PISCATAWAY, NJ (September 15, 2026) — New Rochelle High School alumnus Ray Rice and the landmark 2006 Rutgers football team will be honored Saturday when the Scarlet Knights host No. 12 USC at SHI Stadium as part of Rutgers’ New Jersey Day celebration.
Rutgers will mark the 20th anniversary of the 2006 team during the Sept. 19 game, including recognition of the “Pandemonium in Piscataway” season that became one of the most successful in program history.
Rice, a New Rochelle native and New Rochelle High School graduate, was a central figure on that Rutgers team.
As a sophomore in 2006, Rice rushed for a then-school-record 1,794 yards and 20 touchdowns on 335 carries. He was named Big East Player of the Year, finished seventh in Heisman Trophy voting and was a finalist for the Maxwell Award.
Rutgers won its first nine games that season, including a 28-25 victory over No. 3 Louisville that became known as “Pandemonium in Piscataway.”
The Scarlet Knights finished the season 11-2 and defeated Kansas State in the Texas Bowl for the first bowl victory in Rutgers football history. Rice was named the game’s most valuable player after rushing for 170 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries.
Rutgers finished No. 12 in both the Associated Press and Coaches polls.
The anniversary celebration will be part of a packed New Jersey Day schedule Saturday as Rutgers hosts USC at 3:30 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on CBS.
Fans are being encouraged to wear red for a “Scarlet Out.”
Rutgers also plans a New Jersey-themed halftime show featuring the Marching Scarlet Knights and special guests. North, Central and South Jersey buttons will be distributed on the Rutgers Boardwalk and inside SHI Stadium, while region-specific T-shirts will be available for purchase.
“Beat USC” buttons will be distributed during the pregame pep rally on the Rutgers Boardwalk, which will also feature an appearance by Miss Jersey.
Youth band and spirit teams from across New Jersey will have an opportunity to perform on the field with the Rutgers Spirit Team and the Marching Scarlet Knights.
Rutgers enters the game 0-2, while USC is 3-0 and ranked No. 12.
This article was prepared with the assistance of AI tools under the direction and editing of Robert Cox.
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