Football Heads To UConn For Friday Night Tilt

University of Massachusetts Football Game Notes & Information
Game 8	Massachusetts (4-3, 1-3 MAC) at Connecticut (3-3)
Date \| Time	Friday, Oct. 23 \| 7 p.m.
Location	East Hartford, Conn. \| Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field
Tickets	Purchase Here
Series History	Series Tied, 38-38-2 Last Meeting \| Nov. 30, 2024 \| Amherst, Mass. \| UConn 47, Massachusetts 42
Game Notes & Team Information	Massachusetts: Game Notes \| Game Program \| Record Book Connecticut: Game Notes
Watch	CBS Sports Network
Listen	WHMP 101.5 FM & 1400AM App: Download The Varsity Sports Network on your mobile device
Live Statistics	StatBroadcast
Twitter	@UMassFootball
Instagram	UMass Football
Facebook	UMass Football

AMHERST, Mass. -- Massachusetts football visits Connecticut for a Friday Night Lights matchup on October 23 at 7 p.m. at Pratt & Whitney Stadium on CBS Sports Network.

SERIES HISTORY

Massachusetts and Connecticut will be meeting for the 79th time in series history, with the series tied 38-38-2.
Marcel Shipp rushed for three touchdowns in that game to break Rene Ingoglia's single-season rushing touchdown record of 19 (Shipp ended the season with 24 rushing touchdowns).
On Nov. 20, 1999, the Minutemen claimed its 18th Atlantic 10 Conference with a emphatic 62-20 win over UConn at McGuirk Stadium in the Huskies last game as a I-AA school.
Jeff Smith hit Erik Henry on a 20-yard touchdown strike with 31 seconds left to complete a 20-point fourth quarter comeback and lead UMass to a 39-38 victory over the Huskies in the final game in Yankee conference history.
Another noteworthy game in the series came on Nov. 16, 1996, which is known as The Miracle at McGuirk.
The teams were charter members of the Yankee Conference, which was announced on Dec. 3, 1946.
Massachusetts also picked up the 100th win in school history against Connecticut, prevailing 28-0 on Oct. 2, 1920.
The first matchup of the team was on Nov. 6, 1897, with. M.A.C. winning 36-0.
Ellis Merriweather rushed for 171 yards and two touchdowns to lead UMass to that victory.
The last UMass win came in 2021 at McGuirk Alumni Stadium where the Minutemen won 27-13.
On the defensive side, Billy Wooden had 2.5 TFLs and a sack for seven yards.
Taisun Phommachanh was under center for the game, throwing for 230 yards and a touchdown to tight end Gino Campiotti.
In 2023, Massachusetts fell short against the Huskies at home.
On the defensive side of the ball, Tyler Rudolph led the team with 12 total tackles. Defensive back Arsheen Jiles also secured the only interception of the game.
The Massachusetts running back tandem of Jalen John and CJ Hester combined for 133 yards on the ground and both running backs found the endzone once in the loss.
The last time the two teams met was on Nov. 30, 2024, at McGuirk Alumni Stadium as the Huskies tied the series with a 47-42 victory.
At 78 previous meetings, Connecticut is the second most common opponent for UMass, with Rhode Island the most common opponent (87).

QUICK HITTERS

UMass is outscoring opponents 196-134 this season and the 19.1 points against per game is second in the MAC (34th nationally).
Edward Phillipson is averaging 45.6 yards per punt to lead the MAC (12th nationally).
Derek Morris enters week eight as one of four FBS kickers with at least four 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 (4), Derek Morris (4).
Pop Watson III, who was forced to miss the Miami (OH) and Buffalo games with a lower body injury, has a .740 completion percentage on the season to rank first in the MAC and fourth nationally.
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 eight, T.Y. Harding remains the only FBS player with a receiving touchdown, a rushing touchdown and a punt return touchdown this season.
In four MAC games, the UMass pass defense efficiency leads the league with a 102.63 mark.
The Minutemen are also giving up 3.57 tackles for loss per game to lead the MAC and tie for 18th nationally.
UMass is giving up 1.29 sacks per game to rank second in the MAC and tied for 35th nationally.
In total defense (307.9 yards against per game), UMass ranks first in the MAC and 30th nationally.
As a team, the Minutemen's completion percentage of 67.7% leads the MAC and ranks 28th nationally.
The 90.0 conversion percentage is third in the MAC and tied for tied for 33rd nationally.
Massachusetts is 18-for-20 in red zone trips this season, recording 10 rushing TDs, two passing TDs and adding six field goals in those 20 trips.

REMAINING SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

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).
Regular Season Finale: UMass then closes out the regular season with a Saturday game at Bowling Green on November 28 (noon).

THE BALL

The Minutemen lead the MAC and are tied for 10th in the FBS with 13 turnovers gained this season on seven interceptions and six fumble recoveries.
Jahmad Harmon's three interceptions rank first in the MAC and tied for eighth in the country (one of 32 players with at least three interceptions this season).
UMass' seven interceptions lead the MAC and are tied for 17th in the country.
The six fumble recoveries lead the MAC and are tied for 10th in the country.
Massachusetts leads the MAC and ranks tied for 11th in the FBS with a +1.00 average turnover margin.

Scoreboard

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Players Mentioned

Gino Campiotti

T.Y. Harding

Jahmad Harmon

Jalen John

Derek Morris

Edward Phillipson

Taisun Phommachanh

Tyler Rudolph

Billy Wooden