University of Massachusets Athletics
Saturday, October 17
Buffalo, N.Y.
1 p.m.
University of Massachusetts
at
Buffalo
Massachusetts Football Prepares For Flagship Cup Matchup At Buffalo
October 13, 2026 | Football
Minutemen and Bulls kickoff at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
| University of Massachusetts Football Game Notes & Information | |
| Game 7 | Massachusetts (4-2, 1-2 MAC) at Buffalo (3-3, 1-1 MAC) | Flagship Cup |
| Date | Time | Saturday, Oct. 17 | 1 p.m. |
| Location | Buffalo, N.Y. | Broadview Stadium |
| Tickets | Purchase Here |
| Series History | Buffalo leads, 10-6 Last Meeting | Oct. 18, 2025 | Amherst, Mass. | Buffalo 28, Massachusetts 21 |
| Game Notes & Team Information | Massachusetts: Game Notes | Game Program | Record Book Buffalo: Game Notes |
| Watch | ESPN+ |
| Listen | WHMP 101.5 FM & 1400AM App: Download The Varsity Sports Network on your mobile device |
| Live Statistics | StatBroadcast |
| @UMassFootball | |
| UMass Football | |
| UMass Football | |
AMHERST, Mass. -- Massachusetts football heads to Buffalo, New York, for the Flagship Cup matchup against Buffalo on Saturday, October 17, at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
SERIES HISTORY
- In a series that dates to 1964, Massachusetts and Buffalo have met 16 times with the Bulls holding the all-time series edge, 10-6.
- The first meeting between the two teams came on Oct. 3, 1964 when the Minutemen posted a 24-22 road win as part of an 8-1 regular season record that propelled the team to a Tangerine Bowl berth.
- In 1998 against the Bulls, Marcel Shipp tied for the ninth-most all-purpose yards with 282.
- In the UMass records book, Justin Reimer tied for the single-game record with 15 solo tackles against Buffalo in 1995, while the Minutemen also tied their single-game high with 11 sacks.
- Then freshman Marquis Young paced the Minutemen with 240 rushing yards on 35 carries and added three touchdowns in that win.
- Massachusetts' last win in the series came on November 27, 2015 when the Minutemen posted a 31-26 win at UB Stadium in Amherst, New York to end the season.
- Tyler Martin tied for the team lead with 12 tackles in that narrow defeat.
- With the Minutemen leading 21-20, Jeremiah McGill intercepted a pass with 59 seconds left in regulation but after a three-and-out, the Bulls were able to get the ball back and scored what proved to be the winning touchdown with 21 seconds to play.
- Last season, in the first installment as with the Flagship Cup presented by Milton CAT on the line, the Bulls edged UMass 28-21 at McGuirk Alumni Stadium.
- With the University of Massachusetts returning to the Mid-American Conference, the Flagship Cup was established in October 2025 as the official name for the annual football rivalry between UMass and the University at Buffalo.
- The trophy is presented to the annual winner to hold until the following year's matchup, and a co-branded series logo debuted with the launch.
- The name reflects both schools' status as the flagship public research universities of their respective states.
- Milton CAT was named presenting sponsor for three years, building on its existing partnerships with both athletic departments.
QUICK HITTERS
- UMass is outscoring opponents 178-109 this season and the 18.2 points against per game leads the MAC (31st nationally).
- Watson III, who was forced to miss the Miami (OH) game with a lower body injury, has a .740 completion percentage on the season to rank first in the MAC and fourth nationally.
- Harding is averaging 94.17 all-purpose yards per game to lead the MAC.
- Last season, nine FBS players accomplished the feat over the entire 2025 season, including Paul Hornung Award winner KC Concepcion (Texas A&M).
- Entering week seven, T.Y. Harding remains the only FBS player with a receiving touchdown, a rushing touchdown and a punt return touchdown this season.
- Max Dowling has recorded a touchdown grab in each of the last three games (at Sacramento State, vs. Eastern Michigan and vs. Miami (OH)), to become the first UMass player with touchdown catches in three straight games since Andy Isabella in 2018.
- The Minutemen are also giving up 3.17 tackles for loss per game to lead the MAC and tie for 14th nationally.
- UMass is giving up 1.0 sacks per game to rank second in the MAC and tied for 17th nationally.
- UMass' 29.80 yards per punt return ranks leads the FBS (149 yards on five punt returns this season).
- In total defense (300.7 yards against per game), UMass ranks first in the MAC and 27th nationally.
- The UMass rushing defense ranks second in the MAC and 32nd in the country (109.3 rushing yards against per game).
- As a team, the Minutemen's completion percentage of 69.8% leads the MAC and ranks 16th nationally.
- The 94.1 conversion percentage is third in the MAC and tied for tied for 17th nationally.
- Massachusetts is 16-for-17 in red zone trips this season, recording eight rushing TDs, two passing TDs and adding six field goals in those 17 trips.
REMAINING SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
- Flagship Cup: Buffalo and UMass play the second installment of their Flagship Cup rivalry game Presented by Milton CAT on October 17 in Buffalo, New York.
- Rivalry Renewed: UConn is back on the schedule for a Friday night showdown on Oct. 23 at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut.
- Midweek MACtion: Massachusetts competes in MACtion with three Wednesday conference games – vs. Ball State (Nov. 4), at Toledo (Nov. 11) and vs. Akron (Nov. 18).
- Junior kicker Derek Morris has had an impressive start to the 2026 season.
- Morris enters week seven as one of four FBS kickers with at least three field goals of at least 50 yards this season: David Olano of Texas A&M (4), Blake Craig of Missouri (4), Manaki Watanabe of Fresno State (3), Derek Morris (3).
- Entering week seven, Morris ranks first in the MAC and is tied for 25th in the country with 1.50 field goals made per game.
- Then against Miami (OH) on October 10, Morris set the program record with a 56-yard field goal.
- Against Stonehill, he hit a 55-yard field goal to tie his own program record (set last season at Akron) and set the McGuirk Alumni Stadium mark.
- Morris helped lead UMass to the 37-21 win at Big Ten foe Rutgers, going 3-for-3 on field goal attempts and 4-for-4 on extra points to account for 13 points in the win en route to being named a Lou Groza Star of the Week (Sept. 9).
Players Mentioned
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