Unbeaten Rutgers Takes on Iowa in Friday Night Big Ten Opener

Rutgers (3-0) hosts Iowa (2-1) under the lights this Friday at SHI Stadium. The 8 p.m. kickoff marks the start of Big Ten play for both teams in Piscataway.

Both squads come in hot. The Knights blasted Norfolk State 60-10 in their latest win. Iowa bounced back strong after their loss to Iowa State, crushing UMass 47-7.

At quarterback, Athan Kaliakmanis has been perfect through the air with seven scores and zero mistakes. On the ground, Antwan Raymond's five rushing touchdowns put him among the nation's best backs. His 248 yards show why defenses fear him.

History favors the visitors. The Knights have yet to crack Iowa's code, dropping all four matchups. Last season brought a 22-0 shutout loss, while their last home game against Iowa ended in a 27-10 defeat.

The night brings extra buzz with Rutgers' first blackout game. Players will wear black from head to toe. Fans can join a new stadium-wide light show through their phones, dubbed "Light Up The Knight."

Iowa's defense stands like a brick wall. They've shut down offenses to just 10 points per game, ranking 14th in the country. Even more striking: they strangle teams to a mere 178 yards each week, good for third-best nationwide.

Bookmakers see Iowa as slight favorites, giving 2.5 points. The total sits at 45.5 on FanDuel. FOX will broadcast coast-to-coast, with Connor Onion and Mark Helfrich in the booth.

Seats start at $44 through StubHub, $43 on Vivid Seats. Gates swing open at 6 p.m. The first 12,000 students can snag free 2025 Blackout shirts.