There's no trick here − Michigan football has a treat of a kickoff time on Halloween.
The Wolverines (4-2, 1-2 Big Ten) will play Rutgers (2-4, 1-2) at 12:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network when they square off at Shi Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey, on Saturday, Oct 31, according to a league release. It will mark the third time in four games the Wolverines kick off in the early window, dating back to a 20-14 loss to Minnesota in Week 5.
Michigan plays at noon on Fox against Indiana this weekend.
U-M is 9-1 in meetings with Rutgers since the Scarlet Knights joined the Big Ten, with the loss coming in the first season, 26-24, in 2014. Since that time, the Wolverines have won nine consecutive games, but after meeting every year for a decade, Michigan hasn't
played Rutgers since 2023.
While a few have been close − like a 48-42 3OT win in 2020 and a 20-13 survival in 2021 − most of the contests have been rather lopsided. Michigan won by 24 in the last meeting in 2023 and by 35 the last time these teams met in New Jersey, 52-17. That's not to mention a 52-0 win in 2019, a 42-7 win in 2018 or a historic 78-0 victory in 2016.
Rutgers just picked up its first Power Four victory of the season last week, knocking off Maryland 37-30, but it has played a few tight games prior. Greg Schiano's squad lost by just seven to USC and Boston College, but was blown out 47-15 by Indiana and got upset in major fashion, 37-21, by UMass in the season opener.
Tony Garcia is the Michigan beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football gets early kick time for Halloween matchup with Rutgers
