No. 3 Ohio State returns to Ohio Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. game Saturday against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, coached by former Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano (2016-18).

THE BASICS

No. 3 Ohio State vs. Rutgers • Sat., Nov. 7 • When: 7:30 p.m. • Where: Ohio Stadium • TV: Big Ten Network • Radio: 97.1 The Fan

• All six previous meetings between Ohio State and Rutgers occurred after the Scarlet Knights joined the Big Ten.
• Ohio State is 6-0 all-time against Rutgers and 3-0 in Columbus, winning 56-17 in 2014, 58-0 in 2016 and 52-3 in 2018.
• The Buckeyes have scored at least 49 points in all six previous games.
• Several members of the Ohio State football program have ties to the state of New Jersey:
  • New Jersey natives on Ohio State’s 2020 roster are junior DE Tyler Friday (Ramsey, N.J. / Don Bosco Prep), redshirt sophomore DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste (Spring Valley, N.J. / Bergan Catholic), redshirt freshman safety Ronnie Hickman (Wayne, N.J. / DePaul Catholic), freshman OL Luke Wypler (Montvale, N.J. / St. Joseph Regional) and freshman LB Cody Simon (Jersey City, N.J. / St. Peter’s Prep)

BIG NUMBERS

• Quarterback Justin Fields has been spectacular. He has completed 87.3 pct. of his passes – 48 of 55 – for 594 yards and six TDs with no interceptions. He has soared to No. 2 nationally in passing efficiency with a rating of 214.0.
• Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson – with help from Fields – have become the first pair of Buckeye receivers to record 100-yard receiving games in consecutive games. Olave had 104 vs. Nebraska and 120 vs. Penn State. Wilson had 129 vs. Nebraska and 111 vs. Penn State.
• Defensive tackle Tommy Togiai had the best statistical game of his career last week at Penn State, finishing with highs in tackles (seven) and sacks (three) and earning this week’s Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.

40-SOMETHINGS

• Three active Buckeyes have played in 40 or more career games and another will join that club on Saturday.
  • Senior LBs Tuf Borland (46 games played), Pete Werner (41 games played) and LT Thayer Munford (40 games played) are the most experienced players on the 2020 roster. Senior DE Jonathon Cooper will play in his 40th career game this weekend.
  • Senior LB Baron Browning and TE Luke Farrell are poised to play in their 40th games next weekend at Maryland.

UNDER THE LIGHTS

• Ohio State is 62-27 all-time in night games (5 p.m. or later local start time) with a 15-5 mark at home.
• The Buckeyes played just one night game last season at Ohio Stadium, a 34-10 win over Michigan State on Oct. 6.
• Since the beginning of the 2017 season, Ohio State has played 16 night games and 14 of them have been either on the road or at a neutral site.
• Ohio State hasn’t played a night game at home in November since a 62-3 win over No. 10 Nebraska on Nov. 5, 2016.

3

Defensive tackle Tommy Togiai recorded a career-best three QB sacks vs. Penn State (-13 yards) and he also led the team with a career-best seven total tackles. He was one half sack away from tying the program record for sacks in a game by a defensive tackle (3.5 by David Thompson
vs. Illinois in 2002).

7 & 7

Justin Fields has accounted for as many TDs (seven) as he has thrown incompletions during a hot start that has seen him go 20-21 vs. Nebraska and 28-34 vs. PSU.

10

Ohio State has tied Notre Dame (1941-49) for consecutive road wins over Associated Press ranked teams: 10. Ohio State’s streak started in 2012.

12

Ohio State has 12 consecutive Big Ten Conference regular season wins by double figure margins with 10 of those victories by 23 or more points.

• Rutgers opened its 2020 season with a 38-27 win over Michigan State in East Lansing two weeks ago before dropping its home opener to Indiana last Saturday, 37-21.
• Quarterback Noah Vedral, a transfer from Nebraska, has completed 61.9 percent of his passes through two games for 299 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions.
• Isaih Pachecco is the team’s top rusher with 28 carries for 85 yards and two touchdown thus far. He also leads the team with nine receptions for 69 yards.
• The Scarlet Knights possess one of the nation’s top run defenses and have allowed just 79.5 yards per game on the ground in two games.
• Head coach Greg Schiano is in his second stint leading the Rutgers program after going 68-67 with the Scarlet Knights from 2001-11.