PHOENIX – Rutgers was well on its way to an encouraging end to the 2024 season, a win that would not only end the season on a high note but also hold promise for the following fall.

But the Scarlet Knights will spend the offseason wondering how they let this slip away — and how they can fix a major problem on one side of the ball.

Despite a solid offensive performance without its best player, Rutgers fell to a disastrous defensive performance in a 44-41 loss to Kansas State in the Rate Bowl at Chase Field on Thursday afternoon. Rutgers (7-6, 4-5) blew a 17-point second-half lead to the Wildcats (9-4, 5-4), who shredded the Scarlet Knights with big plays through the air and on the floor, to overtake them in a back-and-forth thriller.

The loss drops Rutgers’ record in bowl games to 6-3 under head coach Greg Schiano, marking its second postseason loss since returning to Piscataway (2021 Gator Bowl vs. Wake Forest) and confirming the Scarlet Knights have the same 7: 6 complete a record like a year ago.

The Scarlet Knights were led by quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, who put together one of their best offensive performances of the season. They finished with more than 30 points for the fifth straight game for the first time since the final five games of the 2008 regular season, scored more than 40 points in consecutive games against FBS opponents for the first time since 2005, and scored their most points in a single half (27 in the first) since dropping 31 points against Maryland in the first half of the 2015 game.

But while they dominated in the first half (319 yards, three touchdowns), they clearly struggled in the second half, mustering just 82 yards and scoring on three of their last six drives.

Kaliakmanis threw for 237 yards and intercepted 14 of 32 passes while rushing for 34 yards on six carries without a sack, but he struggled badly in the second half (67 yards and an interception on 6 of 14 passes). He was helped by the breakout performances of running backs Antwan Raymond (113 yards, three touchdowns on 18 carries) and Ja’Shon Benjamin (40 yards, two touchdowns on eight touchdowns), who filled in well for star senior Kyle Monangai, and one Another big player tag came from dynamic young receivers Ian Strong (105 yards on five catches) and KJ Duff (58 yards on three catches).

The most encouraging part of their performances? The plan is for them all to return next season, along with an offensive line that returns all players except standout left tackle Hollin Pierce.

But their big play went in vain because the Wildcats defense was unable to contain them.

After defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak was called up from Schiano to become head coach at UMass, the unit was shredded for 539 total yards, conceded 13 plays of more than 15 yards and allowed Kansas State to a combined score of 9 of 17 on third-and-4th downs. The defense provided little resistance on most of the Wildcats’ scoring drives, including the game-winning possession in which Kansas State gained 60 yards in three plays over 73 seconds of game time.

And to think, things started so well for Rutgers.

After scoring three times in the game’s opening third, Rutgers scored on six consecutive drives, including the final five drives of a back-and-forth first half that featured three lead changes and two ties. Kaliakmanis led the attack in the first, rushing for 28 yards on five carries and throwing 37 yards on 3-of-5 passing to set up a two-yard touchdown from Raymond that gave Rutgers an early 7-3 lead brought.

The Scarlet Knights allowed Kansas State a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that retook the lead with a two-yard walk-in touchdown from quarterback Avery Johnson. The signal caller annihilated the Scarlet Knights with 195 yards and three touchdowns on 15 of 30 passing and 55 rushing yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.

Rutgers responded with a great play from Kaliakmanis, who found Strong for a 60-yard gain and eventually set up a 31-yard field goal from kicker Jai Patel to tie the game at 10-1. After his defense managed to force Kansas State’s first punt of the game on the ensuing drive, the quarterback handed it off to Raymond, who made a big run to gain 65 yards and set up the Scarlet Knights’ second touchdown of the day.

Kansas State tied the game at 17 on its next drive, using two big plays to get into the end zone. Then Rutgers took the lead for good after a 24-yard run by Raymond that marked his second touchdown of the day.

The Scarlet Knights’ defense stepped up from there, forcing three consecutive stops: an interception at the end of the first half and two consecutive punts at the start of the second. Their offense took off from there with a 48-yard field goal from Patel – who made 13 straight field goals in the final seven games of the season – and a seven-yard touchdown reception from Benjamin, his second score of the season Game, continue.

But the Scarlet Knights couldn’t close the door and allowed the Wildcats to get back into the game.

After scoring six straight points, Rutgers stalled on three straight drives, with two three-and-outs on either end of a brutal interception by Kaliakmanis. Kansas State took advantage, scoring two consecutive touchdowns in a two-minute span – while two consecutive two-point conversion attempts failed – and cut the Scarlet Knights’ lead to 34–29 at the end of the third quarter.

But Rutgers had a trick up its sleeve: After its defense got a much-needed stop, it allowed senior wide receiver Christian Dremel to capitalize on the element of surprise and return the ensuing punt 67 yards into Kansas State territory. Her longest punt return since 2016 – and Dremel’s eighth return of the year – set up Raymond’s third touchdown of the day, who punched in the Rutgers Rooski from a yard out to give his team some much-needed breathing room.

That wouldn’t take long.

Kansas State responded with consecutive touchdowns to retake the lead, including the game-winning drive where the Scarlet Knights couldn’t come close to stopping them. They got the ball back with four minutes to play, but Kaliakmanis couldn’t guide them back into the end zone as the Scarlet Knights failed to convert on a fourth down after the two-minute timeout to seal their fate.

They will now enter the offseason in an unfamiliar situation: a lot of potential on offense, a lot of problems to fix on defense and a loss in the bowl game to overcome.

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Brian Fonseca can be reached at [email protected].