PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Athan Kaliakmanis threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns as Rutgers escaped with a 34-31 win over Ohio on Thursday night in front of a lively crowd of 46,970 at SHI Stadium. The Scarlet Knights secured the season-opening victory thanks to a fourth-quarter field goal and clutch play on both sides of the ball down the stretch.
With the game tied at 31 early in the fourth quarter, kicker Jai Patel delivered a 26-yard field goal with 11:11 left on the clock to give Rutgers the edge. The defense then held strong late to preserve the lead and seal the win.
Navarro Shines in Defeat:
Ohio quarterback Parker Navarro put on a show of his own, throwing for 239 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 93 yards and a score. The Bobcats rallied from a 14-point deficit in the third quarter with back-to-back touchdown drives to even the score.
Wide receiver Chase Hendricks led the way for Ohio’s passing attack, posting a career-best 115 receiving yards.
Despite the loss, Ohio’s offense was dynamic and efficient—converting five of 10 third downs and keeping the Rutgers defense on its heels, particularly in the second half.
Big Plays Fuel Rutgers Offense:
Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis showcased his chemistry with a talented receiving corps that includes returning targets Ian Strong and KJ Duff, along with North Texas transfer DT Sheffield. Strong finished with seven catches for 100 yards, Duff added five receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown, and Sheffield hauled in four passes for 85 yards, including a crucial TD.
One of the game’s biggest moments came late in the fourth quarter when Kaliakmanis connected with Sheffield on a 10-yard completion on 4th-and-4 to extend Rutgers’ final drive and drain valuable time from the clock.
“We’ve got some depth on offense,” said head coach Greg Schiano. “The receivers, tight ends, backs—they all contributed, and the offensive line held up well.”
Transfers Make Immediate Impact:
Schiano’s offseason focus on the transfer portal paid off. Three of Rutgers’ 19 new transfers delivered standout performances:
CJ Campbell Jr. (FAU) ran for 70 yards
DT Sheffield (North Texas) caught four passes for 85 yards and a touchdown
Cam Miller (Penn State) made three solo tackles and recovered a blocked punt for a score
Special Teams Excellence Continues:
Rutgers’ special teams once again proved pivotal. The Scarlet Knights blocked their 44th punt under Schiano and scored their 16th touchdown off a block in his 17 seasons at the helm. Since 2022, no FBS team has more blocked punts than Rutgers (11).
Defensive Areas for Growth
While the offense and special teams impressed, Schiano acknowledged the defense needs refinement. The Scarlet Knights struggled to get off the field on third down and allowed Navarro to extend plays with his mobility.
“Defensively, we’ve got to get better,” Schiano said. “A lot of guys were making their first starts tonight, and it showed. We need to improve on getting off the field in key moments.”
What’s Next
Rutgers continues its early non-conference slate at home, hosting Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 6.
Ohio returns home to face West Virginia on the same day, their second straight matchup against a Power Four opponent.
