Minnesota Football: First look at the Rutgers Scarlet Knights
The Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-1) are coming off their first bye week of the 2025 season and now will turn their attention to their first Big Ten opponent of the season, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (3-1).
Gophers Nation takes a first look at the Scarlet Knights below.
Game / Broadcast Details
Where: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Stadium: Huntington Bank Stadium
Time: 11:00 a.m. ET
Television: BTN
Radio: KFAN 100.3 | Mike Grimm, Darrell Thompson, Justin Gaard
Odds: Minnesota is a 5.5-point favorite over California with the total currently set at 51.5 points according to BetMGM.
Rutgers’s 2025 Results
The Scarlet Knights opened up their season against three non-Power Four opponents, including two MAC programs. After a close win over Ohio, which has proven to be a quality team in week one, the Scarlet Knights dominated both Miami (OH) and Norfolk State. This past weekend, the Iowa Hawkeyes handed the Scarlet Knights their first loss, a 38-28 defeat. The Scarlet Knights at one point in the first quarter held a 28-24 lead, but allowed the Hawkeyes to outscore them 10-0 in the final nine minutes to lose the game.
| Date | Opponent | Result | Record |
| 8/2 | vs Ohio | 34-31 win | 1-0 |
| 9/6 | vs Miami (OH) | 45-17 win | 2-0 |
| 9/13 | vs Norfolk St | 60-10 win | 3-0 |
| 9/19 | vs Iowa | 38-28 Loss | 3-1 (0-1) |
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Series History
The Golden Gophers have won three of four matchups against the Scarlet Knights all-time, with wins in 2016, 2019, and 2022. Last year’s 26-19 loss in Piscataway was the Gophers’ first loss to Rutgers. In their last meeting in Minneapolis (2022), the Gophers won 31-0 behind 253 rushing yards, including 159 rushing yards and three touchdowns from Mohamed Ibrahim.
Head Coach Profile: Greg Schiano
The 59-year-old head coach is in his second stint with the Scarlet Knights since rejoining the program ahead of the 2020 season. Since his return to Piscattaway, the Scarlet Knights have found some footing and have etched back-to-back seven-win seasons. All-time, Schiano has coached 17 seasons with Rutgers (2001-2011; 2020-2025), collecting a record of 97-102, including 41-80 in conference play.
Schiano also spent two seasons in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2012-13), compiling an 11-21 record.
Player to Watch: QB Athan Kaliakmanis
The former Golden Gophers’ signal caller is off to a great start this season, completing 86-of-125 passing attempts for 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns with one interception. In each of his first two games of the season, Kaliakmanis completed 72%+ of his passes for 250+ yarsd and six touchdowns. This past weekend against Rutgers, the Illinois native completed 24-of-40 attempts for 330 yards and one interception.
Last season, in his first matchup against Minnesota since transferring to Rutgers, Kaliakmanis completed 17-of-33 passing attempts for 240 yards and three touchdowns.
Early storylines to watch:
Will Darius Taylor return this week?
In their week three loss to California, the Gophers were without Darius Taylor, and the rushing attack struggled, averaging just 3.5 yards per carry. Since 2023, the Gophers have struggled without Taylor, losing seven of nine games that they’ve been without the star tailback.
Athan Kaliakmanis returns to Huntington Bank Stadium
We already discussed Kaliakmanis’s performance last season, but what will the senior quarterback do in his return to Huntington Bank Stadium? This will be a storyline discussed throughout the week by national pundits.
How the Gophers and Scarlet Knights match up statistically
| Rutgers Offense | Minnesota Defense | ||
| Stat Category | # (National Rank) | Stat Category | # (National Rank) |
| Scoring Offense | 41.8 (21) | Scoring Defense | 12.3 (18) |
| Rushing Offense | 141.0 (91) | Rushing Defense | 41.33 (1) |
| Passing Offense | 304.8 (22) | Passing Defense | 135.8 (16) |
| Total Offense | 445.8 (37) | Total Defense | 177.7 (1) |
| Sacks Allowed | 10 (T-112) | Sacks | 7.0 (78) |
| 3rd Down % | 48.9% (31) | 3rd Down % | 48.6% (32) |
| 4th Down % | 72.7% (36) | 4th Down % | 50% (T-52) |
| Red Zone % | 86.9% (69) | Red Zone % | 100% (T-112) |
| Minnesota Offense | Rutgers Defense | ||
| Stat Category | # (National Rank) | Stat Category | # (National Rank) |
| Scoring Offense | 34.3 (50) | Scoring Defense | 24.0 (76) |
| Rushing Offense | 180.33 (58) | Rushing Defense | 151.5 (78) |
| Passing Offense | 240.3 (61) | Passing Defense | 192 (57) |
| Total Offense | 420.7 (56) | Total Defense | 343.5 (60) |
| Sacks Allowed | 5.0 (T-46) | Sacks | 6 (T-91) |
| 3rd Down % | 48.6% (32) | 3rd Down % | 36.1% (64) |
| 4th Down % | 33.3% (117) | 4th Down % | 50.0% (T-52) |
| Red Zone % | 75.0% (107) | Red Zone % | 89.9% (69) |
Stay Tuned
Stay tuned to Gophers Nation as we bring the latest updates on the Golden Gophers’ upcoming matchup against Rutgers.
