Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Northwestern Wildcats

Injuries noted

Rutgers Scarlet Knights: Kaj Sanders (out for season) — Defensive back; Schiano confirmed season-ending absence. Condition undisclosed.; Zahmir Dawud (out for season) — Defensive back; Schiano confirmed season-ending absence. Condition undisclosed.; Kevin Levy (out) — Starting defensive back; Schiano hopes for a return soon. Condition undisclosed.; Antwan Raymond (questionable) — Running back; condition undisclosed.; Ja'shon Benjamin (questionable) — Running back; condition undisclosed.; Jourdin Houston (questionable) — Wide receiver; condition undisclosed.; Ty Morris (questionable) — Linebacker; condition undisclosed.; Keshon Griffin (questionable) — Defensive lineman; condition undisclosed.; Ben Rothhaar (probable) — Tight end; condition undisclosed.; Sage Clawges (probable) — Defensive back; condition undisclosed.

Northwestern Wildcats: Ezomo Oratokhai (out for season) — Offensive lineman; Friday report lists season-ending absence. Condition undisclosed.; Callen Campbell (out) — Defensive lineman; condition undisclosed.; Chris Petrucci (out) — Tight end; condition undisclosed.; Daniel Anderson (out) — Running back; condition undisclosed.; David Anchondo (out) — Offensive lineman; condition undisclosed.; Jacob Miller (out) — Offensive lineman; condition undisclosed.; Jason Reynolds II (out) — Linebacker; condition undisclosed.; Josh Fussell (out) — Defensive back; condition undisclosed.; Luke Dehnicke (out) — Tight end; condition undisclosed.; Max Mohring (out) — Linebacker; condition undisclosed.; Qayvier Johnson (out) — Linebacker; condition undisclosed.; Brendan Flakes (doubtful) — Defensive lineman; condition undisclosed.; Robert Fitzgerald (doubtful) — Defensive back; condition undisclosed.; Amare Jordan (probable) — Linebacker; upgraded from questionable on Friday. Condition undisclosed.

QUARTERBACK

• Dylan Lonergan is RUTG's confirmed starter

  8.39 Y/A

  Dylan Lonergan is RUTG's confirmed starting quarterback. WRSU Rutgers Radio's October 22 report from team media availability explicitly identifies Lonergan as Rutgers QB1 entering the Northwestern game. 2026 line: 1066 passing yards, 58.3% completions, 8.39 yards per attempt, 10-6 TD-INT over 5 games.

• Aidan Chiles is NU's projected starter

  10.06 Y/A

  Aidan Chiles is NU's projected starting quarterback. Northwestern's October 23 Rutgers preview discusses Chiles as its quarterback and quotes David Braun discussing his connection with Alex Honig. An explicit October 24 starting announcement was not retrieved. 2026 line: 1398 passing yards, 70.5% completions, 10.06 yards per attempt, 9-0 TD-INT over 6 games.

TRENCHES

• NU: 137.5 rushing yards allowed per game to RUTG's 185.7

  48.2 YPG

  RUTG is at 185.7 rushing yards allowed per game over 6 games; NU is at 137.5 over 6 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Oct 23.

PACE & SCRIPT

• NU: 17 points allowed per game to RUTG's 31.8

  14.8 PPG

  Northwestern is allowing 17 a game, better than last season's 19.8, while Rutgers is giving up 31.8 for the second straight year. The Rutgers number is stable across two seasons, so it is a real weakness. Northwestern's defense sets the terms here, and this matchup leans toward Northwestern controlling a lower-scoring game.

• RUTG @ NU carries a 58.5 market total

  58.5

  Rutgers at Northwestern carries 58.5, 7 points above the median, so the market expects both offenses to get into the end zone often. Nothing on the sheet says why. Stalled drives that end in field goals, or a clock-control plan from either side, would keep it under. Think about whether both teams need to score well, or whether one carrying the load can get it there.

MISMATCH

• NU: 0.33 turnovers a game to RUTG's 1.83

  0.33 VS 1.83

  Northwestern has given the ball away 0.33 times a game over 6 games, a sharp drop from 1.62 last season. Rutgers went the opposite way, up to 1.83 from 0.92. Turnover rates swing a lot over six games, so both numbers are likely to drift back toward last season. For this game, Rutgers has to protect the ball on the road, because extra possessions are the easiest way for a careful Northwestern team to separate.

REPLACEMENT

• Kaj Sanders (DB) is out for the season for RUTG

  OUT FOR SEASON

  Defensive back; Schiano confirmed season-ending absence. Condition undisclosed. Rutgers Football Injury Report: Initial Report ahead of the Northwestern game (2026-10-22) Rutgers Head Coach Greg Schiano Talks No.24 Northwestern Game Week (2026-10-23)

• Zahmir Dawud (DB) is out for the season for RUTG

  OUT FOR SEASON

  Defensive back; Schiano confirmed season-ending absence. Condition undisclosed. Rutgers Football Injury Report: Initial Report ahead of the Northwestern game (2026-10-22) Rutgers Head Coach Greg Schiano Talks No.24 Northwestern Game Week (2026-10-23)

• Ezomo Oratokhai (OL) is out for the season for NU

  OUT FOR SEASON

  Offensive lineman; Friday report lists season-ending absence. Condition undisclosed. Rutgers vs Northwestern — Big Ten availability, Friday 8:00 PM report (2026-10-23)

• Kevin Levy (DB) is out for RUTG

  OUT

  Starting defensive back; Schiano hopes for a return soon. Condition undisclosed. Rutgers Football Injury Report: Initial Report ahead of the Northwestern game (2026-10-22) Rutgers Head Coach Greg Schiano Talks No.24 Northwestern Game Week (2026-10-23)

• Callen Campbell (DL) is out for NU

  OUT

  Defensive lineman; condition undisclosed. Rutgers vs Northwestern — Big Ten availability, Friday 8:00 PM report (2026-10-23)

• Chris Petrucci (TE) is out for NU

  OUT

  Tight end; condition undisclosed. Rutgers vs Northwestern — Big Ten availability, Friday 8:00 PM report (2026-10-23)

• Daniel Anderson (RB) is out for NU

  OUT

  Running back; condition undisclosed. Rutgers vs Northwestern — Big Ten availability, Friday 8:00 PM report (2026-10-23)

• David Anchondo (OL) is out for NU

  OUT

  Offensive lineman; condition undisclosed. Rutgers vs Northwestern — Big Ten availability, Friday 8:00 PM report (2026-10-23)

• Jacob Miller (OL) is out for NU

  OUT

  Offensive lineman; condition undisclosed. Rutgers vs Northwestern — Big Ten availability, Friday 8:00 PM report (2026-10-23)

• Jason Reynolds II (LB) is out for NU

  OUT

  Linebacker; condition undisclosed. Rutgers vs Northwestern — Big Ten availability, Friday 8:00 PM report (2026-10-23)

• Josh Fussell (DB) is out for NU

  OUT

  Defensive back; condition undisclosed. Rutgers vs Northwestern — Big Ten availability, Friday 8:00 PM report (2026-10-23)

• Luke Dehnicke (TE) is out for NU

  OUT

  Tight end; condition undisclosed. Rutgers vs Northwestern — Big Ten availability, Friday 8:00 PM report (2026-10-23)

• Max Mohring (LB) is out for NU

  OUT

  Linebacker; condition undisclosed. Rutgers vs Northwestern — Big Ten availability, Friday 8:00 PM report (2026-10-23)

• Qayvier Johnson (LB) is out for NU

  OUT

  Linebacker; condition undisclosed. Rutgers vs Northwestern — Big Ten availability, Friday 8:00 PM report (2026-10-23)

• Robert Fitzgerald (DB) is doubtful for NU

  DOUBTFUL

  Defensive back; condition undisclosed. Rutgers vs Northwestern — Big Ten availability, Friday 8:00 PM report (2026-10-23)

• Brendan Flakes (DL) is doubtful for NU

  DOUBTFUL

  Defensive lineman; condition undisclosed. Rutgers vs Northwestern — Big Ten availability, Friday 8:00 PM report (2026-10-23)

SITUATIONAL

• RUTG: 3.17 fourth-down attempts per game to NU's 1

  2.17 ATT/G

  Rutgers goes for it on fourth down 3.17 times a game over 6 games, Northwestern just once. Rutgers was at 2.83 last season, so the aggressive streak is part of who they are, while Northwestern dropped from 2.23. Expect Rutgers to stay on the field in short-yardage spots, which adds swing to drives and scoring.

TEAM RECORD

• Big Ten game: RUTG 1-2, NU 2-1 in conference

  CONFERENCE

  These two share the Big Ten. RUTG is 1-2 against it, NU is 2-1. 2026 standings through 2026-10-24.