As expected Sunday, the Rutgers University football program received and accepted a postseason invitation to play in the 2011 New Era Pinstripe Bowl, Dec. 30, at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY. In their sixth bowl appearance in seven years, the Scarlet Knights (8-4, 4-3) will play the Big 12 Conference's Iowa State University (3:00 p.m. ET on ESPN). This will be the second ever Pinstripe Bowl, which last year featured Syracuse University defeating Kansas State University, 36-34.
A month ago, Nov. 5, Rutgers became bowl eligible with a 20-17 overtime victory over the University of South Florida. Rutgers went on to win its next two games -- 27-12 over Army, Nov. 12, and 20-3 over the University of Cincinnati, Nov. 19 -- but dropped its season finale versus the University of Connecticut, 40-22.
Here's a quick look at the regular-season stat leaders for the Scarlet Knights:
Leading passer: Fr. Gary Nova -- 113-of-220 (51.1-percent), 1,533 yards, 11 touchdowns, 9 interceptions.
Leading rusher: So. RB Jawan Jamison -- 204 attempts, 766 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Leading receiver: Sr. WR Mohamed Sanu -- 109 receptions, 1,144 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Total offense: 336.5 yards per game; 26.3 points per game.
Total defense: 314.4 yards allowed per game; 18.8 points allowed per game.
Top tackler: Sr. LB Khaseem Greene -- 127 tackles.
Top sacker: Sr. DT Justin Francis -- 6.5 sacks.
Most interceptions: Jr. DB Duron Harmon -- 5 interceptions.
The Cyclones become bowl eligible with a double-overtime victory, 37-31, against then No.2-ranked Oklahoma State University. Trailing by 17 points at halftime, Iowa State came back and posted its biggest victory in program history -- previous to that game the Cyclones were 0-56-2 against teams ranked sixth or higher coming into the game.
Earlier in the season, Iowa State earned a road win against UConn, 24-20. Here's a look at the Cyclones regular-season statistical leaders:
Leading passer: Jr. QB Steele Jantz -- 123-of-228 (53.9-percent), 1,322 yards, 10 touchdowns, 9 interceptions.
Leading rusher: So. RB James White -- 150 attempts, 774 yards.
Leading receiver: Sr. WR Darius Reynolds -- 41 catches, 655 yards.
Total offense: 392.8 yards per game; 23.5 points per game.
Total defense: 432.3 yards allowed per game, 29.6 points allowed per game.
Top tackler: Jr. LB Jake Knott -- 107 tackles.
Top sacker: Sr. DE Patrick Neal -- 3.5 sacks.
Most interceptions: Sr. DB Ter'Ran Benton -- 3 interceptions.
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