The 2026 college football season kicked off with an unexpected twist as the UMass Minutemen stunned the Rutgers Scarlet Knights with a decisive 37-21 victory at SHI Stadium on Thursday night. Entering the game as a staggering 29.5-point underdog, UMass had just come off a dismal 0-12 season, making this win all the more significant.
Before this matchup, the Minutemen were mired in a 16-game losing streak and had not secured a victory against an FBS opponent since 2023. However, none of that history seemed to weigh on their performance once the game began.
Leading the charge for UMass was quarterback William “Pop” Watson III, who delivered an impressive performance in his debut with the team. The senior signal-caller threw for 197 yards and three touchdowns, showcasing his ability to exploit the Rutgers defense effectively. Watson quickly made his mark, connecting with Elijah Faulkner for a touchdown early in the game, before finding Faulkner again for another score. He capped off his stellar night with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Joseph Griffin Jr., helping UMass establish a commanding lead.
By halftime, the Minutemen had built a surprising 24-7 advantage, leaving the Scarlet Knights struggling to find their footing in front of their home crowd.
For Rutgers, this defeat marked a disappointing start to the 2026 season. The Scarlet Knights, who were favored to win and were expected to improve under head coach Greg Schiano, faced an unexpected challenge against a UMass team that had been winless the previous year. The lack of rhythm on both sides of the ball was evident, as Rutgers failed to mount any significant response to UMass’s early dominance.
This loss will surely be remembered as one of the most embarrassing moments in recent history for the Rutgers football program, which had high hopes for the season ahead.
For UMass, the implications of this victory extend far beyond just a 1-0 record. The Minutemen ended a 677-day drought without an FBS win, with their last victory against an FBS opponent occurring on October 28, 2023, against Army. Additionally, the 37 points scored by UMass in this game surpassed their total points in any single game during the entire 2025 season, highlighting a remarkable turnaround.
As the Minutemen left Piscataway, they not only celebrated a historic win but also set a positive tone for the rest of the season. With this victory, UMass has provided a thrilling start to the 2026 college football season, and fans will be eager to see how they build on this momentum moving forward.
Final Score: UMass 37, Rutgers 21.
Leave a Comment