PISCATAWAY, N.J. — For the past six weeks, Greg Schiano has been calling his Rutgers team a work in progress as it knocked off a couple of lower division opponents and two struggling programs.

Now it's time for all the pieces to come together for Rutgers (4-1, 0-1 Big East).

The Scarlet Knights return to conference play tonight against preseason favorite Pittsburgh (5-1, 2-0) in a game that is a must-win if Schiano's team wants to have any shot at its first conference title.

"Friday night, under the lights, it's going to be a great atmosphere, the stadium is going to be packed," said Rutgers running back Joe Martinek, who has a team-high five touchdowns. "We just have to get our minds right with the short week, and get ready to play a Big East game."

The Scarlet Knights' first conference game this season was an embarrassing 47-15 loss to now No. 8 Cincinnati. The Bearcats rolled up 500-plus yards in offense in a nationally televised game that sent a packed Labor Day crowd home early.

If there is a piece of good news for Rutgers, it's the fact they are playing the Panthers. They have beaten them four straight times, including a 54-34 decision last year when Pittsburgh was ranked No. 17.

That statistic has not been lost on Dave Wannstedt's team. Lowlights from the losing streak have been shown on televisions in the Panthers' practice center all week.

"This is the game when I broke my ankle, so I've got my own reasons for wanting revenge against Rutgers," offensive lineman Robb Houser said. "And we've never beaten them before, so we're taking this week very seriously."

Houser wasn't the only one hurt against Rutgers. Pittsburgh quarterback Bill Stuck was taken off the field on a stretcher after suffering a neck injury while being knocked down on a passing play.

Stull is also back this year, and looking for payback.

"Four years in a row, if that's not good enough motivation, the only team we haven't beaten in the Big East, I'm telling you," Stull said. "It's bitter. It really is, and it's definitely personal for all of us."

This is a game that will match Pittsburgh's high-scoring offense against Rutgers' improving defense.

The Panthers, who rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat Connecticut on Saturday, are averaging 36 points with Stull running the offense. He has thrown 13 touchdowns and is ranked fourth in the nation in passing efficiency. Running back Dion Lewis is No. 5 in the nation, averaging 123 yards. Tight end Dorin Dickerson has seven touchdown catches.

The Scarlet Knights' defense has scored four touchdowns and forced 12 turnovers in the last three games. The unit is ranked No. 2 nationally in run defense (65.2 yards per game) and sixth in turnover ratio (+2.4).

"They've got talent on defense," Wannstedt said. "They give you a lot of different looks. Different than what we've seen. And different than maybe what we do, and Connecticut does. They move constantly with their linebackers, with their defensive line. It forces you to handle it physically. But it really tests you mentally, too."