PISCATAWAY, N.J. >> Gophers coach P.J. Fleck stepped into the middle of the Gophers offensive huddle along the sideline before a pivotal fourth-quarter drive against Rutgers on Saturday. Sputtering on that side of the ball, he appeared to challenge his team to win at the line of scrimmage and produce a big, game-clinching drive like they had done so often in a four-game winning streak.

But the drive started off bad. Then disaster hit.

First, a member of Minnesota’s offensive line was flagged for holding. Then Jameson Geers made a catch but the tight end fumbled it away at the U’s 12-yard line. “Critical turnover,” Fleck later lamented.

Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis — who transferred away from the Gophers last November — took advantage of the short field with his third touchdown pass of the game. And Minnesota’s winning streak went poof to a Rutgers team that had lost four consecutive with a 26-19 defeat at SHI Stadium.

The game hinged on the Gophers’ first giveaway in nearly five full games. Minnesota was up 16-14 with eight minutes left, but after that turnover and a Rutgers TD, the U offensive line continued to struggle and Max Brosmer was sacked in the end zone for a safety. Then Rutgers tacked on a 22-yard field goal to make it a 10-point lead with 2:45 remaining.

That disastrous 12-point swing pulled the rug out across six minutes of game time.

“I just felt like it was uphill all day,” Fleck said. “Everything was uphill because we were making it really hard on ourselves as well. Again, Rutgers deservers a lot of credit for that.

The Gophers (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten) were a 6.5-point favorite over Rutgers (4-5, 1-5), which didn’t have star running back Kyle Monangai, and that combo had Gophers Athletics Director mentioning the possibility of bowl games in Florida if the U finished the regular season strong.

Coming off a bye week, former Gophers offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca, who left for the same job at Rutgers two years ago, hit Minnesota with the same RPO slant concept he was often so successful with in Dinkytown. In the first half, Kaliakmanis threw for 219 yards, two touchdowns and a 14-9 lead on that scheme and a handful of deep shots off of it.

Gophers defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman — who was Rutgers’ linebacker coach the previous two years — countered in the second half, bringing more pressure on Kaliakmanis. It resulted in quarterback hits, sacks and hurries that resulted in four consecutive punts before the fumble.

Kaliakmanis completed 70% of his passes for 214 yards and two TDs and an interception in the first half, but completed only 23% for 24 yards and that 4-yard TD toss post-turnover.

The Rutgers rush defense was one of the worst in the nation coming into Saturday, but ex-Gophers safety coach Joe Harasymiak, now Rutgers’ DC, made it difficult for his former team. Plus, running back Darius Taylor was dealing with a lingering ankle injury from the Illinois win and had only 28 yards on 10 carries.

After the turnover, Minnesota defense missed too many tackles as Rutgers put together a six-play, 42-yard drive that added a field goal. Minnesota was able to go 63 yards in the last two minutes, but had to settle for a field goal. The ensuing onside kick was recovered by Rutgers.

Kaliakmanis took a knee in the victory formation and all the people with ties to Minnesota could savor a victory over the Gophers..