel 35 yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 26 yards, 7:12; Rutgers 31–17)
  • (0:27) MIA – Jacurri Brown 1 yard run, Andres Borregales kick (Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 2:08; Rutgers 31–24)

Statistics

[edit]
Statistics RUT MIA
First downs 17 22
Plays–yards 60-292 63-311
Rushes–yards 208 130
Passing yards 84 181
Passing: compattint 7-15-0 20-31-1
Time of possession 34:26 25:34
Team Category Player Statistics
Rutgers Passing Gavin Wimsatt 7/15, 84 yards
Rushing Kyle Monangai 163 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Christian Dremel 1 Rec, 23 yards
Miami (FL) Passing Jacurri Brown 20/31, 181 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Jacurri Brown 15 carries, 57 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Xavier Restrepo 11 catches, 99 yards, 1 TD

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Rutgers fires offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson". October 9, 2022. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  2. ^ "Here is Rutgers OC Kirk Ciarrocca's salary as contract is approved". nj.com. NJ Advance Media. January 7, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  3. ^ "Rutgers Football Announces Staff Promotions". scarletknights.com. Rutgers Athletics Communications. February 24, 2009. Archived from the original on February 28, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  4. ^ Sargeant, Keith (August 1, 2017). "Why did Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck hire ex-Rutgers assistants as coordinators?". www.nj.com. Advance Local Media LLC. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  5. ^ Breitman, Aaron (April 11, 2023). "Andrew Aurich discusses progress at tight end position". The Scarlet Faithful. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  6. ^ Cobb, David (July 25, 2023). "Big Ten football predicted order of finish for 2023: Michigan picked to win conference title over Ohio State". CBS Sports. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  7. ^ "2023 Football Schedule". Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Retrieved December 20, 2022.