Rutgers football vs. Indiana: Score, live updates and three keys for the Scarlet Knights
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Rutgers football today will go up against an Indiana team that’s reeling, so far having lost all three of its Big Ten games and littered with questions on both sides of the ball.
But none of that matters to the Scarlet Knights.
They’re expecting a tough test from Indiana, and all week spoke about the need to take every opponent seriously and to never overlook any team in the Big Ten.
The Hoosiers, they maintained, are much better than their 2-4 record would indicate – to their point, the teams Indiana has lost to have a combined record of 24-3.
Regardless, Rutgers today has a big opportunity today at Memorial Stadium to go up against a struggling team and earn its sixth win of the season and bowl eligibility.
Can the Scarlet Knights get it done?
Here are three keys:
1. Run, run, run
Rutgers has the Big Ten’s leading rusher in Kyle Monangai. Indiana has the 12th-ranked run defense (157.5 yards per game) in the Big Ten.
The Scarlet Knights need to run the ball for their offense to be effective, and they should have a good chance of doing that successfully today.
Run the ball. Control the time of possession.
Both will be critical for Rutgers.
2. Dominate defensively
The Scarlet Knights all season have played at a high level defensively, ranking fifth in the nation in passing defense (160.6 yards per game), total defense (277.3), 12th in scoring defense (16.0 points per game) and 15th in red-zone defense (0.70).
Indiana’s offense has been a mess most of the season and still hasn’t had an answer at quarterback – it’s still unclear whether Brendan Sorsby or Tayven Jackson will start today, but neither have performed particularly well.
Rutgers’ defense needs to overpower and overwhelm the Hoosiers and make it uncomfortable for whichever quarterback Indiana starts.
3. Avoid self-inflicted miscues
Rutgers needs to play a clean football game. It needs to limit mistakes, take care of the football and avoid costly penalties.
Yes, Indiana has struggled. But that won’t matter if the Scarlet Knights are hurting themselves with self-inflicted wounds.
Follow along here throughout the game to see if Rutgers can get it done.
Final: Rutgers 31, Indiana 14
The Scarlet Knights are bowl bound.
4Q, 14:08: Gavin Wimsatt all but seals it
Wimsatt runs 80 yards for a touchdown and it's 31-14 Rutgers.
3Q, 8:45: Rutgers scores to open up the second half
Gavin Wimsatt punches it from a yard out and the Scarlet Knights are up 24-14.
Rutgers got the ball to start the second half and needed to score, and did just that.
The Scarlet Knights' defense, though, needs to play better than it did in the first half.
Halftime: Rutgers takes the lead
Rutgers got another big special-teams play as Indiana muffed a punt and Robert Longerbeam recovered for the Scarlet Knights at the 20.
But Rutgers couldn't fully capitalize and the Scarlet Knights had to settle for a 21-yard field goal by Jai Patel.
Rutgers is up 17-14.
The Scarlet Knights will get the ball to start the second half.
2Q, 3:58: Indiana ties it up
Sorsby runs it in from four yards out, and the game's tied at 14-14.
Indiana started the drive at its own 41 after Rutgers went for it on fourth-and-2, but Wimsatt was taken down short of the first down.
Desmond Igbinosun then got called for rouging the passer on the Hoosiers' first play of the drive, giving Indiana the ball at Rutgers 36.
2Q, 14:53: Rutgers scores on a big special-teams play
Big play by the Scarlet Knights on special teams.
Indiana was punting from its own 32, but Shaquan Loyal blocked it and the ball fell into the hands of Eric Rogers, who ran it 17 yards into the end zone.
14-7 Rutgers.
1Q, 3:19: Rutgers ties it up
The Scarlet Knights respond to Indiana's touchdown with a scoring drive of its own.
They go 75 yards on 15 plays in 8:09, capped off by Gavin Wimsatt punching it in from a yard out.
Rutgers ran the ball well on that drive, something it needs to do to give itself its best chance to win.
Game's tied at 7-7.
1Q, 11:28: Indiana takes the lead early
The Hoosiers went for it on fourth-and-8 from the Rutgers 35 and Brendan Sorsby, who got the start at quarterback, threw into the end zone to a wide-open Omar Cooper Jr. for a touchdown.
So it's 7-0 Indiana just less than four minutes into the game.
Rutgers availability report
Nothing surprising this week:
WR Chris Long
WR Naseim Brantley
DB Bo Mascoe
DB Elijuwan Mack
OL Tyler Needham
OL Joe De Croce
LB Abram Wright
DL Rene Konga
No one is listed as questionable.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Rutgers football vs. Indiana: Live score updates and analysis
