Rutgers football opened Big Ten play on Friday night at SHI Stadium in Piscataway with an electric start, but the Scarlet Knights could not hold on, falling 38-28 to Iowa in front of a record-setting home crowd of 55,942. The loss drops Rutgers to 3-1 overall and 0-1 in Big Ten play, while Iowa improves to 3-1 and 1-0 in the conference.
For the first quarter and a half, the Rutgers offense looked unstoppable. Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis put on the best performance of his college career, throwing for a personal-best 330 passing yards while adding two rushing touchdowns. Wide receiver Ian Strong was his favorite target, hauling in 151 yards through the air, also a career high. Running back Antwan Raymond powered through for two touchdowns on the ground as Rutgers piled up 400 yards of offense against one of the most consistently stingy defenses in the Big Ten.
The Scarlet Knights scored 21 points on their opening three drives, more than they had managed in their last four meetings combined against the Hawkeyes. SHI Stadium erupted with each play, the energy fueled by the historic sellout crowd. But after the initial surge, the Rutgers offense sputtered, managing just one touchdown across its final eight possessions.
While the offense cooled, defensive and special teams mistakes became too much to overcome. Rutgers struggled to contain Iowa’s rushing attack, surrendering four touchdowns on the ground. Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski did much of the damage himself, scoring three times with his legs.
Special teams missteps compounded the issues. A missed field goal after a costly penalty and a blocked attempt in the second half left crucial points on the field. A defensive holding penalty in the fourth quarter extended an Iowa drive that turned into the go-ahead touchdown, shifting the momentum for good.
The game’s flow reflected the back-and-forth nature of a true Big Ten battle. Iowa opened the scoring with a kickoff return touchdown, only for Rutgers to answer with two quick scores from Kaliakmanis and Raymond. By halftime, the game was tied at 21. In the fourth quarter, Raymond’s second touchdown briefly gave Rutgers a 28-24 lead with just under 10 minutes remaining. But Iowa responded with two unanswered touchdowns late in the game, sealing the win with a final interception to shut down Rutgers’ comeback hopes.
The night wasn’t without milestones. Beyond the offensive fireworks from Kaliakmanis, Raymond, and Strong, Rutgers’ announced attendance marked the largest home crowd in program history, as well as the program’s tenth sellout since 2022. On the other sideline, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz recorded his 207th career Big Ten victory, extending his conference record.
For Rutgers, the result raised familiar questions. Can this team truly hang with the upper echelon of the Big Ten? Head coach Greg Schiano’s squad has made progress in recent years, but late-game execution and discipline remain areas needing improvement if Rutgers wants to climb into contention.
The Scarlet Knights will try to regroup quickly, as they now turn their attention to a road matchup against Minnesota next week. The Big Ten season is just getting started, and Rutgers has already shown flashes of an offense capable of striking against top defenses. Cleaning up mistakes and maintaining consistency will be the challenge ahead.
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