The UMass football team kicked off its 2026 season with a shocking 37-21 upset against Rutgers on Thursday night at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey.
The victory snapped the Minutemen’s 16-game losing streak — the longest active streak in all of FBS football at the time — plus counted as it’s first win against a power conference school since 1978.
Springfield native William “Pop” Watson was instrumental in the historic win for UMass, finishing 19-for-22 for 197 yards and three touchdowns at quarterback.
Wide receiver Joseph Griffin Jr. (two receptions, 61 yards, touchdown) and running back Elijah Faulkner (two reception touchdowns) hauled in all three Watson touchdown throws.
The Minutemen scored 17 points in the second quarter to pull away from the Scarlet Knights following a 7-7 score after the first quarter. UMass never surrendered its 24-7 halftime lead and added 13 insurance points in the final two frames to lock up the win.
Rutgers quarterback Dylan Lonergan struggled for the hosts with three interceptions to his name, despite going 16-for-29 for 242 yards and two touchdowns.
UMass entered the contest as 29.5-point underdogs.
