After finishing their home stretch with a 6-1 record, No. 24 Fighting Illini will travel to the East Coast to take on Rutgers on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT at Peacock.

This weekend’s match marks the Orange and Blue’s fourth away match of the year. Illinois has a 1-2 road record this season, including a win over No. 22 Nebraska and losses to No. 1 Oregon and No. 9 Penn State.

The Illini posted a dominant 38-16 win over Michigan State in Week 12, a victory fueled by a career-high three rushing scores. Josh McCray and a career-most 135 receiving yards for Pat Bryant. Illinois’ defense held the Spartans to 2-for-15 on third down while totaling five sacks and eight tackles for loss.

Rutgers (6-4, 3-4 Big Ten) enters the weekend on a two-game winning streak, while the Scarlet Knights recently posted a 31-17 victory over Maryland. Saturday’s hosts have gone 4-2 at SHI Stadium this season, including three home wins during a 4-0 start to the season.

With the Orange and Blue spending the remainder of the season away from home, here are a few things to watch leading up to the penultimate game of the Illini regular season.

Rutgers is among the Big Ten’s best in turnovers and penalty kill

The Scarlet Knights are second in the Big Ten in time of possession, averaging 31:25 over their ten games so far this season. Rutgers’ offense is just one second behind conference-leading Nebraska and has used its time with the ball to its advantage en route to bowl eligibility.

In their six wins this season, the Scarlet Knights have registered more possession in five of those matches. In the four defeats, Rutgers was outscored three times.

The Scarlet Knights also enter the weekend as one of the most disciplined teams in the conference. Rutgers is tied for second in the Big Ten with 4.3 penalties per game, a figure that also ranks seventh in the FBS.

Through ten games, the Scarlet Knights have committed more penalties than their opponents only once, and that was last week against Maryland when Rutgers committed a season-high eight penalties. Prior to that game, the Scarlet Knights’ highest number of penalties in the season was five; Rutgers scored four or fewer eight times this year.

Opponent Scout: Rutgers offense

Rutgers ranks eighth in the Big Ten in total offense (382.2 yards per game), 13th in passing offense (212.8 yards per game) and fifth in rushing offense (169.4 yards per game).

The Illini are quite familiar with the Scarlet Knights’ starting quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, who spent the first three years of his collegiate career with former Big Ten West rival Minnesota. Kaliakmanis transferred to Rutgers this offseason and immediately stepped into a starting role, recording more than 2,000 passing yards and 15 total touchdowns in his first year in New Jersey.

He completed just over 55% of his pass attempts and recorded four multi-passing games, including back-to-back multi-touchdown games during the Scarlet Knights’ current two-game winning streak.

Rutgers’ rushing attack features one of the most dynamic running backs in the conference: senior Kyle Monangai, who ranks third in the Big Ten with 1,028 rushing yards and second with 12 rushing touchdowns. Monangai is one of five Big Ten rushers and one of 20 in the FBS with more than 1,000 rushing yards this season. He has scored at least once in seven games this season, while racking up at least 100 yards on the ground four times.

“We’ve had some really good running backs, but Kyle Monangai is a different cat,” the Illinois defensive coordinator said Aaron Hendrik. “He’s really special. He’s obviously going to be a challenge for us. He makes their offense much better when he runs at that clip.”

WR Dymere Miller transferred from FCS Monmouth this summer and has made an immediate impact in Rutgers’ passing game with 50 receptions, 645 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns, all of which are team-leading numbers. Miller has found his groove of late, totaling over 100 yards in two of his last three outings.

Wide receiver Ian Strong isn’t far behind with 27 catches for 442 yards and three scores, all of which rank second on the team.

“Their quarterback does a phenomenal job on offense and doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. He’s very efficient in the throwing game,” Henry said. “It’s obviously a tough job. From an offensive standpoint, they’re doing some really good things. They’ve got some huge receivers on the outside who can run a little bit.”

“I have a lot of respect for Coach Schiano and the way he leads his program. We are very excited about this opportunity and are really looking forward to getting out there and playing.”

Opponent Scout: Rutgers defense

The Scarlet Knight defense ranks second-to-last in the Big Ten in yards allowed per game (389.4), while they rank among the bottom five teams in the conference in both passing yards allowed (241.0) and rushing yards allowed (148.4). Rutgers gives up the fifth-most points per game among Big Ten teams (23.4).

Linebacker Dariel Djabome leads the team and ranks fourth in the Big Ten with 88 total tackles, while also collecting 5.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, four quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.

Defensive linemen Kyonte Hamilton, Jordan Thompson and Jordan Walker have each recorded at least 4.5 tackles for loss, while Hamilton has recorded a team-leading 3.5 sacks.

DB Shaquan Loyal has a team-leading two interceptions, the only Scarlet Knight with multiple picks this season, while fellow defenseman Robert Longerbeam leads the team with nine pass breakups.

“They’re very big in their front seven. They’re very big and physical. They play with so much confidence in their scheme. They know it so well, inside and out,” the Illini offensive coordinator said. Barry Lunney Jr. “It’s a big, strong, fast, confident group. Obviously being on the road brings an extra challenge, with the noise and the atmosphere and the pre-snap communication that’s required. I have a lot of respect for where we are for standing to face.”

No. 24 Illinois and Rutgers will face off Saturday at 11 a.m. CT on Peacock.