RUTGERS 26Â (5-4, 2-4), MINNESOTA 19 (6-4, 4-3)
SHI STADIUM • PISCATAWAY, N.J.
NOVEMBER 9, 2024 • ATTENDANCE: 44,210
PISCATAWAY, N.J. –
 Rutgers football (5-4, 2-4) defeated Minnesota (6-4, 4-3), 26-19, on Saturday afternoon at SHI Stadium. The Scarlet Knights overcame a fourth-quarter deficit with 12 points in the final period on a touchdown, safety and field goal.
QB
Athan Kaliakmanis finished 17-of-33 for 240 yards and three touchdown passes, including two to WR
Dymere Miller. WR
KJ Duff added three catches for 58 yards, while WR
Ian Strong hauled in a career-long 65-yard reception along with a go-ahead touchdown catch in the fourth quarter.
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LB
Dariel Djabome led the defense with 14 tackles, including three for loss with a sack. DL
Jordan Walker also added a sack resulting in a safety and DB
Robert Longerbeam posted three pass breakups.
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After Minnesota scored on its opening possession, Rutgers responded with its first touchdown of the afternoon. Kaliakmanis capped a nine-play, 75-yard scoring run with a one-yard touchdown pass to Miller to put the Scarlet Knights up 7-6 with 3:31 left in the opening quarter. Kaliakmanis completed three passes during the drive, including a 37-yard completion to Duff and a 20-yard connection with Miller.
The Gophers added a 51-yard field goal at the end of the quarter to go up, 9-7.
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RU scored again on its ensuing possession, with Kaliakmanis finding Miller once more, this time for a 17-yard touchdown in the back left corner of the end zone. Kaliakmanis' second touchdown pass gave Rutgers a 14-9 lead and marked the third touchdown reception for Miller of the season. Kaliakmanis produced seven completions during the series, finding Duff for completions of 21 and seven yards, respectively.
Rutgers recorded several big plays before the half, including a 65-yard completion from Kaliakmanis to Strong. Minnesota would keep the Scarlet Knights off the board, and RU entered the locker room with a 14-9 advantage.
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The Gophers were the first to score out of the break, taking a 16-14 lead on its opening possession of the third quarter. Both defenses would hold down the stretch, as Rutgers held possession to begin the final period.
Rutgers' defense forced its first turnover of the day, as LB
Tyreem Powell forced a fumble in Gopher territory which was recovered by DB
Shaquan Loyal. The play setup the Scarlet Knights with the ball at the Minnesota 12 yard line. Kaliakmanis made quick work of the opportunity, finding Strong on an inside slant for a four-yard touchdown. Kaliakmanis' third touchdown throw of day gave Rutgers back the lead at 21-16 with 7:41 left to play.
RU's defense once again delivered on the next Gopher possession. With Minnesota backed into its own end zone, Walker sacked QB Max Brosmer for a safety. The two points added to the Scarlet Knights' lead, 23-16.
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PK
Jai Patel knocked in a 22-yard field with 2:45 remaining to make it a two-score game. While the Gophers kicked a 30-yard field goal to make it a 26-19 game with 1:10 left, Strong recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal the RU victory.Â
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• Rutgers defeated Minnesota for the first time in four meetings. The Scarlet Knights snapped the Golden Gophers' four-game winning streak.
• Rutgers completed a fourth-quarter comeback to win for the 16th time under head coach Greg Schiano. The Scarlet Knights entered the last period down, 16-14, and posted 12 points to win.
• Rutgers improved to 13-6 coming off a bye week under Schiano, including 2-0 this season.
• Rutgers moved to 67-22 under Schiano when leading at halftime, 84-34 when scoring at least 20 points, 65-7 when holding an opponent under 20 points, 68-13 when posting more rushing yards, 64 23 when registering more sacks, 73-44 when collecting 300 or more yards of total offense and 54-8 when allowing less than 300 yards of total offense.
• Rutgers held Minnesota to a season-low 35 rushing yards, including minus 25 in the fourth quarter. It was the second-lowest rushing total Rutgers has permitted in a Big Ten game since joining the league behind the 12 allowed versus Northwestern in 2023.
• Rutgers scored a touchdown on 3-of-5 trips to the red zone.
• Rutgers was charged with only four penalties and has not committed more than five in any game this season.
• Rutgers recorded a season-high eight tackles-for-loss and matched its season best with four sacks.
• DL Jordan Walker picked up a sack in the end zone for a safety. It was the Scarlet Knights' second safety of the season (Wesley Bailey sack at Virginia Tech).
• LB Tyreem Powell forced a fumble recovered by DB Shaquan Loyal to set up the go-ahead touchdown. It was the first turnover against Minnesota in four games.
• QB Athan Kaliakmanis posted his third game of the season with three touchdown passes, the fifth of his career. He passed for 240 yards, the most by a Rutgers quarterback against Minnesota.
• RB Antwan Raymond rushed a career-high 22 times for 73 yards in his first career start, while RB Ja'shon Benjamin posted 66 rushing yards on 11 carries in his season debut.
• WR Dymere Miller notched his fifth career game with multiple receiving touchdowns. He now has three on the season and 20 in his career. Miller now has seven games this year with at least four receptions after posting five versus Minnesota.
• WR Ian Strong collected his fourth career receiving touchdown and a career-long 65-yard reception.
• WR KJ Duff had his fourth game of the season with three receptions.
• LB Dariel Djabome led the team in tackles for the sixth time in ninth games, totaling 14 stops to match his career high with three for loss and a sack. It was his fifth game of the season with double-digit stops.
• DB Robert Longerbeam picked up three pass breakups, his seventh career game with multiple pass breakups.
• PK Jai Patel recorded a 22-yard field goal and has now converted on his last five attempts.
• Consecutive games played: DL Kyonte Hamilton (47), OL Hollin Pierce (47), DL Malcolm Ray (43), WR Christian Dremel (38)
• Collegiate debut (1): DB DK Gilley
• First career start (1): RB Antwan Raymond
