2017 Football Schedule, Events Announced

AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts football announced its final 2017 schedule and surrounding events on Thursday. Originally scheduled for October 7, the Minutemen will play the first game of the FBS season, hosting the University of Hawai'i, on August 26.

"We're excited to kick off the 2017 college football season hosting Hawai'i in Amherst," head coach Mark Whipple said. "This move provides competitive balance to our schedule and perfect timing for a bye week. We have exciting things in store this season and there's a lot to look forward to."

UMass will play five of its six home games at McGuirk Alumni Stadium in 2017. Announced earlier this month, the Minutemen will host Maine at Fenway Park on Nov. 11.

Also announced on Thursday, UMass will celebrate Youth Sports Day vs. Hawai'i, Hometown Heroes vs. Old Dominion, Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day vs. Ohio, Breast Cancer Awareness vs. Georgia Southern and Senior Day vs. Appalachian State.

The 2017 UMass Athletics Hall of Fame induction will be held Fri., Sept. 29. Homecoming weekend will be celebrated surrounding the Georgia Southern game on Oct. 21. Band Day will be hosted on Oct. 28.

The Minutemen return nine student-athletes who earned 2016 Phil Steele All-Independent honors, including senior tight end Adam Breneman, senior linebacker Steve Casali and junior running back Marquis Young. In December, Breneman was named a Campus Insiders Second-Team All-American, an ECAC First-Team All-Star and winner of the Harry Agganis Award (outstanding player in New England).

Nine of UMass' 12 2017 opponents played in 2016 bowl games with one American Athletic Conference Championship Game team (Temple) and the Sun Belt Conference Champion (Appalachian State).

2017 Schedule
Aug. 26                Hawai'i (Youth Sports Day)
Sept. 2                 at Coastal Carolina
Sept. 9                 Old Dominion (Hometown Heroes)
Sept. 16               at Temple
Sept. 23               at Tennessee
Sept. 30               Ohio (2017 UMass Hall of Fame, Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day)
Oct. 7                   Bye
Oct. 14                 at South Florida
Oct. 21                 Georgia Southern (Homecoming, Breast Cancer Awareness)
Oct. 28                 Appalachian State (Band Day, Senior Day)
Nov. 4                  at Mississippi State
Nov. 11                Maine (Fenway Park)
Nov. 18                at BYU

2017 football season ticket renewals and new sales begin Tues., Feb. 21. For continued coverage of UMass football, follow the program on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@UMassFootball).

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

Adam Breneman

Steve Casali

Marquis Young

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics