Rutgers To Play In 2012 Russell Athletic Bowl

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights will play in the Russell Athletic Bowl on Friday, December 28 against a to-be-announced ACC foe. 

Rutgers (9-3, 5-2 Big East) heads to an Orlando bowl for the first time in school history and heads to The City Beautiful riding a five-game bowl win streak, tied for the nation’s longest. It has played in seven bowls in the last eight years and this will be its eighth bowl all time. The co-Big East Champions enter the game looking for its first double-digit win season since 2006, when it went 11-2. 

“On behalf of Florida Citrus Sports, it is a privilege to have Rutgers University in our first Russell Athletic Bowl,” said Florida Citrus Sports Chairman Larry Ruffin. “Rutgers is a well-deserving team, we look forward to hosting the Scarlet Knights and their fans and look forward to a great game.” 

The Scarlet Knights boast a pair of sophomores who have been making headlines all season. Running back Jawan Jamison is the third RU player since 1976 to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, and quarterback Gary Nova is second in RU single-season history with 22 touchdown passes this year. 

The last time RU played an ACC team in a bowl was the 2008 PapaJohns.com Bowl against NC State. Rutgers earned a 29-23 victory over the Wolfpack.

By rule, Rutgers’ opposition in this year’s game is being withheld until tonight’s BCS Bowl Selection Show on ESPN. Releases on that team and the matchup will be available after 8:30 p.m. ET.