The Penn State Nittany Lions look primed to clinch in a spot in a bowl game on the road against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. After all, they are heavy favorites and have won 17 straight meetings between them. Still, this Rutgers team, unlike those of years past and against one of the toughest Big Ten slates, has positioned itself nicely as well to clinch a bowl berth. Here are the top five reasons the Nittany Lions should be concerned about the men from Piscataway.
Athan Kaliakmanis leads potent aerial attack.
Nov 22, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (16) throws a pass against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first quarter at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn ImagesIt might shock a lot of people to think that Rutgers has one of the best passing games in the Big Ten, but it's true. Veteran QB Athan Kaliakmanis currently ranks third in passing yards in the conference, having thrown for over 2,700 yards this season. After the loss of Kyle Monangai, the Scarlet Knights brought in several transfers at the WR position while still retaining one of the Big Ten's most underrated WRs as well. Both KJ Duff and Ian Strong have been fantastic, with Duff just shy of 1,00 receiving yards on the year. The Penn State defense has looked superb the past few weeks, but it hasn't faced a passing attack as versatile as Rutgers during its recent win streak.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAntwan Raymond perfect replacement for Monangai
Nov 8, 2025; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights running back Antwan Raymond (3) celebrates after a rushing touchdown during the second half against the Maryland Terrapins at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn ImagesWhile the passing game has become an elite facet of the Rutgers offense, it's not as if the run game has been left to the wayside. Sophomore Antwan Raymond wasn't even expected to receive the bulk of the carries in the backfield, and yet has emerged as yet another effective Rutgers RB. He recently earned a nomination for the Doak Walker Award and became just the ninth player in Rutgers history to break 1,000 yards rushing in a season. One notable performance of his this season came in their game against Maryland, where his 240 yards and 41 carries broke program records. While Monangai was thought to have left a gaping hole in the Scarlet Knights' backfield, Raymond has more than filled his shoes.
Experienced secondary group
Nov 8, 2025; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights defensive back Cam Miller (7) celebrates after a pass break up during the fourth quarter against the Maryland Terrapins at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn ImagesRutgers' secondary has gone under the radar this season, but still might be their most effective defensive unit. They have a nice mix of youthful players and veterans/transfers that they can rely on. For example, Kaj Sanders was a running back who converted to the safety spot during his freshman year and is now thriving as a sophomore. On the other side of the spectrum, Jett Elad is a seventh year player who transferred in from UNLV brings loads of experience at the position. Still, at corner, the Nittany Lions will be facing an old friend, as Cam Miller plays his former team paired with Marshall transfer Jacobie Henderson. For a passing game that really hasn't been explosive as Penn State fans would like, look for this secondary to be an X-factor.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThey control the clock
One interesting thing about Rutgers is that while they have such a multiple attack, they can dominate you in terms of time of possession. They rank 15th in the nation in terms of possession, averaging 32:32 per game. Compare that to Penn State, who sometimes rely too much on the big play, resulting in ranking 84th with only an average of 29:21 per game. If there's anything Penn State doesn't want, it's an offensive shootout, as it will force Ethan Grunkemeyer to have to play perfect while trying to push the ball down the field. If Rutgers can control the tempo of this game, it may not bode well for the Nittany Lions.
...and they don't turn the ball over
It's one thing to control a game with the efficiency of your offense. It's quite another to do it without turning the ball over. Rutgers does that potentially better than anyone in the country. They have only had 10 turnovers all season long, and while seven of them have been picks, they still rank 3rd fewest in the Big Ten in that regard. While the Nittany Lions have been able to change the game with huge special teams plays such as blocked punts and field goals this season, they have only forced one turnover in their recent stretch of success. Look for Rutgers to try and exploit that to try and put up as many points on the board as possible.
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: 5 reasons for concern for Penn State against Rutgers
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