Football Loses at Minnesota

Saturday, September 27

Minneapolis, Minn.

Noon

Rutgers University

3-2 , 0-2

Minnesota

3-1 , 1-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Rutgers

Minnesota

Photo by: Matt Krohn

Sep 27 | Football

Box Score Game Book Head Coach Greg Schiano Postgame Press Conference Statistics Photo Gallery

MINNESOTA 31 (3-1, 1-0), RUTGERS 28 (3-2, 0-2)
HUNTINGTON BANK STADIUM • MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2025 • ATTENDANCE: 46,234

MINNEAPOLIS – Rutgers football (3-2, 0-2) lost at Minnesota (3-1, 1-0), 31-28, on Saturday at Huntington Bank Stadium. The Scarlet Knights led in the fourth quarter, but the Golden Gophers scored the game-winning touchdown with just over three minutes remaining to earn the victory.

RB Antwan Raymond rushed for a career-high 161 yards and two touchdowns, his fourth consecutive game with multiple scores. QB Athan Kaliakmanis threw for 249 yards and two touchdowns to WR KJ Duff and WR DT Sheffield.

On defense, DL Bradley Weaver registered two sacks and DB Jett Elad led the unit with nine total tackles.

FIRST QUARTER

After RU's defense forced a quick three-and-out, the Scarlet Knights pushed the ball right down the field and Kaliakmanis found Sheffield for a four-yard touchdown strike to make it 7-0.

SECOND QUARTER

Kaliakmanis kept up his strong start to the game, finding Duff on a 14-yard touchdown to make it 14-0 with just over 10 minutes remaining in the second quarter. With the score, Kaliakmanis made it multiple touchdown passes in three games this season.

The Golden Gophers fought back, using a 78-yard pass to set up a rushing touchdown that made it 14-7. After an interception on the ensuing drive, Minnesota tied the game on an eight-yard touchdown pass with 8:03 remaining until halftime.

Despite the RU offense punting on each of its next two drives, the defense forced a turnover on downs with just over a minute left in the half. Raymond helped the offense put together a 63-yard scoring drive, rushing for a total of 42 yards and punching it in from two yards away with 18 seconds remaining, giving Rutgers a 21-14 lead at the break.

THIRD QUARTER

The Golden Gophers got the ball coming out of the locker room and tied the game on a 13-play scoring drive. Minnesota followed with a 26-yard field goal for its first lead of the afternoon at 24-21 ahead of the fourth quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

Rutgers responded with a quick scoring drive of its own, going 75 yards in just nine plays to take a 28-24 advantage on a four-yard rush from Raymond. It was Raymond's second score of the day, which gave him his fourth straight game with multiple rushing touchdowns and six such games in his career.

The Scarlet Knights punted on their next drive, which led to a go-ahead score from the Golden Gophers, who took a 31-28 lead with 3:19 left in the game.

RU's offense moved the ball into Minnesota territory, but a 56-yard field goal attempt went just wide, as the Golden Gophers ran out the clock for the win.

NOTES

• QB Athan Kaliakmanis completed 21-of-34 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns. It was his third game of the season with at least 20 completions, as he became the 10th player in program history to reach 300 career completions for the Scarlet Knights. He is up to 4,095 passing yards for RU, moving past Chas Dodd (2010-13) for seventh-most in the school record book. In addition, he moves into sole possession of ninth place in program history with 27 passing touchdowns for Rutgers. It was his 13th career game logging multiple passing scores.
• RB Antwan Raymond posted a career-high 161 rushing yards, his second career game in triple figures, and one yard shy of the Rutgers Big Ten record for rushing yards in a game held by Kyle Monangai (162 at Michigan State in 2022). He scored a rushing touchdown for the seventh straight game dating back to last season, the longest such streak by a Scarlet Knight since Ray Rice, who had 13 consecutive games (last seven of 2006, first six of 2007). Raymond has now totaled 14 rushing touchdowns over the last seven games and has multiple scores in four straight outings, the first Scarlet Knight to achieve the feat since "JJ" Jennings in 1973.
• WR KJ Duff recorded six receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown. He becomes the first Scarlet Knight with at least five receptions in each of the first five games of a season since Marco Battaglia in 1995.
• WR DT Sheffield scored his third receiving touchdown of the season and 14th career at the FBS level.
• DL Bradley Weaver recorded his fourth career game with two sacks, a career high.
• First career start (1): LB Abram Wright
• Consecutive games played: DL Jordan Thompson (43), DB Cam Miller (42), DB Timmy Ward (39), TE Colin Weber (33), PK Jai Patel (31), OL Gus Zilinskas (31)

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.

Follow Rutgers football on X (@RFootball & @RUboardwalk), Facebook (/RFootballShow) and Instagram (@rfootball & @ruboardwalk) for the latest news and updates. Also subscribe to the YouTube channel.