Nov 9, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights wide receiver Dymere Miller (0) celebrates his touchdown reception during the first half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at SHI Stadium - Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images
On Nov. 16, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights will face the Maryland Terrapins. This is a big game for the Scarlet Knights. They hold a 5-4 record with three games left in the 2024 season. If they win against Maryland, the Scarlet Knights will officially become bowl eligible. Here is a look at how Rutgers can get the win over Maryland in week 12 of the college football season.
Fixing the Small Issues
The Scarlet Knights are coming off a big win against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The final score was 26-19. Rutgers was on a losing streak and had to change the momentum in their favor. If the Scarlet Knights play against the Terrapins how they did last week, they could get the win. To win again, have to fix the small mistakes that could cost them the game.
Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis had a big game against his former team. He completed 17 passes for 240 yards and three touchdowns, according to ESPN. This was one of his top games of the season. Kaliakmanis’ decision-making at times could have been costly though. He only threw one interception, but it was in the red zone. Instead of getting points on the board, it became Minnesota’s ball. These are the mistakes that the Scarlet Knights cannot afford against Maryland.
Defense Putting on the Pressure
The Rutgers defense stepped up against Minnesota. According to ESPN, the defense recorded four sacks and eight tackles for loss. They also had one fumble recovery. The defense has been dealing with injuries all season but the bye week helped refresh the team. The defense continued to put on a show securing safety in the fourth quarter to extend the lead.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights as a Team
A big factor that helps this Rutgers team win games is the energy they bring. Both the offense and the defense had a decent game against Minnesota, which kept the energy and consistency going into the fourth quarter. Not one side had to completely control the game.
Special teams have to remain strong against Maryland as well. It has been an on-and-off season with field goals, but against Minnesota, Jai Patel was 100% on field goals and extra points. It will be crucial not to give up an easy three points throughout the game and to continue to build up the score.
Not Counting Out Maryland
Just like going into the game against Minnesota, it will be crucial to not count out Maryland. The Terps are a 4-5 team, but they play each game until the end. Maryland’s win against USC came down to the very end because of a big special teams play in the final minutes. Rutgers cannot go into this game expecting anything easy.
This will also be a Maryland home game, giving them the advantage. The Terrapins are 3-2 at home and looking to keep a winning record at Byrd Stadium, while the Scarlet Knights are 1-2 during away games this year. Rutgers will need to play hard in front of another team’s fanbase and try to shut Maryland down early.
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Maryland Terrapins will kick off at 6:00 p.m. EST at Byrd Stadium.
