Atan Kaliakmanis threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns in a close 34-31 win for Rutgers over Ohio in Piscataway, New Jersey, marking a thrilling season opener for both teams.
Jai Patel managed to kick a crucial 26-yard field goal at 11:11, breaking a 31-31 tie.
On the other side, Ohio State quarterback Parker Navaro had a strong game, completing 239 yards with three touchdowns and also rushing for 93 yards and a touchdown.
Chase Hendrix made a significant contribution with a career-high of 115 yards for the Bobcats.
Interestingly, the Bobcats managed to score two-thirds of their touchdowns by the time they reached the 31-point mark.
Kaliakmanis was well-supported by a capable group of wide receivers. Transfer DT Sheffield, along with Ian Strong and KJ Duff, added depth to the offense, posing multiple threats. Strong caught seven passes for 100 yards while Duff added five catches for 54 yards and a touchdown.
“We’re really pleased with our offensive performance,” said Rutgers coach Greg Schiano. “From the running backs to the tight ends, we’ve got depth there, and our offensive line held up well tonight.”
However, Schiano acknowledged areas for improvement on the defensive side, highlighting that six players were making their first starts, which contributed to some challenges.
The Scarlet Knights’ defense was particularly vulnerable on third downs, a recurring issue from last season. The Bobcats successfully converted five out of ten third down attempts, allowing Navarro to execute two scoring drives, especially in the second half.
Ohio coach Blaine Smith praised Navarro, saying, “His ability to make plays on his feet, combined with his confidence and trust in his teammates, is exceptional. He spreads the ball around well.”
Rutgers has notably won 14 of its last 16 opening games, a strong start to the season.
Take home
Navarro, in his second year as a graduate student and starting quarterback for the Bobcats, has quickly emerged as one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in college football.
With his knack for escaping pressure and making good decisions about when to run or pass, he utilized a diverse set of eight different receivers during the game.
Key play
A pivotal moment came when Kaliakmanis connected with Sheffield on a crucial 10-yard pass on fourth down, helping Rutgers maintain its drive with just 1:54 left on the clock. The Scarlet Knights successfully converted all five of their fourth-down attempts.
Transfers impact
Coach Schiano also made a notable addition of 19 transfers to the program, three of whom had immediate impacts in this game.
CJ Campbell Jr. (from FAU) rushed for 70 yards, while wide receiver Sheffield (from North Texas) caught four passes for 85 yards. Defensive back Cam Miller (from Pennsylvania) showcased his skills with three solo tackles, as well as a recovered blocked punt that led to a touchdown.
Unique achievement
Rutgers celebrated a significant milestone by blocking its 44th punt, leading to the 16th touchdown off a blocked punt during Schiano’s 17 seasons. Since 2022, the Scarlet Knights have topped the nation with 11 blocked punts.
Next
Looking ahead, Rutgers is set to host Miami (Ohio) on September 6th, while Ohio will face West Virginia, marking their second consecutive matchup against a strong opponent.
