Many thanks to Ryan Dunleavy, Rutgers football beat writer for the Asbury Park (N.J.) Press and mycentraljersey.com for some insights on the Scarlet Knights as they prepare to invade East Lansing (noon Saturday, BTN). He also had some questions for me on MSU, which you can read here.

Q: What’s the feeling at Rutgers about this first season in the Big Ten? Anything especially surprising? Do you think this can help Rutgers advance as a football program?

A: Through all the turmoil at Rutgers over the last two years — and there has been plenty — the looming move to the Big Ten was the beacon of hope. The three home sellouts against Penn State, Michigan and Wisconsin are more than Rutgers had from 2009, when it expanded its stadium, through 2013. So Rutgers fans have backed up the buildup by showing up. Beating Michigan, even in a down year, was one of the top wins in school history, just from a prestige point of view. Plus, it helped get this team bowl-eligible in its first Big Ten season, which was the preseason definition of success. I think the Big Ten will advance Rutgers as a football program over the long haul, but it must improve its recruiting first — and being in the East Division isn’t favorable. More important, the Big Ten’s annual paychecks will sustain Rutgers, which had a nation-high $47-million subsidy for the athletic department last year. - Read more at Freep.com