Umass upsets Rutgers 37-21 in season opening college football game

The Massachusetts Minutemen defeated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 37-21 on Thursday, September 3, at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. Entering the matchup as 29.5-point underdogs, the Minutemen secured their first win over an FBS program since 2023 and their first victory against a power conference opponent since 1978. The result ends a 16-game losing streak in FBS competition and a 12-game losing streak dating back to the 2025 season. This game marked the first win for the Minutemen in approximately 677 days, with their previous victory occurring on October 27, 2024. Following the game, insider Brett McMurphy publicly questioned the status of the Big Ten Conference due to the outcome. Rutgers reportedly paid Massachusetts $1.5 million to host the fixture.

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