Rutgers drops in national rankings after UMass defeats Scarlet Knights

Rutgers fell significantly in various national rankings following a 37-21 loss to UMass. The defeat dropped the Scarlet Knights to 0-1 on the 2026 season. Multiple outlets adjusted their standings to reflect the result, with The Athletic placing the program 136th among all 138 FBS teams. This ranking marks the lowest position for a Power 4 team in the last 10 years of that specific index. Other polls, including ESPN’s Football Power Index and the Massey Ratings, also showed notable declines for the program. Following the loss, the team has initiated a quarterback change as coaching staff look to address performance issues ahead of upcoming games.

• 4:36 PMYahoo Sports — Rutgers hits ‘new low’ in national rankings after shocking UMass upset