Big Ten matchup features No. 24 Northwestern playing Rutgers

The No. 24 Northwestern Wildcats and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights square off in a meeting of Big Ten foes

Rutgers (2-4) at No. 24 Northwestern (5-1), Oct. 24 at 12 p.m. EDT.

Opening Line: Northwestern by 16.5. Against the spread: Northwestern 4-2, Rutgers 3-3.

How to watch: Peacock

Key stats

Northwestern Offense

Overall: 424.5 yards per game (44th in FBS)

Passing: 233.0 yards per game (67th)

Rushing: 191.5 yards per game (39th)

Scoring: 33.5 points per game (40th)

Northwestern Defense

Overall: 368.0 yards per game (84th in FBS)

Passing: 230.5 yards per game (100th)

Rushing: 137.5 yards per game (59th)

Scoring: 17.0 points per game (26th)

Rutgers Offense

Overall: 403.3 yards per game (61st in FBS)

Passing: 265.8 yards per game (35th)

Rushing: 137.5 yards per game (99th)

Scoring: 31.2 points per game (58th)

Rutgers Defense

Overall: 402.5 yards per game (113th in FBS)

Passing: 217.3 yards per game (82nd)

Rushing: 185.2 yards per game (118th)

Scoring: 31.8 points per game (119th)

Rutgers is 122nd in the FBS with a -5 turnover margin, compared to Northwestern's 8th-ranked +7 margin.

Northwestern is 62nd in the FBS averaging 54.8 penalty yards per game, compared to Rutgers' 1st-ranked 28.7 per-game average.

Rutgers is 65th in FBS in red zone defense, allowing opponents to score on 82.1% of trips. Northwestern's red zone offense ranks 4th, scoring on 96.4% of red zone opportunities.

Team leaders

Northwestern

Passing: Aidan Chiles, 1,398 yards, 9 TDs, 0 INTs, 70.5 completion percentage

Rushing: Caleb Komolafe, 401 yards on 75 carries, 4 TDs

Receiving: Griffin Wilde, 482 yards on 30 catches, 3 TDs

Rutgers

Passing: Dylan Lonergan, 1,066 yards, 10 TDs, 6 INTs, 58.3 completion percentage

Rushing: Antwan Raymond, 498 yards on 105 carries, 5 TDs

Receiving: K.J. Duff, 741 yards on 42 catches, 9 TDs

Last game

Northwestern won 24-21 over Michigan State on Oct. 17. Chiles threw for 226 yards on 18-of-27 attempts (66.7%) with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He also carried the ball 16 times for 25 yards and one rushing touchdown. Komolafe had 67 rushing yards on 15 carries and one touchdown, adding four receptions for 51 yards. Wilde put up 57 yards on six catches.

Rutgers won 37-30 over Maryland on Oct. 17. Lonergan led Rutgers with 291 yards on 23-of-35 passing (65.7%) for three touchdowns and one interception. Clay Thevenin carried the ball 17 times for 109 yards and scored one touchdown, adding two receptions for 24 yards and one touchdown. Duff put up 113 yards on nine catches with two touchdowns.

Next game

Northwestern plays at Oregon on Oct. 31. Rutgers hosts Michigan on Oct. 31.