League: NCAAM Sport: College Sports Country: United States Category: Scores & Results

UMass defeats Rutgers 37-21 in college football season opener

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 4, 2026, 9:36 AM

Last updated Sep 4, 2026

UMass defeats Rutgers 37-21 in college football season opener

Summary

The UMass Minutemen defeated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 37-21 on Thursday night to open the college football season. The result marks the first win for UMass since October 2024. Rutgers quarterback Dylan Lonergan finished the game with 242 passing yards and two touchdowns, but his performance was hindered by three interceptions and a lost fumble. Conversely, UMass quarterback William Watson completed 86.3% of his passes for 197 yards and three touchdowns, while running back Curtis Kimmons added 78 rushing yards and a score on 11 carries. Following the loss, social media criticism emerged regarding the status of Rutgers within the Big Ten conference. Rutgers will travel to face the Boston College Eagles next Friday, while UMass is scheduled to play the Sacred Heart Pioneers at home next Saturday.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•UMass defeated Rutgers 37-21 in the Thursday night season opener.
•The victory is the first win for UMass since October 26, 2024.
•Dylan Lonergan threw three interceptions and lost a fumble for Rutgers.
•William Watson accounted for three touchdowns for the UMass offense.
•Rutgers plays the Boston College Eagles on the road next Friday.

Latest Updates

9:36 AMYahoo Sports — “Exile Rutgers From the Big Ten”: CFB Fans Slam Scarlet Knights as Greg Schiano’s Team Gives UMass First Win in 677 Days

What they're saying

"
The Mid-American Conference’s UMass Minutemen beat the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 37-21 on Thursday night in the Week 1 opener. While nowhere near a major upset, it’s a surprising result given that Rutgers is part of the nation’s premier conference, the Big Ten.
— Yahoo Sports

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