University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Georgia
Football Travels To #10 Georgia On Saturday
November 19, 2024 | Football
Minutemen and Bulldogs matchup on Nov. 23, at 12:45 p.m. on the SEC Network.
| University of Massachusetts Football Game Notes & Information | |
| Game 11 | Massachusetts (2-8) at #10 Georgia (8-2) |
| Date | Time | Saturday, November 23 | 12:45 p.m. |
| Location | Athens, Ga. | Sanford Stadium |
| Series History | Georgia leads, 1-0-0 Last Meeting | Nov. 17, 2018 | Sanford Stadium, Athens, Ga. | #5 Georgia 66, Massachusetts 27 |
| Game Notes & Team Information | Massachusetts: Game Notes | Game Program | Record Book Georgia: Game Notes |
| Watch | SEC Network |
| Listen | WHMP 101.5 FM, 1240AM & 1400AM | WCRN 830 AM App: Download The Varsity Sports Network on your mobile device |
| Live Statistics | StatBroadcast |
| @UMassFootball | |
| UMass Football | |
| UMass Football | |
AMHERST, Mass. -- University of Massachusetts football heads to Athens, Georgia, to matchup against No. 10 Georgia on Saturday, November 23, at 12:45 p.m. on the SEC Network.
SERIES HISTORY
Massachusetts and Georgia will be meeting for the second time, with the Bulldogs having previously posted a 66-27 win in Athens on Nov. 17, 2018.
In that previous meeting, UMass wide receiver Andy Isabella led the Minutemen with 15 catches and 219 receiving yards to go along with two touchdowns. Isabella was then selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals and most recently spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2024).
Saturday's game will mark the third time UMass has played an SEC opponent this season, including playing host to Missouri on Oct. 12 (L, 45-3) and playing at Mississippi State (L, 45-20).
QUICK HITS
The Massachusetts defense is holding opponents to 159.6 passing yards per game, which ranks fifth in FBS, just behind No. 4 Rice (159.2) and ahead of No. 6 Ohio State (160.1).
Massachusetts ranks 11th in FBS in average time of possession (32:43), just behind UTSA (also with 32:43) and ahead of Louisiana (32:31). Georgia enters Saturday ranked 48th (30:50).
Massachusetts ranks 54th in FBS in total defense (of 133 ranked), allowing 351.0 yards per game.
T.Y. Harding is one of 44 FBS players with a punt return touchdown this season (entering week 13).
The Minutemen are tied for 13th in FBS with eight turnovers lost on the season (six interceptions and two fumbles lost).
Massachusetts has held opponents to a three-for-nine mark on fourth down (.333), which ranks tied for ninth-best in FBS for fourth down defense.
According to ESPN.com, the Minutemen's remaining Strength of Schedule ranks 11th.
In the overtime loss to Liberty (Nov. 16) Gerrell Johnson tallied 10 total tackles for the second consecutive game (at Mississippi State on Nov. 2) to become the first Minuteman since the 2019 season to register 10-plus tackles in back-to-back games, joining Cole McCubrey (12 at Rutgers on Aug. 30 and vs. Southern Illinois on Sept. 7).
Seven Minutemen have combined to rush for 14 touchdowns this season, including CJ Hester (3), Taisun Phommachanh (3), Jalen John (3), Brandon Campbell (3), Jackson Paradis (1), AJ Hairston (1) and Ahmad Haston (1).
Trivia: Entering week 13 (Nov. 18 – Nov. 24), UMass is the most recent team to defeat currently 9-0 Army West Point (UMass won 21-14 on Oct. 28, 2023 at Michie Stadium).
PASS GRADE
The Massachusetts defense is holding opponents to 159.6 passing yards per game, which ranks fifth in FBS, just behind No. 4 Rice (159.2) and ahead of No. 6 Ohio State (160.1)
The Minutemen posted four pass breakups against CCSU (Sept. 21), marking their third game of the season with at least four pass breakups (also had vs. Eastern Michigan on Aug. 31 and nine at Toledo on Sept. 7).
Massachusetts has totaled 29 pass breakups on the season, led by Lake Ellis (4), Tyler Rudolph (3) and Time Grant-Randall (3).
The Minutemen also have five interceptions this season, with the most recent coming from Te'Rai Powell against Liberty (Nov. 16). It marked Powell's second interception of the season, having previously come up with his first career interception against Wagner (Oct. 26).
Isaiah Rutherford notched his first interception of the season and the second of his career at Northern Illinois (Oct. 5), while Jalen Harrell (at Miami on Sept. 28) and Ryan Barnes (vs. CCSU on Sept. 21) also recorded their first career interceptions this season. .
HARDING: ALL PURPOSE
Redshirt sophomore T.Y. Harding is emerging as an all-purpose threat for the Minutemen.
The Cambridge, Massachusetts native helped lead the Minutemen past Wagner (Oct. 26) with a receiving touchdown and 58-yard punt return touchdown that iced the game in the fourth quarter. It was the first UMass punt return touchdown since Isaiah Rodgers, currently a defensive back for the Philadelphia Eagles, returned a punt for a touchdown at Charlotte on September 14, 2019.
Harding ranks 44th in FBS in combined kick return yards this season with 304 and is one of 44 FBS players with a punt return touchdown this season.
Harding, who started the season on the scout team, now has five touchdowns including four receiving and the punt return TD.
POWER FOUR TRANSFERS FOR 2024
Massachusetts added 14 transfers into the program with previous power four experience:
Owen Anderson - Illinois
Brandon Campbell - Houston/USC
Sterling Galban - Texas Tech
Mao Glynn II - Cincinnati
Jaylen Hudson - Wake Forest
Frank Ladson Jr. - Miami/Clemson
Jaelyn Lay - Clemson
Jacob Lurie - Vanderbilt
Brandon McElroy - Arizona State
Etinosa Reuben - Georgia Tech/Clemson
Brayden Rohme - California
Benjamin Roy Jr. - UCLA
Sam Staruch - Michigan
Paul Tchio - Georgia Tech/Clemson
Additional players on the 2024 roster who previously joined from the Power Four include:
Ryan Barnes – Notre Dame
John Burton – Arizona
RJ Edwards – Arizona
Jalen Harrell – Miami
Zukudo Igwenagu – Rutgers
Shambre Jackson – Florida State
Jalen John – Arizona
Steven Ortiz – Arizona/Minnesota
Taisun Phommachanh – Clemson/Georgia Tech
Tyler Martin – Arizona
Tyler Rudolph – Penn State
Isaiah Rutherford – Notre Dame
Matt Smith – Duke
Tyson Watson – Michigan State
Jermaine Wiggins Jr. – Arizona
JULIEN ON THE LOOSE
Redshirt junior Louce Julien posted his second sack of the season and totaled three tackles for loss (for 10 yards) in the win over Wagner (Oct. 26). Julien's three tackles for loss were the most by a Minuteman since Billy Wooden had three at New Mexico State on September 23, 2023.
On the season, Julien has played all 10 games while totaling career highs in tackles (35/16 solo), tackles for loss (5.5), sacks (4.0), while also adding a quarterback hurry, a pass breakup and a forced fumble.
MINUTEMEN IN THE NFL
Former cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (2016-19) signed with the Eagles after three seasons with Indianapolis. After working back from a broken hand suffered in the preseason, Rodgers made his season debut against Tampa Bay on Sept. 29 and chipped in with a solo tackle and a blocked kick. He had four tackles against the Cowboys (Nov. 10).
Former running back Ellis Merriweather (2020-22) was elevated to the Packers' active roster from the practice squad ahead of their season opener against the Eagles in São Paulo, Brazil. It was his first career regular season game on an active NFL roster, but he did not appear in the contest.
Former long snapper Evan Deckers (2018-21) won the Tampa Bay Buccaneers job out of camp and made his season debut in week one but was placed on the IR before week five.
Former defensive back Josh Wallace (2019-22) signed with Los Angeles Rams as a free agent after he graduated from UMass and spent his final season of eligibility with Michigan (2023). He made his debut on Oct. 6 against the Packers and totaled a pair of solo tackles. He has two starts on the season and added a pass defended against the Seahawks (Nov. 3).
Former offensive lineman Elijah Wilkinson (2013-16) is on the practice squad for the Atlanta Falcons, while former wide receiver Andy Isabella (2015-18) signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad during week eight.
The NFL coaching ranks also include a lot of former Minutemen, including Tampa Bay Offensive Coordinator Liam Cohen (2004-08) and Chiefs Defensive Line Coach Joe Cullen (1986-89).
