The Call: Everything to know ahead of Gophers vs. Rutgers

Kickoff: 11 a.m., Saturday

Where: Huntington Bank Stadium

TV/Radio: BTN, 100.3-FM

Line: Gophers by 4½ (51½ over/under)

The Gophers had the bye week to lick their wounds from a 27-14 loss at Cal and extra time to prepare for Rutgers. Minnesota is familiar with the Scarlet Knights given the ties between coaches P.J. Fleck and Greg Schiano and the fact that Scarlet Knights QB Athan Kaliakmanis started 15 games for Minnesota before transferring in 2023. This game takes on added importance for the Gophers because the schedule stiffens next week with a trip to defending national champion Ohio State.

Will Darius Taylor play?

Taylor, the junior running back who leads the Gophers with an average of 103 all-purpose yards per game, missed the loss at Cal because of a right hamstring injury suffered on Sept. 6. Game time will be three weeks since that injury, and the return of Taylor would give the Gophers a huge lift, especially in the short passing game. Fleck on Monday said Taylor was doing “really, really well.” Proof will be in the availability report at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Kaliakmanis digs the long ball, as evidenced by his 11-for-23 effort on passes traveling 20 yards or longer. The former Gophers QB is especially good at throwing deep balls to the left side, where he averages 39.6 yards on his five completions, according to Pro Football Focus.

Can the Gophers get off to a winning Big Ten start?

Under Fleck, the Gophers are 3-5 in Big Ten openers, with Iowa stopping a three-game Minnesota winning streak in conference openers with a 31-14 triumph last year. Fleck has a 34-36 Big Ten record with a winning mark in four of the past five nine-game conference seasons.

Greg Harbaugh Jr. vs. Robb Smith

Harbaugh, the Gophers’ offensive coordinator, will match wits with Smith, the Scarlet Knights’ co-defensive coordinator. Smith was Fleck’s first D.C. with the Gophers but was fired seven games into the 2018 season after his defense allowed 43.2 points per game. Iowa’s offense scored 31 points and amassed 346 yards, so Harbaugh should have some opportunities.

Smith, who leads the Gophers with three sacks and four tackles for loss, will need to get past Needham to get after Kaliakmanis. Needham inherited the starting job when Dontae Chin was lost for the season. Defensive line pressure will be key for the Gophers because Kaliakmanis has completed 75% of his passes when blitzed.

14-6 | Minnesota’s record with Taylor in the lineup. The Gophers are averaging 24.1 points when he plays. When he hasn’t played, they are 2-7 and averaging 19.6 points.

The Gophers’ last game certainly didn’t inspire confidence. Uncharacteristic mistakes, eight penalties, special teams gaffes and a lack of offensive rhythm led to the loss at Cal in their first test against a Power Four opponent. Now comes Rutgers and a seasoned version of Kaliakmanis, who might be the most improved QB in the Big Ten. The Gophers must play complementary football — the offense helping the defense with long drives, and special teams being an asset — to win. The hunch is Taylor returns, and he’s the difference-maker.