Before today, Rutgers only had two wins in Big Ten play where they throttled their opponent and won in blowout fashion. After an ugly loss to Illinois, and the fact that Michigan State needed to win this game to be bowl eligible, many thought this would be a dogfight. However, after the first possession, Rutgers took control of the game and drummed the Spartans 41-14.
This season saw Rutgers win more games in the Big Ten than they ever have before. It also saw the Knights have a winning record in the regular season for the first time since 2014.
For Michigan State, they end the season on a 1-4 skid and it is the third year in a row they failed to earn bowl eligibility.
What Went Well For Rutgers
With the snow coming down in East Lansing the way that it was, having a great day running the ball becomes a lot more crucial. Rutgers was able to do just that. Splitting rushes between three running backs and their quarterback, the Knights were able to tally 218 yards rushing on the day.
Carrying the bulk of this load was the Knights’ workhorse back Kyle Monangai. Monangai, who has dealt with injuries in the latter half of the season, looked like his early season form as he cut his way through Michigan State’s defense for 129 yards and a touchdown. Freshman running back Antwan Raymond also had a nice day, getting 71 yards and two touchdowns on 9 carries. He averaged almost eight yards per carry in this contest.
Due to the snowy conditions, the Knight’s quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis wasn’t flashy through the air but he was consistent and made plays when he needed to. Kaliakmanis got 13/22 for 157 yards and 1 touchdown through the air, averaging around 7 yards per pass on the day.
The defense also held their ground well, getting two sacks and four tackles for loss on the day.
Rutgers kicker Jai Patel had himself a great outing as well going four for four on field goals and hitting all of his PAT’s in the snow.
Where Do Both Teams Go From Here?
Rutgers already had clinched bowl eligibility before the game today. This game was all about improving their stock for a higher tier bowl game. Many analysts have them slated for either the guaranteed rate bowl in Arizona or the Game Above Sports Bowl in Detriot. Those projections all came before Rutger’s big win on Saturday so they are subject to change.
For Michigan State, there is no postseason. The Knights dashed those hopes by handing them their seventh loss of the season. Now it is time to regroup and focus on next year.
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