ILLINOIS 35 (6-3, 3-3), RUTGERS 13 (4-5, 1-5)
GIES MEMORIAL STADIUM • CHAMPAIGN, ILL. 
NOVEMBER 1, 2025 • ATTENDANCE: 60,670

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Rutgers football (4-5, 1-5) lost at Illinois (6-3, 3-3), 35-13, on Saturday at Gies Memorial Stadium. 

QB Athan Kaliakmanis completed 25 passes for 253 yards and a touchdown. WR KJ Duff caught nine passes for 93 yards and his sixth receiving touchdown of the season. 

DB Jett Elad and DB Bo Mascoe both contributed seven tackles and a tackle-for-loss, while DL Eric O'Neill picked up a sack and batted down a pass, which was intercepted by DL Farell Gnago. 

PK Jai Patel converted both of his field goal attempts from 26 and 40 yards. It was his 13th career game with multiple makes. 

FIRST HALF

After the Scarlet Knights punted on their opening drive, the Fighting Illini took the lead on their opening possession. RU responded with a pair of scoring drives, using 26 and 40-yard field goals from Patel to get within a point at 7-6. 

Illinois would score back-to-back touchdowns late in the half to take a 21-6 lead at the break. 
 

Getting the ball out of the locker room, the Fighting Illini drove down the field on consecutive drives for two touchdowns and extended their lead to 35-6. 

Kaliakmanis found Duff on a three-yard slant in the fourth quarter to make it 35-13.