UMass defeats Rutgers 37-21 in college football season opener
5 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 4, 2026, 3:49 AM
Last updated Sep 4, 2026
UMass defeated Rutgers 37-21 on Thursday night in Piscataway, New Jersey, marking the first time the Minutemen have won against a power conference opponent. UMass entered the game as a 29.5-point underdog, having finished the 2025 season with an 0-12 record and riding a 16-game losing streak. Quarterback William Watson III threw three touchdown passes in the first half to build the lead. Rutgers struggled with ball security, as quarterback Dylan Lonergan committed four turnovers, including three interceptions. This loss is the first for UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak against his former team, where he previously served as defensive coordinator. Rutgers now turns its focus to a road game against Boston College on September 11.
- •UMass ended a 16-game losing streak by beating Rutgers 37-21.
- •William Watson III recorded three touchdown passes for the Minutemen.
- •Rutgers quarterback Dylan Lonergan committed four total turnovers.
- •KJ Duff Jr. caught nine passes for Rutgers, totaling three touchdowns and nearly 200 yards.
- •Rutgers plays Boston College in its next scheduled game on September 11.
- 3:36 AMESPN — 1,104 days later: The numbers behind UMass' wild Rutgers upset
- 2:11 AMYahoo Sports — UMass Stuns Rutgers in Massive Week 1 Upset
- 1:23 AMYahoo Sports — After a winless 2025, UMass beats a power conference foe for the first time as a 29.5-point underdog against Rutgers
- 1:21 AMYahoo Sports — Massive underdog UMass ravages Rutgers
"College football wasted no time delivering a shocking result in Week 1. The UMass Minutemen pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the opening week Thursday night, stunning the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 37-21 at SHI Stadium. UMass entered the game as a massive 29.5-point underdog and was coming off a winless 0-12 season, making…
"UMass had lost 16 games in a row entering the 2026 season. The Minutement went into a game against Rutgers of the Big Ten and rolled
"UMass won its first game in over a calendar year in statement fashion -- dominating Rutgers 37-21 on the road in New Jersey.
Sources
External links- ESPNSep 4, 2026, 3:36 AM1,104 days later: The numbers behind UMass' wild Rutgers upset
UMass won its first game in over a calendar year in statement fashion -- dominating Rutgers 37-21 on the road in New Jersey.
- Yahoo SportsSep 4, 2026, 2:11 AMUMass Stuns Rutgers in Massive Week 1 Upset
College football wasted no time delivering a shocking result in Week 1. The UMass Minutemen pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the opening week Thursday night, stunning the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 37-21 at SHI Stadium. UMass entered the game as a massive 29.5-point underdog and was coming off a winless 0-12 season, making…
- Yahoo SportsSep 4, 2026, 1:23 AMAfter a winless 2025, UMass beats a power conference foe for the first time as a 29.5-point underdog against Rutgers
Before Thursday night, the Minutemen's last win came in October of 2024.
- Yahoo SportsSep 4, 2026, 1:21 AMMassive underdog UMass ravages Rutgers
UMass had lost 16 games in a row entering the 2026 season. The Minutement went into a game against Rutgers of the Big Ten and rolled
Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
NCAAF•Oct 22, 2026, 2:00 AMWashington football star DB named Sporting News Midseason All-American
NCAAF•Oct 22, 2026, 1:28 AMLSU TE Green poised to make return vs. Auburn
NCAAF•Oct 22, 2026, 1:14 AMColin Simmons ruled doubtful for Ole Miss game in first Texas injury report
NCAAF•Oct 22, 2026, 12:39 AMOregon availability report: Dante Moore ruled OUT for Illinois
NCAAF•Oct 22, 2026, 12:28 AMIndiana's Charlie Becker apologizes to Ryan Day for obscene gesture
NCAAF•Oct 22, 2026, 12:13 AMNFL could embrace replay review transparency by the end of the current season