The Minnesota Gophers Football team, coming off a bye week, look to jumpstart their season tomorrow as they take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Huntington Bank Stadium. The Gophers hope to rebound after a disappointing 27-14 loss to the University of California Golden Bears in Berkeley two weeks ago. Minnesota was without star running back Darrius Taylor and saw his replacement, A.J. Turner, go down with a leg injury.
Without their two leading rushers, the Gophers could move the ball consistently but failed too often in the red zone. And the Minnesota defense had no answers for the Bears’ talented freshman quarterback, Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns.
The Gophers square off against a motivated Rutgers team that lost 38-28 at home to Iowa last week in a scorefest. And Minnesota remembers all too well its 26-19 upset loss to the Scarlett Knights at SHI Stadium last season.
Gophers Offense vs. Scarlett Knights Defense
With Taylor’s (hamstring) and Turner’s availability in question, the Gophers will have to lean heavily on the big arm of redshirt freshman quarterback Drake Lindsey against Rutgers. Lindsey has looked poised and in control this year, but California was able to take away the long pass in their victory over Minnesota.
Whether it’s a lack of separation or an issue with drops, Lindsey’s receivers have struggled this season. Last week, senior Le’Meke Brockington was the only Minnesota receiver to produce consistently against the Bears (eight receptions, 106 yards).
Players like Javon Tracy and Jalen Smith must up their games and become more involved in the Gophers’ offensive scheme. If Minnesota’s top two running backs are out of action tomorrow, look once again for redshirt freshman Fame ljeboi and Washington transfer Cam Davis to receive the majority of the carries. And they’ll run behind the stout blocking of the left side of the Gophers’ offensive line, led by tackle Nathan Roy and guard Greg Johnson.
There’s no other way to say it: Rutgers’ defense has been terrible this season. They are allowing. 5.25 yards per carry, while opposing FBS quarterbacks are completing 65.3% of their throws and have a QB rating of 155. They’ve been toiling all season, and very few players have stood out. Defensive end Ed O’Neill leads the team with one and a half sacks, and UNLV transfer defensive back Jeff Elad leads them in tackles (23) and is tied for first in interceptions (1).
Scarlett Knights Offense vs. Gophers Defense
Rutgers starting quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis is having an outstanding 2025 season. The former Gophers starter is 86-125 for 1,150 yards, seven touchdown passes, and only one interception. He has run offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca’s run. pass, option (RPO) offense to perfection. He has two big-play targets to throw to in wide receivers Ian Strong and KJ Duff, who lead the team in receptions (24), and both have two receiving touchdowns.
They have a solid running attack led by Antwan Raymond, who has carried it 61 times for 370 yards and an impressive seven rushing touchdowns. The biggest concern on the offensive side of the ball is at left tackle. Expected starter Lafayette transfer Ryder Langsdale was lost for the season in August, and his backup, Dantae Chin, played two games before he suffered a season-ending injury. Third-stringer Ty Needham is now the starter at this key position.
One of the strengths of the Gophers’ defense is the interior of their front seven. Senior tackles Deven Eastern and Jalen Logan-Redding have been destroying enemy offensive lines this season, allowing inside linebackers Maverick Baranowski and Devon Williams to devour enemy rushers. The latter two lead the team in tackles with 19 and 18, respectively.
Defensive end Anthony Smith leads the Gophers in sacks with three. He and the other Minnesota defenders must be mindful as Kaliakmanis runs the Scarlett Knights’ RPO offense with precision. All-American safety Koi Perich had the roughest game of his collegiate career against California. The triple threat star will look to rebound with a strong game against Rutgers. His running mate at safety, Kerry Brown, is a ball-hawking, run-stopping sensation.
Prediction
Rutgers has the decided edge in the quality of their special teams’ units, making this game an even tighter affair. Look for the coach P.J. Fleck and the Gophers to win 24-20 on the strength of their tenacious defense.
