UMass stun Rutgers in 37-21 upset to end 14-month winless run
The Minutemen defeated the Scarlet Knights as 29.5-point underdogs, marking their first victory over a power conference opponent since joining the FBS in 2012.
The University of Massachusetts Minutemen delivered a significant result in the opening night of the 2026 college football season, defeating the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 37-21 on Thursday. The victory, achieved as 29.5-point underdogs, stands as the program’s first win over a power conference team since its elevation to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2012.
The result ends a prolonged period of inconsistency for the Minutemen, who had not recorded a victory since 26 October 2024. The win also serves as the first for head coach Joe Harasymiak, who was appointed to succeed Don Brown following a winless 2025 campaign in which the team finished with a 0-12 record.
On the field, UMass quarterback Pop Watson, a Virginia Tech transfer and Massachusetts native, led the offensive effort by throwing three touchdown passes in the first half. His performance contrasted sharply with that of Rutgers quarterback Dylan Lonergan, who committed four turnovers. Lonergan’s third interception, thrown with 4 minutes and 35 seconds remaining, effectively extinguished any hope of a comeback for the Scarlet Knights.
The historical context of the upset underscores the magnitude of the result. Since moving to the FBS level, UMass has never won more than four games in a single season, a mark achieved only twice in the past 14 years. Entering Thursday’s match, the Minutemen held an overall record of 26 wins against 134 losses.
For Rutgers, the defeat raises questions about their trajectory in the Big 12 Conference. The Scarlet Knights finished 5-7 in 2025 and face a demanding schedule in 2026 that includes matchups against USC, Indiana, Michigan, and Penn State. A second consecutive season without a postseason appearance now appears increasingly likely.
Harasymiak, who previously served as Rutgers’ defensive coordinator from 2022 through 2024, now begins his tenure at UMass with a statement win. The result provides early momentum for a program that has struggled to find consistency at the highest level of collegiate football.
