PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Jabrill Peppers ran for a career-high two touchdowns and set up another score with a 63-yard scamper in his return to his native New Jersey and No. 4 Michigan routed Rutgers 78-0 Saturday night in a game in which the Scarlet Knights were limited to 22 yards total yards and two first downs.
Peppers had scoring runs of 7 and 4 yards after taking direct snaps, and his career-long run midway through the first quarter paved the way to a 4-yard touchdown run by Ty Isaac for the first score of the game.
It could have been a better day for the junior who has played 12 positions for Michigan (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) this season. He had a 44-yard punt return for a first-quarter touchdown nullified by an illegal block.
Wolverines are 6-0 for the first time since 2011 That team finished 11-2.
Rutgers (2-4, 0-3) has lost three straight, with the last two being embarrassing for new coach Chris Ash. No. 2 Ohio State beat the Scarlet Knights 58-0 last weekend, holding them to 116 yards in total offense.
This was worse, and seeing Peppers come home and put up a highlight reel added to the woe for the crowd of 53,292.
Rutgers did not get a first down until Trey Sneed had a 12-yard run with 9:06 left in the fourth quarter.
The 78-0 loss was Rutgers worst since an 82-0 setback against Princeton in 1888.
Khalid Hill tallied twice from a yard out and caught an 11-yard pass from backup quarterback John O’Korn early in the third quarter. Jehu Chesson had the best catch of the rainy night, diving to catch a 30-yard touchdown pass from Wilton Speight in the first quarter.
Karan Higdon added touchdown runs of 15 and 44 yards, Bobby Henderson tallied from 13 and Isaac capped the scoring with a 34-yarder for his second of the game.