Rutgers edges Ohio in high-scoring Week 1 matchup, 34-31
Rutgers defeated Ohio 34-31 in a competitive Week 1 contest that exceeded the over-under of 52 points. The Scarlet Knights led 31-24 after three quarters before Ohio mounted a fourth-quarter push, ultimately falling short.
The first half featured explosive offensive play from both teams. Rutgers scored early on an Antwan Raymond touchdown run, while Ohio responded with strong performances from Parker Navarro, who led all rushers with 93 yards. The second quarter proved pivotal, with Rutgers' Athan Kaliakmanis connecting with DT Sheffield for a 54-yard touchdown reception. Navarro added another Ohio touchdown on a pass completion to Jake Bruno for 14 yards.
Kaliakmanis led all passers with 252 yards for Rutgers, while Sheffield topped receivers with 85 yards. Ohio's Navarro was the game's leading rusher.
The contest featured four lead changes and dramatic momentum swings throughout, with Rutgers' defense forcing a blocked punt return for a touchdown by Cam Miller in the second quarter. Despite covering a 15.5-point spread, Ohio kept the game competitive down the stretch in this opener.
AI-generated recap · Aug 25, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Ohio | 7 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 31 |
 Rutgers | 7 | 24 | 0 | 3 | 34 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | Ohio | Rutgers |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 21-31 | 18-23 |
| Pass Yards | 239 | 252 |
| Rush Yards | 201 | 147 |
| Total Yards | 440 | 399 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| 3rd Down | 5-10 | 1-10 |
| Penalties | 6-37 | 5-35 |
| Possession | 28:15 | 31:45 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Athan Kaliakmanis pass complete to Ian Strong for 12 yds to the RUTG 37 for a 1ST down
Antwan Raymond run for 7 yds to the RUTG 44
Antwan Raymond run for 6 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Athan Kaliakmanis pass incomplete to DT Sheffield
Athan Kaliakmanis sacked by Jay Crable for a loss of 5 yards to the RUTG 45
Athan Kaliakmanis pass complete to Ian Strong for 12 yds to the OHIO 43
Athan Kaliakmanis pass complete to DT Sheffield for 10 yds to the OHIO 33 for a 1ST down
CJ Campbell Jr. run for 5 yds to the OHIO 17
CJ Campbell Jr. run for 3 yds to the OHIO 14
Athan Kaliakmanis pass incomplete
Athan Kaliakmanis pass complete to Ian Strong for 12 yds to the RUTG 37 for a 1ST down
Antwan Raymond run for 7 yds to the RUTG 44
Antwan Raymond run for 6 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Athan Kaliakmanis pass incomplete to DT Sheffield
Athan Kaliakmanis sacked by Jay Crable for a loss of 5 yards to the RUTG 45
Athan Kaliakmanis pass complete to Ian Strong for 12 yds to the OHIO 43
Athan Kaliakmanis pass complete to DT Sheffield for 10 yds to the OHIO 33 for a 1ST down
Athan Kaliakmanis pass complete to DT Sheffield for 11 yds to the OHIO 22 for a 1ST down
CJ Campbell Jr. run for 5 yds to the OHIO 17
CJ Campbell Jr. run for 3 yds to the OHIO 14
Athan Kaliakmanis pass incomplete
Antwan Raymond run for 14 yds for a TD (Jai Patel KICK)
Sieh Bangura run for a loss of 1 yard to the OHIO 34
Parker Navarro pass complete to Chase Hendricks for 15 yds to the OHIO 49 for a 1ST down
Parker Navarro pass complete to Chase Hendricks for 13 yds to the RUTG 38 for a 1ST down
Sieh Bangura run for 2 yds to the RUTG 36
Parker Navarro pass incomplete
Parker Navarro pass complete to Chase Hendricks for 8 yds to the RUTG 28 for a 1ST down
Parker Navarro run for no gain to the RUTG 28
Sieh Bangura run for 24 yds to the RUTG 4 for a 1ST down
Sieh Bangura run for no gain to the RUTG 4
Sieh Bangura run for a loss of 1 yard to the OHIO 34
Parker Navarro pass complete to Chase Hendricks for 15 yds to the OHIO 49 for a 1ST down
Parker Navarro pass complete to Chase Hendricks for 13 yds to the RUTG 38 for a 1ST down
Sieh Bangura run for 2 yds to the RUTG 36
Parker Navarro pass incomplete
Parker Navarro pass complete to Chase Hendricks for 8 yds to the RUTG 28 for a 1ST down
Parker Navarro run for no gain to the RUTG 28
Sieh Bangura run for 24 yds to the RUTG 4 for a 1ST down
Sieh Bangura run for no gain to the RUTG 4
Parker Navarro pass complete to Mason Williams for 4 yds for a TD (David Dellenbach KICK)
Sieh Bangura run for 2 yds to the OHIO 27
Parker Navarro pass incomplete to Chase Hendricks
Parker Navarro pass incomplete to Chase Hendricks
Athan Kaliakmanis pass complete to KJ Duff for 10 yds to the OHIO 48 for a 1ST down
Athan Kaliakmanis pass incomplete to Kenny Fletcher Jr., broken up by Jack Fries
Athan Kaliakmanis pass complete to KJ Duff for 6 yds to the OHIO 42
Athan Kaliakmanis run for 3 yds to the OHIO 39
CJ Campbell Jr. run for 4 yds to the OHIO 35 for a 1ST down
Athan Kaliakmanis pass complete to KJ Duff for 19 yds to the OHIO 16 for a 1ST down
CJ Campbell Jr. run for 11 yds to the OHIO 5 for a 1ST down
Antwan Raymond run for no gain to the OHIO 5
Athan Kaliakmanis pass incomplete to KJ Duff
Jai Patel 23 yd FG GOOD
Parker Navarro run for 3 yds to the RUTG 14
Athan Kaliakmanis pass complete to KJ Duff for 10 yds to the OHIO 48 for a 1ST down
Athan Kaliakmanis pass incomplete to Kenny Fletcher Jr.
Athan Kaliakmanis pass complete to KJ Duff for 6 yds to the OHIO 42
Athan Kaliakmanis run for 3 yds to the OHIO 39
CJ Campbell Jr. run for 4 yds to the OHIO 35 for a 1ST down
Athan Kaliakmanis pass complete to KJ Duff for 19 yds to the OHIO 16 for a 1ST down
CJ Campbell Jr. run for 11 yds to the OHIO 5 for a 1ST down
Antwan Raymond run for no gain to the OHIO 5
Athan Kaliakmanis pass incomplete to KJ Duff
Sieh Bangura run for 2 yds to the OHIO 27
Parker Navarro pass incomplete to Chase Hendricks, broken up by Keshon Griffin
Parker Navarro pass incomplete to Chase Hendricks
Magnus Haines punt for 27 yds
Parker Navarro pass incomplete to Max Rodarte
PENALTY OHIO False Start (Marsh,Joseph) 5 yards from OHIO28 to OHIO23. NO PLAY.
Athan Kaliakmanis pass complete to DT Sheffield for 54 yds for a TD (Jai Patel KICK)
Sieh Bangura run for 1 yd to the OHIO 6
Parker Navarro pass complete to Caleb Gossett for 11 yds to the OHIO 17 for a 1ST down
Parker Navarro pass incomplete to Chase Hendricks
Parker Navarro pass incomplete to Rodney Harris II
Parker Navarro pass incomplete to Jake Bruno
Parker Navarro pass complete to Max Rodarte for 11 yds to the OHIO 36 for a 1ST down
Sieh Bangura run for no gain to the OHIO 36
Sieh Bangura run for 3 yds to the OHIO 39
Parker Navarro run for 28 yds to the RUTG 33 for a 1ST down
Parker Navarro pass complete to Eian Pugh for 4 yds to the RUTG 29
Duncan Brune run for 8 yds to the RUTG 21 for a 1ST down
Duncan Brune run for 4 yds to the RUTG 17
Parker Navarro run for 3 yds to the RUTG 14
Parker Navarro pass complete to Jake Bruno for 14 yds for a TD (David Dellenbach KICK)
Parker Navarro pass incomplete
Parker Navarro pass complete to Chase Hendricks for 12 yds to the RUTG 34
Parker Navarro pass complete to Caleb Gossett for 11 yds to the RUTG 17 for a 1ST down
PENALTY RUT Face Mask (Elad,Jett) 15 yards from OHIO35 to OHIO50. NO PLAY.
Ja'shon Benjamin run for 15 yds to the OHIO 6 for a 1ST down
Antwan Raymond run for 10 yds to the RUTG 35 for a 1ST down
Antwan Raymond run for 29 yds to the OHIO 36 for a 1ST down
Athan Kaliakmanis pass complete to Ian Strong for 14 yds to the OHIO 22 for a 1ST down
Ja'shon Benjamin run for 1 yd to the OHIO 21
Ja'shon Benjamin run for 15 yds to the OHIO 6 for a 1ST down
Athan Kaliakmanis pass complete to KJ Duff for 6 yds for a TD (Jai Patel KICK)
Sieh Bangura run for 14 yds to the OHIO 27 for a 1ST down
Parker Navarro pass complete to Nick Marinaro for a loss of 4 yards to the OHIO 23
Parker Navarro pass complete to Sieh Bangura for 5 yds to the OHIO 28
Parker Navarro pass incomplete to Max Rodarte, broken up by Bo Mascoe
Ohio Penalty, false start (Joseph Marsh) to the OHIO 23
Cam Miller 0 Yd Return of Blocked Punt (Jai Patel Kick)
Ohio Penalty, false start (Sieh Bangura) to the OHIO 3
Sieh Bangura run for 2 yds to the OHIO 5
Sieh Bangura run for 1 yd to the OHIO 6
Parker Navarro pass complete to Caleb Gossett for 11 yds to the OHIO 17 for a 1ST down
Parker Navarro pass complete to Eian Pugh for 25 yds to the OHIO 42 for a 1ST down
Parker Navarro pass complete to Chase Hendricks for 5 yds to the OHIO 47
Sieh Bangura run for 17 yds to the RUTG 36 for a 1ST down
Parker Navarro run for 8 yds to the RUTG 28
Parker Navarro pass incomplete to Chase Hendricks
Parker Navarro run for 15 yds to the RUTG 13 for a 1ST down
Sieh Bangura run for 4 yds to the RUTG 9
Sieh Bangura run for 1 yd to the RUTG 8
Ohio Penalty, false start (Jordon Jones) to the RUTG 13
Parker Navarro pass incomplete to Rodney Harris II, broken up by Jacobie Henderson
David Dellenbach 30 yd FG GOOD
A. Kaliakmanis takes a knee
End of 2nd Quarter
Parker Navarro pass incomplete to Max Rodarte
Sieh Bangura run for 16 yds to the OHIO 41 for a 1ST down
Parker Navarro pass complete to Chase Hendricks for 16 yds to the RUTG 43 for a 1ST down
Ohio Penalty, false start (Chase Hendricks) to the RUTG 48
Sieh Bangura run for 2 yds to the RUTG 46
Parker Navarro pass incomplete
Parker Navarro pass complete to Chase Hendricks for 12 yds to the RUTG 34
Parker Navarro pass complete to Chase Hendricks for 6 yds to the RUTG 28 for a 1ST down
Parker Navarro pass complete to Caleb Gossett for 11 yds to the RUTG 17 for a 1ST down
Parker Navarro run for 17 yds for a TD (David Dellenbach KICK)
CJ Campbell Jr. run for 13 yds to the OHIO 22 for a 1ST down
CJ Campbell Jr. run for 5 yds to the RUTG 30
Athan Kaliakmanis run for a loss of 1 yard to the RUTG 29
Athan Kaliakmanis run for 5 yds to the RUTG 34
Antwan Raymond run for 4 yds to the RUTG 38 for a 1ST down
Athan Kaliakmanis pass complete to Ian Strong for 26 yds to the OHIO 36 for a 1ST down
Antwan Raymond run for 1 yd to the OHIO 35
CJ Campbell Jr. run for 1 yd to the OHIO 21
CJ Campbell Jr. run for 4 yds to the OHIO 17
Athan Kaliakmanis pass complete to Kenny Fletcher Jr. for 6 yds to the OHIO 11 for a 1ST down
Ja'shon Benjamin run for 1 yd to the OHIO 10
Antwan Raymond run for 7 yds to the OHIO 3
Ohio Penalty, false start (5 Yards) to the OHIO 8
Athan Kaliakmanis pass incomplete to DT Sheffield
Jai Patel 26 Yd Field Goal
Athan Kaliakmanis pass complete to KJ Duff for 13 yds to the RUTG 33 for a 1ST down
Athan Kaliakmanis pass complete to Ian Strong for 14 yds to the RUTG 47 for a 1ST down
Antwan Raymond run for 4 yds to the OHIO 49
Antwan Raymond run for a loss of 4 yards to the RUTG 47
Ohio Penalty, false start (5 Yards) to the RUTG 42
Athan Kaliakmanis pass complete to Ian Strong for 9 yds to the OHIO 49
Ohio Penalty, delay of game (5 Yards) to the RUTG 46
Jakob Anderson punt for 44 yds
Sieh Bangura run for a loss of 1 yard to the OHIO 9
Parker Navarro pass complete to Chase Hendricks for 26 yds to the OHIO 35 for a 1ST down
Duncan Brune run for 4 yds to the OHIO 39
Parker Navarro run for 22 yds to the RUTG 39 for a 1ST down
Parker Navarro pass complete to Max Rodarte for 24 yds to the RUTG 15 for a 1ST down
Duncan Brune run for 2 yds to the RUTG 13
Parker Navarro pass complete to Jake Bruno for 13 yds for a TD (David Dellenbach KICK) (David Dellenbach KICK)
Duncan Brune run for 2 yds to the OHIO 25
Parker Navarro pass complete to Chase Hendricks for 14 yds to the OHIO 39 for a 1ST down
Duncan Brune run for 2 yds to the OHIO 41
Parker Navarro pass complete to Mason Williams for 6 yds to the OHIO 47
Ohio Penalty, delay of game (-5 Yards) to the RUTG 48 for a 1ST down
Parker Navarro pass incomplete to Max Rodarte
Parker Navarro run for 3 yds to the RUTG 45
Parker Navarro run for a loss of 3 yards to the RUTG 48
Magnus Haines punt for 34 yds
Antwan Raymond run for 2 yds to the RUTG 16
Athan Kaliakmanis pass complete to Ian Strong for 13 yds to the RUTG 29 for a 1ST down
Athan Kaliakmanis pass complete to Colin Weber for 7 yds to the RUTG 36
Antwan Raymond run for 1 yd to the RUTG 37
Athan Kaliakmanis pass incomplete for a 1ST down Ohio Penalty, Defensive holding (Jalen Thomeson) to the RUTG 47 for a 1ST down
CJ Campbell Jr. run for 22 yds to the OHIO 31 for a 1ST down
CJ Campbell Jr. run for 2 yds to the OHIO 29
Athan Kaliakmanis run for a loss of 6 yards to the OHIO 35
Antwan Raymond run for 7 yds to the OHIO 28
Athan Kaliakmanis pass complete to DT Sheffield for 10 yds to the OHIO 18 for a 1ST down
Athan Kaliakmanis run for a loss of 8 yards to the OHIO 26
Athan Kaliakmanis run for a loss of 5 yards to the OHIO 31
Athan Kaliakmanis run for a loss of 6 yards to the OHIO 31