# 2023 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team

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. The Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team drew an average home attendance of 49,251 in 2023.

## Offseason
### Coaching changes

On October 9, 2022, offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson was fired in the middle of the 2022 season. On January 7, 2023, Minnesota offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca was hired to replace Gleeson. This is Ciarrocca's second stint at Rutgers, having served as a co-offensive coordinator in 2009 and 2010.
Andrew Aurich transitioned from running backs coach to tight ends coach.

## Preseason
### Big 10 media poll

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

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 3 | 12:00 p.m. | Northwestern | SHI StadiumPiscataway, NJ | CBS | W 24–7 | 53,026 |
| September 9 | 7:30 p.m. | Temple* | SHI StadiumPiscataway, NJ | BTN | W 36–7 | 45,317 |
| September 16 | 3:30 p.m. | Virginia Tech* | SHI StadiumPiscataway, NJ | BTN | W 35–16 | 52,657 |
| September 23 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 2 Michigan | Michigan StadiumAnn Arbor, MI | BTN | L 7–31 | 109,756 |
| September 30 | 3:30 p.m. | Wagner* | SHI StadiumPiscataway, NJ | BTN | W 52–3 | 40,065 |
| October 7 | 12:00 p.m. | at Wisconsin | Camp Randall StadiumMadison, WI | Peacock | L 13–24 | 74,885 |
| October 14 | 12:00 p.m. | Michigan State | SHI StadiumPiscataway, NJ | BTN | W 27–24 | 52,879 |
| October 21 | 12:00 p.m. | at Indiana | Memorial StadiumBloomington, IN | BTN | W 31–14 | 43,611 |
| November 4 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 1 Ohio State | SHI StadiumPiscataway, NJ | CBS | L 16–35 | 53,703 |
| November 11 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 22 Iowa | Kinnick StadiumIowa City, IA | BTN | L 0–22 | 69,250 |
| November 18 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 12 Penn State | Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA | FS1 | L 6–27 | 105,114 |
| November 25 | 3:30 p.m. | Maryland | SHI StadiumPiscataway, NJ | BTN | L 24–42 | 47,012 |
| December 28 | 2:15 p.m. | vs. Miami (FL)* | Yankee StadiumBronx, NY (Pinstripe Bowl) | ESPN | W 31–24 | 35,314 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after October 31) - Released prior to gameAll times are in Eastern time |||||||
    Schedule Source:

## Game summaries
### Northwestern

| | 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 |
| Northwestern | Rushing | Brendan Sullivan | 4 rushes, 11 yards |
| Northwestern | Receiving | Camron Johnson | 4 receptions, 45 yards |
| Rutgers | Passing | Gavin Wimsatt | 17/29, 163 yards, TD |
| Rutgers | Rushing | Kyle Monangai | 14 rushes, 49 yards, TD |
| Rutgers | Receiving | Isaiah Washington | 4 receptions, 36 yards |

### Temple

| | 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 |
| Temple | Rushing | Joquez Smith | 9 rushes, 45 yards |
| Temple | Receiving | Dante Wright | 6 receptions, 67 yards, TD |
| Rutgers | Passing | Gavin Wimsatt | 10/21, 198 yards, TD |
| Rutgers | Rushing | Kyle Monangai | 28 rushes, 165 yards, TD |
| Rutgers | Receiving | JaQuae Jackson | 4 receptions, 95 yards |

### Virginia Tech

| | 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 |
| Virginia Tech | Rushing | Kyron Drones | 22 rushes, 74 yards |
| Virginia Tech | Receiving | Daquan Felton | 6 receptions, 84 yards, TD |
| Rutgers | Passing | Gavin Wimsatt | 7/16, 46 yards, TD |
| Rutgers | Rushing | Kyle Monangai | 16 rushes, 143 yards, 3 TD |
| Rutgers | Receiving | Christian Dremel | 3 receptions, 34 yards, TD |

### At No. 2 Michigan

| | 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 |
| Rutgers | Rushing | Gavin Wimsatt | 6 rushes, 28 yards |
| Rutgers | Receiving | Christian Dremel | 3 receptions, 85 yards, TD |
| Michigan | Passing | J. J. McCarthy | 15/21, 214 yards, TD |
| Michigan | Rushing | Blake Corum | 21 rushes, 97 yards, 2 TD |
| Michigan | Receiving | Colston Loveland | 5 receptions, 75 yards |

### Wagner

| | 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 |
| Wagner | Rushing | Rickey Spruill | 7 carries, 36 yards |
| Wagner | Receiving | Kobi Ray-Reed | 2 receptions, 10 yards |
| Rutgers | Passing | Gavin Wimsatt | 12/19, 146 yards, 1 TD |
| Rutgers | Rushing | Kyle Monangai | 19 carries, 87 yards, 1 TD |
| Rutgers | Receiving | JaQuae Jackson | 4 receptions, 71 yards |

### At Wisconsin

| | 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 |
| Rutgers | Rushing | Gavin Wimsatt | 9 carries, 43 yards |
| Rutgers | Receiving | Isaiah Washington | 3 receptions, 53 yards |
| Wisconsin | Passing | Tanner Mordecai | 17/31, 145 yards, 1 TD |
| Wisconsin | Rushing | Braelon Allen | 21 carries, 101 yards, 1 TD |
| Wisconsin | Receiving | Will Pauling | 8 receptions, 68 yards |

### Michigan State

| | 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 |
| Michigan State | Rushing | Nathan Carter | 20 carries, 52 yards |
| Michigan State | Receiving | Montorie Foster Jr. | 5 receptions, 48 yards, 1 TD |
| Rutgers | Passing | Gavin Wimsatt | 13/28, 181 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT |
| Rutgers | Rushing | Kyle Monangai | 24 carries, 148 yards, 1 TD |
| Rutgers | Receiving | Christian Dremel | 6 receptions, 80 yards |

### At Indiana

| | 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 |
| Rutgers | Rushing | Gavin Wimsatt | 16 carries, 143 yards, 3 TD |
| Rutgers | Receiving | Christian Dremel | 2 receptions, 14 yards |
| Indiana | Passing | Brendan Sorsby | 15/31, 126 yards, 1 TD |
| Indiana | Rushing | Trent Howland | 9 carries, 54 yards |
| Indiana | Receiving | Omar Cooper Jr. | 1 reception, 35 yards, 1 TD |

### No. 1 Ohio State

| | 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 |
| Ohio State | Rushing | TreVeyon Henderson | 22 rushes, 128 yards, TD |
| Ohio State | Receiving | TreVeyon Henderson | 5 receptions, 80 yards |
| Rutgers | Passing | Gavin Wimsatt | 10/25, 129 yards, TD, INT |
| Rutgers | Rushing | Kyle Monangai | 24 rushes, 159 yards |
| Rutgers | Receiving | Christian Dremel | 5 receptions, 69 yards |

### At No. 22 Iowa

| | 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 |
| Rutgers | Rushing | Kyle Monangai | 13 carries, 39 yards |
| Rutgers | Receiving | Ian Strong | 3 receptions, 47 yards |
| Iowa | Passing | Deacon Hill | 20/31, 223 yards, TD, INT |
| Iowa | Rushing | Leshon Williams | 13 carries, 63 yards |
| Iowa | Receiving | Addison Ostrenga | 8 receptions, 47 yards |

### At No. 12 Penn State

| | 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 |
| Rutgers | Rushing | Kyle Monangai | 16 carries, 39 yards |
| Rutgers | Receiving | Isaiah Washington | 5 receptions, 55 yards |
| Penn State | Passing | Drew Allar | 6/13, 79 yards |
| Penn State | Rushing | Beau Pribula | 8 carries, 71 yards, TD |
| Penn State | Receiving | Tyler Warren | 2 receptions, 32 yards |

### Maryland

| | 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 |
| Maryland | Rushing | Roman Hemby | 15 carries, 113 yards |
| Maryland | Receiving | Tai Felton | 5 receptions, 140 yards, 1 TD |
| Rutgers | Passing | Gavin Wimsatt | 13/34, 165 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Rutgers | Rushing | Kyle Monangai | 20 carries, 118 yards |
| Rutgers | Receiving | Isaiah Washington | 3 receptions, 67 yards |

### vs Miami (FL) (Pinstripe Bowl)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rutgers | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 31 |
| Miami | 0 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
at Yankee Stadium • Bronx, 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

### Statistics

| Statistics | RUT | MIA |
| First downs | 17 | 22 |
| Plays–yards | 60-292 | 63-311 |
| Rushes–yards | 208 | 130 |
| Passing yards | 84 | 181 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 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 |
| Rutgers | Rushing | Kyle Monangai | 163 yards, 1 TD |
| Rutgers | Receiving | Christian Dremel | 1 Rec, 23 yards |
| Miami (FL) | Passing | Jacurri Brown | 20/31, 181 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Miami (FL) | Rushing | Jacurri Brown | 15 carries, 57 yards, 2 TD |
| Miami (FL) | Receiving | Xavier Restrepo | 11 catches, 99 yards, 1 TD |