RUTGERS (3-1, 0-1) at MINNESOTA (2-1, 0-0)
September 27, 2025 • Noon ET • Big Ten Network
Huntington Bank Stadium • Minneapolis, Minn.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football heads to Minnesota Saturday for its first away game of the season. Kickoff is set for noon ET/11 a.m. local on Big Ten Network. It starts a stretch for the Scarlet Knights of playing five of the next seven games on the road.

RU ranks first nationally with three blocked punts, sixth in first downs gained (108), sixth in fewest turnovers lost (1), ninth in time of possession (34:27), 18th in fewest penalty yards against per game (36.0), 22nd in scoring offense (41.8) and 22nd in passing offense (304.8).

TV: Big Ten Network (FOX Sports app)
Play-By-Play: Guy Haberman
Analyst: Yogi Roth
Reporter: Rhett Lewis

Radio: RWJBarnabas Health Rutgers Sports Network
WFAN 101.9-FM, FOX Sports New Jersey 93.5-FM/1450-AM, SiriusXM 372, SXM app, Audacy app, Scarlet Knights app
Play-By-Play: Chris Carlin
Analyst: Julian Pinnix-Odrick
Sideline: Anthony Fucilli
Engineer: Paul Shrager
Pre/Post: Marc Malusis & Eric LeGrand

Student Radio: WRSU 88.7-FM
Phil Jaccoma & Will Carmenaty


 

SCOUTING RUTGERS

• Since 2020, RU is 20-2 when not committing a turnover in a game.
• Rutgers is 15-4 in September games since 2021.
• Rutgers has scored 66 non-offensive touchdowns under head coach Greg Schiano, including 15 since 2020 and three so far this season.
• Rutgers, "The Birthplace of College Football," has played 1,426 games in program history on record dating back to 1869, the most in the sport.
 

LAST TIME OUT

• Rutgers scored touchdowns on its first three offensive drives and held a lead in the fourth quarter, but Iowa reached the end zone twice late to win the Big Ten opener, 38-28.
• The announced attendance of 55,942 marked the 10th home sellout for the Scarlet Knights since 2022 and the largest home crowd in program history.
• QB Athan Kaliakmanis completed 24 passes for a career-high 330 yards along with two rushing scores, while RB Antwan Raymond added two touchdowns on the ground. WR Ian Strong finished with a career-high 151 receiving yards.
• DB Jett Elad produced a team-high nine tackles. DB Cam Miller and DL Eric O'Neill added sacks.


 

OFFENSE

•  Kirk Ciarrocca is in his third season back as Rutgers' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2025. Ciarrocca, who has over 30 years of coaching experience (21 as an offensive coordinator), previously served on head coach Greg Schiano's staff for three seasons, winning two bowl games from 2008-10. He has been selected as a semifinalist for the Broyles Award and coached 28 players who had their name called in the NFL Draft (six in the first round). Ciarrocca has coached the Big Ten's leading rusher two of the past three seasons.
• Rutgers has scored points on 24-of-38 drives to start the season, including three drives that ran out the clock to end a half.
• QB Athan Kaliakmanis ranks eighth in Rutgers history with 3,846 passing yards, tied for ninth with 25 touchdown passes and 10th with 299 completions. He is second in the Big Ten with 1,150 passing yards through week four, the most passing yards for a Scarlet Knight through four games of season since Mike Teel had 1,173 at the same point in 2007.
• RB Antwan Raymond has scored 12 touchdowns over the past six games dating back to last season. He is second nationally with seven rushing touchdowns in 2025.
• WR Ian Strong has posted at least 100 receiving yards in his last four games played, joining Kenny Britt (five consecutive) and Tiquan Underwood (four consecutive) as Scarlet Knights to achieve the feat. He leads the Big Ten this season with 122.3 receiving yards and eight receptions per game.
 

DEFENSE

• Robb Smith is in his seventh season at Rutgers in 2025 and serves as co-defensive coordinator and play caller. A native of Leechburg, Pennsylvania, Smith previously worked on the Scarlet Knights' staff in various roles, including as defensive coordinator, from 2009-12 and from 2020-21. He is joined by co-defensive coordinator Zach Sparber, a native of Norwood, New Jersey, who comes from James Madison and has been to five bowl games.
• DL Eric O'Neill has posted multiple tackles-for-loss each of the past two weeks, including a sack versus Iowa.
• LB Dariel Djabome, a Third Team All-Big Ten performer in 2024, is coming off a 105-tackle season, second among returning Big Ten players. He added eight stops last week versus Iowa.
• DB Jett Elad leads the team with 24 tackles, adding an interception.
• DB Bo Mascoe leads the unit with three passes defended (two pass breakups, one interception).
 

SPECIAL TEAMS

• Rutgers has blocked 76 kicks (46 punts, 17 field goals, 13 extra points) under head coach Greg Schiano. That includes 16 games with multiple blocks, 18 touchdowns off blocks and two resulting in safeties. DB Jett Elad and DB Kaj Sanders each blocked punts versus Norfolk State to make it 13 for the Scarlet Knights since 2022, the most in the nation.
• PK Jai Patel has connected on 35-of-44 career field goals with a long of 51 yards. He has 10 career games with multiple makes, three with at least three makes and a career high of four makes.
• P Jakob Anderson booted a career-long 68-yard punt that stopped at the four yard line last week versus Iowa.
• PK Jack Scullion has kicked a touchback on 19-of-30 attempts.


 

VERSUS MINNESOTA

• Saturday will be the fifth all-time meeting on the gridiron between Rutgers and Minnesota and third in Minneapolis.
• Down 16-14 with 8:30 left in the fourth quarter, Tyreem Powell forced a fumble recovered by Shaquan Loyal to spark a Rutgers comeback win over Minnesota in 2024. QB Athan Kaliakmanis found WR Ian Strong for an immediate go-ahead touchdown pass, DL Jordan Walker recorded a sack in the end zone for a safety and PK Jai Patel converted a 22-yard field goal for the 26-19 victory at SHI Stadium. It was the first win for the Scarlet Knights over the Golden Gophers. Rutgers held Minnesota to 35 rushing yards, including minus 25 in the fourth quarter. Kaliakmanis had three touchdown passes, also finding Dymere Miller in the end zone twice in addition to Strong. RB Antwan Raymond made his first collegiate start and carried the ball 22 times for 73 yards, while RB Ja'shon Benjamin added 66 yards. LB Dariel Djabome matched his career high with 14 tackles, including three for loss and a sack.
• In 2022, Minnesota held the ball for 41:02 to beat Rutgers, 31-0, at Huntington Bank Stadium. Desmond Igbinosun (14), Deion Jennings (13) and Avery Young (13) posted career highs in tackles.
• The Scarlet Knights rallied from a 21-3 deficit in the first quarter to take a 32-31 lead with 4:01 remaining, but the Golden Gophers drove 59 yards to kick a field goal with six seconds left for a 34-32 win in the first meeting between the teams in 2016 in Minneapolis. Giovanni Rescigno sparked the offense with a 22-for-38 performance for 220 passing yards and three touchdowns in his first career start. Justin Goodwin, Andre Patton and Jawuan Harris all caught touchdown passes, while Damon Hayes picked off a pass and ran it back 55 yards for a score.
• Offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca served the same role at Minnesota for four seasons (2017-19, 2022). Co-defensive coordinator Robb Smith served as the Golden Gophers' defensive coordinator/linebackers coach from 2017-18.
• Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck served on the Rutgers staff as wide receivers coach for two seasons (2010-11). He also worked for head coach Greg Schiano with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012.
• The next meeting in the series is scheduled for 2028 in Piscataway.
• Rutgers game highs versus Minnesota:
Rushing Yards: Justin Goodwin, 97 (2016)
Passing Yards: Athan Kaliakmanis, 240 (2024)
Receiving Yards: Ian Strong, 89 (2024)
 

UP NEXT

• After an open weekend, Rutgers heads west to face Washington Oct. 10 at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. The Scarlet Knights last visited Seattle in 2016. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. local on FS1. RU won last season's meeting over the Huskies, 21-18, in the Big Ten opener at SHI Stadium.

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