SHI Stadium—Athan Kaliakmanis threw for 240 yards and three touchdowns, leading Rutgers to a 26-19 victory over Minnesota in front of a crowd of 42,210 at SHI Stadium.
Kaliakmanis, who had been the Gophers’ starting quarterback for much of 2022 and the entire 2023 regular season, entered the transfer portal after Minnesota’s 0-4 November finish last year.
Coach P.J. Fleck, who had worked under Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano from 2010 to 2012 with both Rutgers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, informed Kaliakmanis that he would be recruiting transfer quarterbacks to compete for the starting role. Kaliakmanis decided to seek a fresh start.
The Gophers struck first, marching 65 yards in a seven-play drive that consumed just over three minutes, though they missed the extra point, making it 6-0. Rutgers responded with a nine-play, 75-yard drive capped by Kaliakmanis’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Dymere Miller, taking a 14-9 lead into halftime.
In a pivotal moment late in the game, Rutgers linebacker Tyreem Powell delivered a textbook tackle, forcing a fumble that teammate Shaquan Loyal recovered with 8:28 remaining. This turnover set up Kaliakmanis’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Ian Strong, giving the Scarlet Knights a lead they would not relinquish.
The win snapped Rutgers’ four-game losing streak and moved them closer to bowl eligibility at 5-4 overall and 2-4 in the Big Ten.
“It felt like it was needed at that time,” Powell said of his hit on Minnesota tight end Jameson Geers. “I knew the momentum was back on our side, and I knew the offense was going to get into the end zone.”
Rutgers racked up 349 total yards, with 109 on the ground thanks to Antwan Raymond’s 73 yards and Ja’Shon Benjamin’s 66. Their defense continued to shine after Powell’s fumble-forcing play, as defensive lineman
Jordan Walker sacked Minnesota’s Max Brosmer for a safety, extending the Scarlet Knights’ lead to 23-16. Jai Patel added a 22-yard field goal with just under three minutes left, making it a two-score game.
Dragan Kesich, who had kicked a 51-yard field goal for Minnesota in the first half, added a 30-yarder late in the game, but Rutgers secured the victory when Strong recovered the ensuing onside kick.
Schiano praised his team’s grit, especially Powell’s game-turning play, saying, “Football games take on a life of their own… and that hit by Tyreem Powell, that was one of those sharp turns. That writes the story.”
Next Up:
Rutgers: Will play Maryland away November 16.
Minnesota: Have a off week.
