PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Athan Kaliakmanis delivered an impressive 4-yard touchdown pass to Ian Strong, marking his third TD of the game, in a critical moment that helped propel Rutgers to a thrilling 26-19 upset victory over the previously dominant Minnesota team on Saturday.
With Kaliakmanis, a transfer from Minnesota, leading the charge, he connected with Dymere Miller for touchdown receptions of 1 and 17 yards, contributing to a much-needed win for Rutgers (5-4, 2-4 Big Ten) after a disappointing four-game losing streak. This victory not only halted the Gophers’ four-game winning run that had secured them bowl eligibility but also marked Minnesota’s longest conference streak in three years.
Minnesota (6-4, 4-3) seemed poised to extend their streak when Max Brosmer found Marcus Major for a 17-yard touchdown pass that took the lead to 16-14 early in the second half.
However, Rutgers’ defense would play a pivotal role in turning the game around. With time winding down in the fourth quarter, Brosmer attempted a short pass to tight end Jameson Geers on a first-and-16 from Minnesota’s 6-yard line. Linebacker Tyreem Powell made a significant impact, tackling Geers and forcing a fumble that Shaquan Loyal would recover at the 12-yard mark with just over eight minutes remaining.
Following a pass interference call and a loss of yards on the next play, Kaliakmanis seized the moment and found a wide-open Strong, who easily scored to give Rutgers a 21-16 advantage.
In response, defensive lineman Jordan Walker added to the Scarlet Knights’ momentum by sacking Brosmer for a safety, increasing the lead to 23-16. Jai Patel then secured a 22-yard field goal, extending the margin to a two-score game with just under three minutes left on the clock.
Dragan Kesich, who previously made a 51-yard field goal in the first half, added another 30-yarder with just over a minute remaining, while Minnesota was left without any timeouts. Strong made a crucial recovery of the ensuing onside kick, sealing the victory for Rutgers.
Kaliakmanis ended the game completing 17 out of 33 passes for a total of 240 yards, while Brosmer posted a stat line of 27 completions on 45 attempts for 262 yards. Minnesota’s ground game struggled significantly, managing only 35 yards over 19 carries, although Darius Taylor did score an early touchdown with an 18-yard run to start the scoring for the Gophers.
Notably absent from Rutgers’ offense was Kyle Monangai, the reigning conference rushing champion, who missed the game due to an undisclosed injury. He remains 69 yards short of achieving a consecutive 1,000-yard season.
Looking ahead, Minnesota, who recently triumphed over No. 24 Illinois, will enjoy a bye week before facing No. 6 Penn State on Nov. 23. Meanwhile, Rutgers will aim to secure a win in their upcoming game against Maryland, as they seek to achieve bowl eligibility in their final three contests of the season.