Everything Rutgers fans need to know about emotional Minnesota matchup

There will be a lot of familiarity at SHI Stadium on Saturday.

Rutgers (4-4, 1-4) hosts Minnesota (6-3, 4-2) in a game that pits a lot of familiar faces against each other.

Scarlet Knights head coach Greg Schiano was Golden Gophers coach PJ Fleck’s boss in Piscataway and Tampa a decade ago; Fleck was quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis’ coach for three seasons before he transferred to Rutgers this offseason; Rutgers coordinators Kirk Ciarrocca and Joe Harasymiak were poached out of Minneapolis by Schiano, then Fleck returned the favor this offseason by plucking Corey Hetherman out of Piscataway to be his defensive coordinator.

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Both sides played down the potential emotion of the matchup this week.

“The whole focus is us — the kids continuing to get better, continuing to be 1-0, finding a way to be better than we were last week,” Fleck said. “And that takes a lot of energy. It really does. It takes a ton of energy, and that’s where energy is focused.”

Here is what Rutgers fans need to know ahead of its meeting with Minnesota:

On the field

Rutgers-Minnesota preview: Keys to victory, x-factor and more as similar squads square off

Rutgers-Minnesota picks, predictions: Can Scarlet Knights win F.A.M.I.L.Y. bowl?

Can Rutgers fix its defense? Leadership eyes bye-week boost as Minnesota looms

Is Rutgers’ health still a concern after the bye? Here’s what Greg Schiano said

Off the field

Can Rutgers reach a bowl? 3 reasons for optimism, concern after bye week

Where does Rutgers rank nationally with 4 games to go in regular season?

Player

Q&A with Rutgers DB Flip Dixon, who is facing his former team this weekend

What Rutgers QB Athan Kaliakmanis said about facing his former team

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Patrick Lanni may be reached at planni@njadvancemedia.com.

Brian Fonseca may be reached at bfonseca@njadvancemedia.com.