UMass football defeats Rutgers 37-21 in season opener

Rutgers football opened its 2026 season with a 37-21 loss to UMass in Piscataway. The Scarlet Knights struggled on both sides of the ball against a Minutemen squad that had lost 23 consecutive games against FBS opponents. Rutgers quarterback Dylan Lonergan recorded two touchdown passes to KJ Duff but also committed four turnovers, including three interceptions and a fumble. The Scarlet Knights' defense, which underwent a significant overhaul during the offseason, allowed UMass quarterback Pop Watson to lead the visiting team to a decisive victory. Following this loss, Rutgers must look to adjust its game plan ahead of a matchup against Boston College on September 11. The result eliminates the possibility of an undefeated nonconference run, complicating the team's path toward bowl eligibility.

• 1:19 AMYahoo Sports — Rutgers football suffers embarrassing loss to UMass | Analysis