COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Athan Kaliakmanis delivered a strong performance, throwing two touchdown passes while Kyle Monangai rushed for two scores, leading Rutgers to a 31-17 victory over Maryland and securing bowl eligibility for the Scarlet Knights on Saturday night.
With this win, Rutgers improved their record to 6-4, including 3-4 in Big Ten Conference play, matching their highest number of wins in the league since they joined in 2014. The Scarlet Knights showcased a strong offensive display, scoring touchdowns on four consecutive drives—excluding a kneel-down at the end of the second quarter—and marked their second straight win after a challenging four-game losing streak.
Conversely, for the Maryland Terrapins, the quest for bowl eligibility has narrowed significantly. Maryland, now at 4-6 overall and 1-6 in conference games, faces an uphill battle needing victories over Iowa and Penn State to conclude the regular season with six wins.
While Monangai’s rushing efforts were somewhat contained—accumulating 97 yards on 25 carries—he still managed to reach the end zone twice, notably surpassing 1,000 rushing yards for the season. His six-yard touchdown run in the third quarter followed a critical fourth-and-2 pass that Kaliakmanis connected with, which put Rutgers ahead 21-17.
Following Maryland’s inability to respond, Kaliakmanis struck again, linking up with Dymere Miller for a 32-yard touchdown on the very first play of the fourth quarter.
The game’s opening touchdown came from the Scarlet Knights, as they led 7-3 after a 12-yard pass from Kaliakmanis to Ian Strong culminated a lengthy 17-play drive that lasted 8 minutes and 45 seconds. Maryland briefly regained the lead courtesy of a 12-yard touchdown pass from Billy Edwards Jr. to Tai Felton, but Monangai’s 2-yard touchdown plunge with just over a minute remaining in the half saw Rutgers head into halftime up 14-10.
The assessment following the game highlights: for Rutgers, although Monangai’s day was overshadowed by a 70-yard run being nullified by a penalty, Kaliakmanis excelled with a passing line of 20 completions in 30 attempts for 238 yards, showcasing the team’s recovery from a disappointing October.
For Maryland, extending their streak of three consecutive seasons with bowl victories now appears challenging. Despite expectations for the Terrapins’ defense to be a cornerstone, their struggles to contain opponents within the Big Ten have posed significant issues throughout the season.
Looking forward, Rutgers is set to host Illinois next Saturday, while Maryland will be welcoming Iowa the same day.