Scarlet Knights Game Preview – Connecticut

The Game

• No. 21/22 Rutgers, back in the Top 25 rankings for the first time since 2009, looks to start the year 5-0 Saturday as the Scarlet Knights host regional-rival Connecticut. Kickoff is set for 12 noon from High Point Solutions Stadium. ESPNU and WatchESPN.com have live coverage of the game with Tom Hart and John Congemi on the call. Coverage on the Rutgers Radio Network begins at 11 a.m. on WOR-710 AM in New York City, WCTC-1450 AM in Central Jersey and WIP-610 AM in Philadelphia and South Jersey.

• With a win, Rutgers would improve to 5-0 for the third time since 1976 and just the second time since joining the BIG EAST in 1991.

• Rutgers (4-0, 1-0 BIG EAST) will debut its new black uniforms Saturday vs. UConn (3-2, 0-0 BIG EAST) as all fans in the stadium are asked to wear black for a stadium blackout vs. the Huskies.

Series Information

• Rutgers and Connecticut meet for the 32nd time in series history Saturday, with RU holding a 21-10 series advantage. The Scarlet Knights have won five of the last seven meetings, but UConn walked away with a 40-22 victory last season to spoil RU\’s bid to share the BIG EAST Championship.

• One constant in the series have been close games. Since 2001, six games have been decided by seven points or less. In three of the last four meetings, RU has won by four points or less.

With a Victory …

• Rutgers would win a game as a ranked team for the first time since 2007.

• Start the season 5-0 for the seventh time in 143 seasons of college football.

• Kyle Flood would become the second coach in school history to start 5-0. The only first-year RU head coach to begin 5-0 was John Bateman in 1960. Bateman guided the Scarlet Knights to an 8-1 record, including wins in his first five games as head coach.