Rutgers and No. 24 Illinois face each other with hopes of landing more prestigious bowl bids
Associated PressThe AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! 24 Illinois at Rutgers, Saturday, noon EST BetMGM College Football Odds: Rutgers by 1 1/2. It has allowed an average of 1.6 sacks, ninth-best in the league, and has cleared the way for running back Kyle Monangai to post his second straight 1,000-yard season. The total is the program’s most since 2001, when it appeared in 10 polls.. Illini QB Luke Altmyer has the conference’s best touchdown to interception ratio with 18 TDs and three picks.. Illinois has three defensive backs with multiple interceptions: Xavier Scott, Miles Scott, and Torrie Cox Jr... Illinois ranks 8th-best nationally in fewest penalty yards per game, one behind Rutgers at.. Rutgers is bowl eligible for the eighth time under coach Greg Schiano and is poised to earn the 13th bowl invitation in program history. The Scarlet Knights last earned bowl eligibility in consecutive seasons from 2011-14.. Rutgers has never won four conference games in a season since joining the league.. QB Athan Kaliakmanis has thrown 14 touchdown passes.. Monangai ranks third in Rutgers history with 2,970 yards rushing and is tied for seventh with 26 rushing touchdowns.. Rutgers allowed less than 20 points in back-to-back Big Ten games for the second time since joining the conference, also in 2022.. Rutgers has blocked 73 kicks in Schiano’s two tenures.