Rutgers football will host its annual Scarlet-White game, presented by PNC Bank on Thursday, May 20 at 7 p.m. at SHI Stadium with the game broadcast live on the Big Ten Network. Limited fan attendance will be permitted for the spring game with access to tickets reserved for Rutgers students and current football season ticket holders. Campus guidance will cap venue capacity at SHI Stadium at 5,000 spectators.
The Scarlet-White game, which comes at the conclusion of 15 spring practice sessions, will offer fans the first opportunity to see the Scarlet Knights in 2021. In his return ‘On the Banks,’ head coach Greg Schiano put his stamp on a Rutgers football program that tied for the most Big Ten wins and recorded the most players recognized in All-Big Ten voting since joining the league in 2014.
The Scarlet Knights return the team’s top four leading tacklers from a year ago, including linebacker Olakunle Fatukasi, who was first in the Big Ten and ninth nationally in tackles per game. Rutgers also welcomes back most of its offensive production with the leading passer, rusher and receiver pacing those units in 2021. Included in the group is wide receiver Bo Melton, who was fifth in the conference in receiving yards and touchdowns.
Special teams is led by the Big Ten Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year in Aron Cruickshank, who helped the Scarlet Knights lead the conference in kickoff return yards. He led the nation with two kickoff return touchdowns. Fatukasi and Cruickshank earned Associated Press First Team All-Big Ten honors a year ago.
The offense posted a program-best 26.7 points per game in conference play and was the fourth-most improved team in the nation by scoring offense. On the defensive side, the Scarlet Knights forced 19 turnovers, which was fourth in the country in takeaways per game. Rutgers established a +5 turnover margin and 21 sacks, the team’s best marks in a Big Ten season. RU was also 11th in country in tackles-for-loss.
Rutgers opens the 2021 season on Sept. 4 against Temple. The Scarlet Knights will host six opponents at SHI Stadium, including Big Ten members Ohio State, Michigan State, Wisconsin and Maryland.