Rutgers Announces 2007 Football Schedule

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (February 1, 2007) – For the first time in school history, Rutgers will play eight home games at Rutgers Stadium, including two in primetime on national television, as the 2007 schedule for the Scarlet Knights was released Thursday. The Scarlet Knights will have a minimum of four games in primetime on national television in 2007.

“The 2007 schedule should be exciting for our players and fans with eight home games at Rutgers Stadium,” said Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano. “With half of the teams on our 2007 schedule playing in bowls last season, the bar again has been raised.”

The 2007 season begins on Thursday, Aug. 30 vs. Buffalo at Rutgers Stadium. The Scarlet Knights play their first five games of the season at home, where they went 6-0 in 2006.

Rutgers’ second game of the season vs. Navy will air live nationally on ESPN Friday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m.

Home dates vs. Norfolk State (Saturday, Sept. 15) and Maryland (Saturday, Sept. 29) round out the September schedule.

The month of October begins with the first BIG EAST conference game of the season for the Scarlet Knights vs. Cincinnati on Saturday, Oct. 6. Rutgers hits the road for the first time Saturday, Oct. 13 with a conference game at Syracuse.

ESPN’s Thursday night football package returns to Piscataway on Oct. 18 vs. USF. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. from Rutgers Stadium. The October slate finishes with a home date vs. West Virginia on Saturday, Oct. 27.

In November, Rutgers plays four games – two on the road – beginning at Connecticut (Saturday, Nov. 3). For the only time in 2007, the Scarlet Knights play consecutive road games the following week at Army (Friday, Nov. 9) on ESPN2. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.

The Scarlet Knights final game at home in 2007 is against Pittsburgh on Saturday, Nov. 17. Following a bye week, Rutgers closes out the regular season again on ESPN in a Thursday night showdown at Louisville (Nov. 29). The classic 2006 matchup vs. the Cardinals was the second-highest rated college football game on ESPN in 2006 and was the top-rated college football game all-time on ESPN in the New York metro area.

Rutgers finished the 2006 season 11-2 (5-2 BIG EAST) and ranked 12th in both the Associated Press and USA Today/Coaches Top 25 polls. The 11 wins tied a single-season school record, including the program’s first bowl championship with a 37-10 victory over Kansas State in the inaugural Texas Bowl.

Kickoff times and additional television information will be released later in the spring. At this time, there is a waiting list for 2007 Rutgers football season tickets. For more information, call the Rutgers Ticket Office at 1-866-445-GORU or visit www.scarletknights.com.

Source: Rutgers Sports Communications Office

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Rutgers Announces 2007 Football Schedule