PISCATAWAY – Athan Kaliakmanis still had trouble finding the words for what exactly happened, and that might not change anytime soon.
But after Rutgers football suffered a brutal season-ending 40-36 loss to Penn State, with a fumble by Kaliakmanis helping to make that happen, the quarterback tried to explain how it all unfolded.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“I don’t even know,” Kaliakmanis said. “That’s never happened to me before. I went to throw it and it fell right out of my hand.”
It fell out of his hand and onto the turf, then into the hands of the Nittany Lions’ Amare Campbell, who sprinted 61 yards into the end zone to put Penn State ahead for good in a game where momentum had shifted from sideline to sideline.
“It’s tough because you want to do it for your teammates and give it everything you have,” Kaliakmanis said. “That’s what I did. I gave it everything I had and then that happens. It hurts a lot, for sure.”
What made it hurt even more was that Kaliakmanis had played an excellent game to that point.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHe finished 16-of-22 for 338 yards with three touchdowns. He had delivered a number of clean, drive-extending passes.
This was the type of game Rutgers fans could’ve remembered for a long time – but for the right reasons.
Now they’ll remember it for the wrong reasons.
And the fact that Kaliakmanis’ blunder was a major reason why was cruel irony, because Kaliakmanis in his two seasons as the starter after transferring from Minnesota had etched his name into the program’s record books.
Nov 29, 2025; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (16) reacts after his fumble was returned for a touchdown by Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Amare Campbell (not pictured) during the second half at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn ImagesDuring the loss to Penn State, Kaliakmanis hit the 3,000-yard mark for the season. Kaliakmanis had long ago helped stabilize the offense, giving Rutgers the type of quarterback it hadn’t enjoyed for years.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“He's done incredible things here,” coach Greg Schiano said. “Incredible. Think about a couple years, our passing game, think about what he's been able to accomplish, he's a 3,000-yard passer. And more importantly just to watch him grow as a leader and grow, it's hard. It's really hard.”
Kaliakmanis’ teammates echoed their coach.
“He meant a lot,” said running back Antwan Raymond, who ran for 189 yards with one touchdown against Penn State. “I’ve been in college football for two years now, and in my two years I played with Athan, I think he’s a great leader. He brings motivation to the whole offense, the whole unit. I think he did a great job of taking over and he’s just such a hard worker. He’s truly one of the smartest guys I’ve been around. He definitely meant a lot. We’re going to miss him.”
Kaliakmanis accomplished plenty during his time in a Rutgers uniform.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut the last game he played for the Scarlet Knights will be a tough one to describe for a long time.
“It hurts because this is the last time,” Kaliakmanis said. “I wish it wasn’t.”
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Rutgers football's Athan Kaliakmanis explains game-changing fumble
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