Final score: Rutgers 37, Purdue 30

Brief recap: Rutgers was able to prevail in this wild contest. This game included multiple backup quarterbacks, a safety, a kickoff return touchdown and several big plays. Rutgers scored 17 unanswered points in the second half to secure this win. The Scarlett Knights were able to ice the game with a few key first downs in the final few minutes.

Key player: Rutgers receiver Shameen Jones had a career day. He caught eight passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns. In his entire collegiate career entering today (17 games), Jones had two touchdowns. He was an invaluable target for backup quarterback Artur Sitkowski.

Key moment: This game turned after Rutgers’ 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the second half. That play came just after a David Bell touchdown that gave the Boilermakers a 30-20 lead. Instead of continuing to ride that momentum, Purdue conceded the return to Aron Cruickshank to make it 30-27. Rutgers went on to score 17 unanswered points and win the game. 

Key stat: 0. Purdue is still winless against Rutgers. The Boilermakers are the only Big Ten team without a victory against the Scarlett Knights.

What it means for Purdue: This is a deflating loss for a Purdue team that was still recovering from last week’s controversial defeat against Minnesota. The Boilermakers were playing with backup QB Jack Plummer, but Rutgers didn’t have its starting quarterback either. It’s certainly a frustrating outcome for Jeff Brohm’s squad after the way they started the season.

What it means for Rutgers: The Scarlett Knights continue to play hard under head coach Greg Schiano. They almost upset Michigan last week and have been competitive in almost every game this season. For Rutgers, that’s a massive improvement over what the previous few years have been.