Football Loses to Michigan - Rutgers University Athletics

Saturday, October 31

Piscataway, N.J.

12:30 PM

Rutgers

2-6 , 1-4

Michigan

5-3 , 2-3

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Michigan	7	7	7	7	28
Rutgers	3	10	0	8	21

Photo by: Caean Couto/Rutgers Athletics

Oct 31 | Football

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MICHIGAN 28 (5-3, 2-3), RUTGERS 21 (2-6, 1-4)
SHI STADIUM • PISCATAWAY, N.J.
OCTOBER 31, 2026 • ATTENDANCE: 39,540

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football (2-6, 1-4) lost to Michigan (5-3, 2-3), 28-21, on Saturday afternoon at SHI Stadium.

QB AJ Surace passed for 123 yards, connecting with WR Jourdin Houston for an 80-yard touchdown pass in the first half. RB Antwan Raymond rushed for 85 yards on 11 carries, while RB Clay Thevenin added his fifth rushing touchdown of the season.

DB JJ Conyers and LB Moses Walker each collected 10 tackles. DL Sekou Kromah registered his third sack of the season and DL Rondo Porter added a tackle-for-loss.

PK Dane Pizzaro went 2-for-2 on field goals to contribute six points.

FIRST HALF
After Michigan scored its first touchdown of the day, Rutgers responded with a 10-play, 47-yard scoring drive. Pizarro drilled a 46-yard field goal to make it 7-3 Wolverines with 1:46 left in the first quarter.

After the Wolverines reached the end zone to make it 14-3, Surace connected with Houston for an 80-yard score on the ensuing possession. Houston's first career touchdown pulled RU within four at the 11:31 mark in the second quarter.

Rutgers' defense held Michigan off the board for the remainder of the half. Pizarro added a 32-yard field goal with three minutes before the break, as the Scarlet Knights trailed 14-13 heading into the locker room.

SECOND HALF
Michigan scored a touchdown midway through the third quarter. RU's defense held strong for the remainder of the quarter, as UM held a 21-13 lead after three.

After Rutgers forced a Wolverines punt to begin the fourth quarter, the Scarlet Knights marched down the field for a five-play, 63-yard scoring drive. RB Antwan Raymond ran up the middle for a 54-yard gain to set up RU in the red zone. Thevenin punched it in for a touchdown two plays later. A two-point reception caught by WR Ben Black III tied the game 21-21 with 11:43 left to play.

Michigan added a late score to go up 28-21 at the 4:24 mark in the quarter and would hold on for the victory.

NOTES
• QB AJ Surace connected with WR Jourdin Houston (first career touchdown) for an 80-yard touchdown pass, the longest passing play for Rutgers since Gary Nova and Andrew Turzilli had one for the same length in 2014 versus Michigan. It also marks the longest passing play for the Scarlet Knights in Big Ten play since joining the conference.
• RB Clay Thevenin recorded his fifth rushing touchdown in the last six games.
• DL Sekou Kromah picked up his third sack of the season.
• PK Dane Pizzaro made field goals from 46 and 32 yards away to improve to 8-for-9 on the season.
• First career start (3): DB Devonte Anderson, DB DK Gilley, DB Tariq Hayer
• DL J'Dan Burnett appeared in his 50th career collegiate game, the most on the active roster.
• Consecutive games played: DL Zaire Angoy (38), OL Kwabena Asamoah (36)

UP NEXT
Rutgers returns to the road to face Wisconsin Nov. 7 at Camp Randall Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. local on Big Ten Network.

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