In Week 5 of the 2025 college football season, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights will head to Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN, to play against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The game is scheduled for Saturday, September 27, 2025, at 12:00 PM and will be broadcast on BTN. As both teams are members of the Big Ten Conference, this matchup carries significant implications for their conference standings.
Rutgers enters the game with a 3-1 overall record, although they have yet to play a road game this season. Their recent performance saw them fall to the Iowa Hawkeyes with a score of 38-28. Despite their early-season success, they hold a conference record of 0-1.
Minnesota boasts a 2-1 record, with an unblemished 2-0 record at home. Their recent outing resulted in a loss against the California Golden Bears, 27-14. However, the Golden Gophers will look to leverage their home-field advantage in this upcoming game.
Minnesota vs Rutgers At a Glance
- Game Location: Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN
- Game Date and Time: Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 12:00 PM
- Broadcast Channel: BTN
- Rutgers Scarlet Knights Record: 3-1 this season
- Minnesota Golden Gophers Record: 2-1 this season
- Betting Odds: Minnesota -5.5, Total 51.0
Minnesota Golden Gophers: A Closer Look at the Away Team
Offensive Performance
The Minnesota Golden Gophers’ offense has been off to a steady start this season, ranking 51st in points scored with a total of 103. Their passing game has been a bit lackluster, managing just 721 yards and placing them at 99th in the nation. Rushing has been slightly more effective, with 541 yards to rank them 82nd.
Defensive Strengths
Defensively, the Golden Gophers have been particularly robust. They have allowed just 37 points, earning them the 15th spot nationally. The team excels in creating turnovers, ranking 3rd for interceptions and fumbles recovered, with 2 and 3, respectively.
Recent Game Performances
In their most recent outing, the Golden Gophers fell short against the California Golden Bears, losing 27-14. They did, however, manage to match California in first downs with 19 each, while their rushing game outpaced California’s with 130 yards to 63. In a previous game, they dominated Northwestern State Demons 66-0, showing their potential on both sides of the ball.
Their victory over the Buffalo Bulls in Week 1, with a score of 23-10, showcased their defensive capabilities, allowing only 8 first downs. The Gophers’ quarterback, Drake Lindsey, has shown promise, contributing 634 passing yards across the first three games. Despite a few interceptions, his performance remains crucial to the team’s strategy.
Key Players to Watch
Running back Cam Davis has been a standout performer, contributing 69 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns over three games. Another player making an impact is Javon Tracy, leading the receiving corps with 150 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Jameson Geers has also been instrumental, contributing 55 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns.
Injury Concerns
The Gophers are dealing with some injury concerns, including Darius Taylor, who is questionable with a leg injury. Defensive lineman Mo Omonode and linebacker Drew Wilson are out for the season, which could impact their defensive depth. Running back A.J. Turner is also questionable, creating some uncertainty in their backfield.
Upcoming Challenges
Looking ahead, the Golden Gophers will host the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Huntington Bank Stadium. Following that, they face the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Oregon Ducks, with the latter being an away game at Autzen Stadium. These games will test their adaptability and resolve as they look to improve upon their current record.
Minnesota Golden Gophers Betting Trends
- ATS – After Loss: Last 5 Games (2024) → 5-0 (100.0%)
- SU – As Favorite: Last 28 Games (2021–2025) → 20-8 (71.4%)
- ATS – As Underdog: Last 3 Games (2024) → 3-0 (100.0%)
- SU – After Win: Last 28 Games (2021–2025) → 19-9 (67.9%)
- SU – Home Games: Last 27 Games (2021–2025) → 18-9 (66.7%)
Rutgers Scarlet Knights Ready for Showdown Against Minnesota Golden Gophers
Offensive Overview
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights enter the game with a season total of 167 points, placing them 12th in scoring. Their passing game has accumulated 1,219 yards, ranking 15th, while their ground attack has mustered 588 yards, placing them 69th.
The team has demonstrated an ability to move the chains with 108 first downs, ranking 6th. This suggests an offense that can sustain drives and keep the opposition’s defense on the field.
Defensive Performance
Defensively, Rutgers has conceded 96 points, placing them 66th. They have been aggressive in pass rush, tallying 6 sacks, which ranks 12th in the league.
The Scarlet Knights have been opportunistic, ranking 3rd with 2 interceptions and 4th with 2 fumbles recovered. These stats highlight a defense that can create turnovers and change the momentum of games.
Quarterback and Key Players
Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis has been a standout, with 1,150 passing yards and 7 touchdowns, leading the league in several categories. This positions him as a key figure in Rutgers’ offensive strategy.
Running back Antwan Raymond has contributed significantly with 311 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns, leading the team’s ground game. On the receiving end, Ian Strong has been a top performer with 367 receiving yards.
Recent Game Insights
Rutgers recently faced Iowa, losing 38-28 in a game where their passing attack shone with 330 yards. However, they struggled on the ground, managing only 70 rushing yards against a tough Iowa defense.
In their previous victories, they showcased a balanced offense, as seen against Norfolk State with 378 passing yards and 185 rushing yards. This ability to adapt their offensive strategy will be crucial against Minnesota.
Injury Report
The Scarlet Knights have several players listed as questionable, including key contributors like CJ Campbell Jr. and Samuel Brown V. The availability of these players could impact Rutgers’ depth and flexibility on both sides of the ball.
Injuries to the offensive line, such as Dantae Chin and Ryder Langsdale being out, may affect the protection for Kaliakmanis and the effectiveness of the running game.
Betting Trends
- O/U – Home Games: Last 8 Games → 8-0 (100.0%)
- O/U – All Games: Last 6 Games → 6-0 (100.0%)
- O/U – As Favorite: Last 6 Games → 6-0 (100.0%)
- SU – As Favorite: Last 18 Games → 15-3 (83.3%)
- O/U – After Win: Last 5 Games → 5-0 (100.0%)
- O/U – After Loss: Last 5 Games → 5-0 (100.0%)
- SU – Totals ≥ 50: Last 3 Games → 3-0 (100.0%)
- O/U – Totals ≥ 50: Last 11 Games → 8-3 (72.7%)
Minnesota vs Rutgers Prediction: Over 51.0
Minnesota and Rutgers both have offensive capabilities that indicate a potential for a high-scoring game. Rutgers has scored 167 points this season, ranking 12th in the nation, while Minnesota has demonstrated their ability to score with 103 points so far, ranking 51st. This offensive prowess makes a compelling case for the game going over the total.
The defensive statistics for both teams also suggest the possibility of a high-scoring affair. Rutgers has allowed 96 points, and Minnesota has given up 37 points, highlighting vulnerabilities that each offense can exploit. Given these defensive performances, the game could easily surpass the set total of 51.0.
In their head-to-head meetings, the games have had varying outcomes regarding total points, but recent trends show that Minnesota’s games often exceed the total, as evidenced by a 3-1 record in their last four home games. This pattern reinforces the potential for a game that surpasses the over/under line.
Taking into account the offensive strengths and defensive weaknesses of both teams, the expectation is for a competitive and high-scoring game. Therefore, the prediction leans towards the over, with a projected final score of Minnesota 31 – Rutgers 27.
- Minnesota vs Rutgers Prediction: Over 51.0
- Minnesota vs Rutgers Score: Minnesota 31 – Rutgers 27
