Coach: Greg Schiano (6 years, 30-41 overall)

Last year: 11-2, 5-2 Big East

On the Web: www.scarletknights.com

Ticket info: Season sellout. Season-ticket waiting list at 1-866-445-GORU.

Worth watching: Ray Rice ran for 1,794 yards on 335 carries and scored 20 touchdowns in 2006. He ran behind a terrific offensive line, but made many of the yards on his own ... Defensive tackle Eric Foster is a force in the middle. He had 14 tackles for loss and six sacks last year. Coming from Homestead, Fla., he is part of Schiano's South Florida connection from his days as Miami defensive coordinator.

Great unknown: Can quarterback Mike Teel win games by passing if teams stack the line against Ray Rice and limit the ball control offense? Last year, he completed 55.4 percent of his passes, throwing for 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Going back to high school (Don Bosco N.J. Prep), Teel is 35-3 as a starter, 12-3 at Rutgers.

It all comes down to ...: Is Rutgers good enough to beat Big East powers West Virginia and Louisville, both national championship threats? WVU is at Rutgers on Oct. 27. Rutgers is at Louisville on Nov. 29.

Number crunching: Last year, Rutgers ranked in the top 10 in eight significant statistical categories - fewest sacks allowed (first), total defense (fourth), sacks and tackles for loss (fifth), pass defense (sixth), scoring defense and pass efficiency defense (eighth) and turnover margin (10th).

SCHEDULE

Home Games (CAPS) at Rutgers Stadium

Thursday: BUFFALO, 7

Friday, Sept. 7: NAVY, 7 (ESPN)

Saturday, Sept. 15: NORFOLK ST., 3:30

Saturday, Sept. 29: MARYLAND, TBA

Saturday, Oct. 6: CINCINNATI, TBA

Saturday, Oct. 13: at Syracuse, TBA

Thursday, Oct. 18: S. FLORIDA, 7:30 (ESPN)

Saturday, Oct. 27: WEST VIRGINIA, TBA

Saturday, Nov. 3: at Connecticut, TBA

Friday, Nov. 9: at Army, 8 (ESPN2)

Saturday, Nov. 17: PITTSBURGH, TBA

Thursday, Nov. 29: at Louisville. 7:30 (ESPN)