Who are the announcers for Penn State-Rutgers? Here's who will be on the call for Big Ten Network

Penn State travels to Rutgers on Saturday for both teams’ regular season finale. Each enters the contest with five wins and needs a sixth to be bowl eligible. Only one of them will earn it, of course. Big Ten Network will televise the Big Ten matchup. It starts at 3:30 p.m. ET at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, N.J.

“We look forward to our next opportunity at Rutgers this Saturday,” Lions interim head coach Terry Smith said on Monday. “They’re hungry, fighting for post-season just like us. I’m excited to face Coach Schiano. He was a coach on staff when I played here, so, I know him very well. Proud of our guys and looking forward to a good week of preparation.

“This week, I’m worried about Rutgers. My goal is to finish this season off with three victories in a row, get us bowl eligible, and then get prepared for a bowl game after that.”

BetMGM made the visitors a 10.5-point favorite on Sunday afternoon. As of Monday afternoon, the number is now up to 11.5 while the total sits at 55.5 points.

Who are the BTN announcers for Penn State-Rutgers?

According to the Scarlet Knights’ game notes, play-by-play announcer Jeff Levering will be on the call along with Jake Butt, who will provide color commentary. Brooke Fletcher will be the sideline reporter. The trio called a pair of Penn State games last season. But, this will be the first one they are on the air for this fall.

What’s up with the Scarlet Knights?

Rutgers was pummeled 42-9 on Saturday at Ohio State. Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis has just a 62 percent completion percentage on the year but does have 2,705 yards through the air in addition to a 17-to-7 TD to INT ratio. Antwan Raymond is the bellcow back with 1,000 yards on the year on 200 carries. No other back has more than 61. Rutgers prefers to run over pass. Defensively, it is one of the worst units in the country against the run, checking in at No. 129 nationally out of 134 teams. It is No. 75 against the pass. And, as noted, both teams are playing for bowl eligibility.

“Circumstance cannot dictate your behavior. Is it exciting that you have a game that if you win you keep playing and if you don’t, ooh, yeah, that’s fun as a competitor,” Schiano said Saturday when asked about that. “You love that. But the preparation, if you let circumstance dictate your behavior, you’re going to have a tough life.

“We have to lock in and focus and get better, and there will be stuff from this game that we can improve on and evaluate what Penn State’s doing and come up with a plan and go practice all week and get ready to go play.”

Here’s where Rutgers ranks in various statistical categories:

Scoring offense: No. 68 (28 points per game)

Rushing/passing offense: Nos. 89 and 37

Scoring defense: No. 115 (31.1 points per game)

Rushing/passing defense: Nos. 129 and 75