Composite story
UMass snaps 16-game losing streak, upsets Rutgers 37-21
Piscataway, New JerseyPublished 4 Sep 2026
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A 29.5-point underdog that went 0-12 last season beat a Big Ten host at SHI Stadium and ended the longest losing streak in FBS.
Massachusetts beat Rutgers 37-21 on Thursday night at SHI Stadium, snapping a 16-game losing streak that was the longest in FBS. The Minutemen went 0-12 in 2025, entered as 29.5-point underdogs, and were paid $1.55 million for the guarantee game. Pop Watson III threw three touchdown passes; sources disagree whether he completed 19 of 22 for 197 yards or 18 of 21 for 189. Rutgers quarterback Dylan Lonergan threw two scores and lost a fumble; sources disagree whether he threw three or four interceptions. UMass coach Joe Harasymiak, Rutgers' defensive coordinator from 2022 to 2024, called it a special homecoming. Greg Schiano said he did not have the Scarlet Knights ready and never saw the loss coming.
Disputed opinions
None yet.
UMass goes from 0-12 to dominating Rutgers as 29.5-point underdog in opener
Published 3 Sep 2026 accessed 4 Sep 2026
Facts
The Athletic said it was UMass' biggest upset in school history.
The Minutemen claimed their second win against a current Power 4 team since joining FBS in 2012.
BYU was an independent when UMass beat the Cougars.
UMass outrushed Rutgers 200-30.
It was the first win at UMass for second-year coach Joe Harasymiak.
UMass averaged 6.4 yards per play.
UMass was a 4-point underdog in that BYU game.
UMass hasn’t had a winning season since 2010.
UMass scored more than 14 points just twice in 2025.
UMass allowed at least 42 points eight times.
Harasymiak previously worked as Minnesota’s defensive coordinator.
Rutgers failed to mount a running game despite returning running back Antwan Raymond.
Buying out Schiano after this season would cost Rutgers $17.3 million.
Rutgers failed to reach a bowl game last year.
Rutgers is 31-42 since Schiano returned in 2020.
Schiano has three years left on his contract.
Opinion
The Athletic said UMass completely overpowered Rutgers in every phase.
The Athletic called the loss nothing short of a disaster for Rutgers.
The Athletic said the loss invites questions about Rutgers' direction under Schiano.
The Athletic said Rutgers was blasted along the line of scrimmage.
The Athletic said Duff was the only bright spot for Rutgers.
UMass ends its 16-game losing streak with 37-21 win at Rutgers
Published 4 Sep 2026 accessed 4 Sep 2026
Facts
UMass built a 24-7 halftime lead.
Watson connected with Elijah Faulkner on two touchdowns.
ESPN Research said the 16-point win was the largest by a 29-point-or-more underdog since Texas State beat Houston 30-13 on Sept. 1, 2012.
It was UMass' first halftime lead against a power-conference school since Mississippi State in 2017.
UMass scored on seven of its 10 drives.
Watson scattered 18 completions among seven UMass receivers.
Rutgers allowed at least 30 points in eight of 12 games last season.
ESPN called it the biggest win UMass recorded since joining FBS in 2012.
Harasymiak grew up in Waldwick, New Jersey, about 40 miles from the Rutgers campus.
Opinion
No opinion marked.
UMass shocks Rutgers: By the numbers as Minutemen snap nation's longest losing streak to FBS opponents
Published 3 Sep 2026 accessed 4 Sep 2026
Facts
UMass scored on each of its first four drives.
FBS teams favored by 29-plus points were 213-0 since 2024 entering the game.
Rutgers' 16-point loss was the fifth-largest by a favorite of 25-plus points since 2000.
UMass entered 0-9 all-time against Big Ten opponents.
UMass failed to score more than 26 points in any game last season.
Pop Watson spent the last three seasons at Virginia Tech without breaking through as the starter.
Watson was a three-star recruit and the No. 44 quarterback in the 2023 signing class out of Springfield Central.
Rutgers went for it on fourth-and-1 from the UMass 11, and UMass stuffed the play.
UMass generated seven tackles for loss.
There were 136 FBS teams in 2025.
UMass ranked 129th nationally in total yards allowed at 433.8 per game.
Rutgers averaged 1.2 yards per rush attempt.
Opinion
CBS Sports called the game one of the most shocking results of the weekend and maybe the season.
CBS Sports said the win certainly wasn't a fluke.
CBS Sports said UMass dominated Rutgers from the opening kickoff.
CBS Sports said the outcome was highly improbable even though Rutgers is not a top-25 powerhouse.
CBS Sports said UMass can pile up more wins as the season progresses.
CBS Sports said Power Four schools might regret not pursuing Watson in the portal.
CBS Sports said the stop effectively buried Rutgers.
CBS Sports said the UMass secondary was victimized by KJ Duff.
CBS Sports called the defensive showing a very encouraging sign for UMass.
CBS Sports said the UMass defense did not look like the worst unit in the country against Rutgers.
UMass football earns first victory over FBS school since 2023, crushes Rutgers in season opener
Published 3 Sep 2026 accessed 4 Sep 2026
Facts
UMass’s last three wins before Thursday were against FCS teams.
2025 was UMass' return to the Mid-American Conference.
UMass’ 37 points were 11 more than it scored in any game last year.
Harasymiak said everything the team talked about and worked for came to fruition.
Watson answered with a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive capped by a 21-yard pass to Elijah Faulkner.
That Army win was 1,041 days before Thursday.
Harasymiak said he was certainly super proud of the guys.
Lonergan hit KJ Duff on a 4-yard pass to open the scoring.
Harasymiak said it’s going to change around here.
Harasymiak said he told the team it had to earn the right to win all camp, winter, and spring.
Dylan Lonergan, formerly of Boston College, led a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to open the game.
Watson hit Faulkner again for a 2-yard touchdown.
Watson hit Joseph Griffin Jr. for a 31-yard touchdown.
UMass scored points on each of its first five full drives.
Curtis Kimmons IV had a team-high 78 rushing yards.
Watson and Griffin were high school teammates at Springfield Central.
Faulkner had one reception all last season and scored on both of his catches Thursday.
Two of Duff's touchdowns came in the fourth quarter after the game was out of reach.
UMass plays FCS opponents Sacred Heart and Stonehill the next two weeks.
UMass hasn’t won three straight games since 2009, when it was still FCS.
Opinion
No opinion marked.
UMass snaps longest college football losing streak with rout of Rutgers
Published 3 Sep 2026 accessed 4 Sep 2026
Facts
UMass scored 30 unanswered points.
UMass responded with a touchdown.
The win snapped a 23-game losing streak against FBS teams.
That win was 677 days earlier.
The 37 points were the most UMass had scored since 2024.
The 16-point win was UMass' most decisive against an FBS team since 2018.
Harasymiak and AD Ryan Bamford told USA TODAY Sports there has been significant investment in the program.
Bamford said UMass is thinking about winning as many of its 12 games as it can, not a handful.
UMass is the only established FBS program yet to play in a bowl game, excluding newcomers North Dakota State and Sacramento State.
Opinion
No opinion marked.
Greg Schiano blindsided by Rutgers’ brutal upset loss to UMass: ‘Never saw it coming’
Published 3 Sep 2026 accessed 4 Sep 2026
Facts
Schiano put the onus on himself and said the loss was not something he envisioned.
Schiano said he is in charge of all the coaches.
UMass scored 17 unanswered points in the second quarter.
The teams were tied after the first quarter.
Schiano said he does not congratulate Harasymiak and UMass lightly.
Rutgers' defense yielded 397 yards and did not record a turnover.
Rutgers dropped to 5-7 last year.
Duff had a 78-yard reception in garbage time.
Schiano returned to Rutgers in 2020 after leaving after the 2011 season.
Rutgers had winning seasons in 2023 and 2024, including a Pinstripe Bowl win in 2023.
Schiano said he has been down this road before.
Rutgers plays at Boston College next Friday.
Opinion
The New York Post said Rutgers got run out of its own building.