Rutgers is set to take on Akron on Saturday, September 7, 2024, at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey.
For viewers without DirecTV or traditional cable, the game can be streamed for free through a fuboTV trial or by subscribing to Sling TV, which offers a discount of $25 for the first month.
Here are the essential details:
Game: Big Ten Football
Matchup: Rutgers vs. Akron
Date: Saturday, September 7, 2024
Location: SHI Stadium
Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET
Broadcast: Big Ten Network
Viewers can locate the game on providers including Verizon Fios, AT&T U-verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum, Optimum, Cox, DIRECTV, Dish, Hulu, fuboTV, and Sling.
The game will also be available to stream live on fuboTV with a free trial.
In the week ahead, Akron (0-1) will face Rutgers (1-0) in a game scheduled for noon ET on Big Ten Network.
BetMGM College Football Odds: Rutgers favored by 23.5 points.
Historical context: Rutgers leads the series 1-0.
What’s on the line?
Akron is seeking to improve from its recent struggles, having not recorded a winning season since 2015 and holding a dismal 4-21 record over the last two-plus seasons under head coach Joe Moorhead. Rutgers, claiming this to be a pivotal season in their Big Ten journey, cannot afford to lose this matchup. After a sluggish start against Howard last week, the Scarlet Knights managed a decisive 44-7 victory. The only controversy was surrounding head coach Greg Schiano’s decision to score a touchdown on the game’s final play.
Key matchup
The contest will spotlight Rutgers’ defense against Akron. Last year, the Scarlet Knights’ defense ranked among the top 20 nationally and demonstrated its prowess last week, restricting Howard to just 261 yards and allowing a single touchdown. In contrast, Akron spent nearly 34 minutes with the ball against Ohio State but managed only 177 yards, averaging just 2.8 yards per play.
Players to monitor
For Akron: Quarterback Ben Finley. The redshirt junior struggled in the 52-6 defeat to second-ranked Ohio State, leaving the field in the second half due to injury. He completed 8 of 14 passes for 52 yards with one interception. His backup, Tahj Bullock, hailing from East Orange, New Jersey, will have a homecoming as he led the Zips with 42 rushing yards and completed 9 of 13 passes for 68 yards. Schiano expressed expectation for Finley’s return.
For Rutgers: Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis. The Minnesota transfer marked a successful debut with three touchdown passes, matching his career high. He threw for 147 yards on 15 completions and ran for 43 yards. This performance featured the most touchdown passes by a Scarlet Knight since Noah Vedral achieved the same against Michigan in 2020.
Notable statistics
Rutgers aims for its fourth consecutive 2-0 start. Their prior matchup resulted in a 20-17 win over Akron in 1990. The Scarlet Knights have claimed victory in eight straight non-conference games and 12 of their last 13, boasting a record of 51-20 in such matchups under Schiano. Rutgers has only one loss since 2020 when avoiding turnovers; they did not commit any against Howard. Meanwhile, Akron has not experienced a winning season since finishing 8-5 in 2015.