University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
4-4 , 1-3
UConn
4-3 , 0-0
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 16 |
| UConn | 7 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
October 23, 2026 | Football
Curtis Kimmons IV recorded the first receiving touchdown of his career early in the fourth quarter.
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – University of Massachusetts football fell, 35-16, to Connecticut on Friday night at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field (32,106).
UMass falls to 4-4 on the season, while UConn improves to 4-3.
William "Pop" Watson III started at quarterback after missing the previous two games. Watson III finished 22-for-38 for 205 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for 11 yards on seven carries. Logan Inagawa entered the game with 2:53 remaining in the fourth quarter, completing four-of-six passes for 45 yards.
Curtis Kimmons IV had five catches for 33 receiving yards and a touchdown, which marked the first receiving touchdown of his career. Joseph Griffin Jr., led the team in receiving yards with 77 on four catches.
On the defensive side, Kendall Bournes finished with a team-high eight tackles, including seven solo. Timmy Hinspeter followed with seven tackles, including three solo. The defense came up with five sacks for a loss of 15 yards, as Hinspeter, Justin Krueger, Aubrey Melvin, William dePaepe and TJ Magee each had one. Magee led the team in tackles for loss with 1.5, while the defense as a whole totaled seven TFLs. Additionally, Isaiah Reed recorded a team-high three pass breakups, while Zeraun Daniel had one.
How It Happened
Massachusetts put together a 13-play, 69-yard field goal drive to open the game, highlighted by a William "Pop" Watson III connecting with Drew Alsup for a 23-yard pass over the middle to move into UConn territory. Max Dowling had a reception for 12 yards to convert on a third down and get the Minutemen within field goal range. The drive was capped by a 24-yard Derek Morris field goal at the 7:03 mark.
UConn then took the lead, 7-3, on its first drive of the game with a five-yard touchdown pass from Kalieb Osborne to Shamar Porter with 1:13 left on the clock in the first quarter.
Justin Krueger sacked the Osborne on a third-and-six to force a three-and-out for the Huskies, giving the Minutemen the ball back at 12:20 of the second quarter but the Minutemen were then forced to punt as well.
Isaiah Reed broke up a UConn pass on a fourth-and-seven at midfield to get the ball back for UMass, but was forced to punt from its own 30.
On UConn's next drive, William DePaepe sacked Osborne for a loss of three yards on the third down, forcing the Huskies to punt on the fourth-and-11.
After a three-and-out for the Minutemen, UConn started its next drive from the UMass 45. A 20-yard pass from Osborne to JD Willoughby pushed the Huskies ahead, 14-3 at 1:40 of the second.
The Huskies scored on a 70-yard rush up the middle from Cyncir Bowers to pull ahead, 21-3, with 1:13 remaining in the first half.
In the third quarter, Massachusetts was forced to punt from its own 24-yard line, which was blocked by UConn's Porter. Porter recovered the ball in the endzone to make it a 28-3 contest at the 6:44 mark.
Later in the third, the Huskies attempted a 47-yard field goal that went wide left after Isaiah Reed broke up a pass on a third-and-six.
A six-play, 71-yard drive for UMass after the missed field goal ended with a seven-yard pass from Watson III to Curtis Kimmons IV. The Minutemen attempted a two-point conversion but was unsuccessful with the score standing 28-9 in favor of UConn.
A quarterback keeper for 13 yards from Osborne aided the Huskies to a 35-9 lead with 3:04 remaining in the game.
Logan Inagawa entered the game for the Minutemen with 2:53 left in the fourth. Inagawa connected with Kezion Dia-Johnson for seven yards on a fourth-and-two, before Matt Ogunniyi caught a 20-yard pass from Inagawa for the first down. Justin Williams-Thomas rushed left for a six-yard touchdown, as Morris' extra point was good for 35-16 at 1:11 in the fourth quarter.
Notes
- Timmy Hinspeter, Tyler Martin, Michael Pangaro and William "Pop" Watson III served as the UMass game captains.
- William "Pop" Watson III returned to start at quarterback for the Minutemen after missing the previous two games with an injury.
- Freshman wide receiver Drew Alsup's 23-yard catch in the first quarter was the longest of his career.
- Curtin Kimmons IV's touchdown catch early in the fourth quarter was his first TD catch of the season/at the FBS level (also has four rushing touchdowns this season).
- Justin Williams-Thomas recorded his first rushing touchdown as a Minuteman (third of his career) with a six-yard run late in the fourth quarter.
Next Up
- The Minutemen return home for a midweek #MACtion night game against Ball State on Wednesday, November 4 (kickoff time and TV coverage to be announced on Monday, October 26).
- It will be the program's annual Salute to Service game presented by the Massachusetts Army National Guard.
- For ticket information, click here.
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
UMA 3, UCN 0
UMA - Morris,Derek 24 yd field goal 13 plays, 69 yards, TOP 07:57
UMA 3, UCN 7
UCN - Porter,Shamar 5 yd pass from Osborne,Kalieb (O'Connor,Jack kick) 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:50
UMA 3, UCN 14
UCN - Willoughby,JD 20 yd pass from Osborne,Kalieb (O'Connor,Jack kick) 4 plays, 45 yards, TOP 01:07
UMA 3, UCN 21
UCN - Bowers,Cyncir 70 yd run (O'Connor,Jack kick), 1 plays, 70 yards, TOP 00:12
UMA 3, UCN 28
UCN - Porter,Shamar 0 yd punt return (O'Connor,Jack kick)
UMA 9, UCN 28
UMA - Kimmons IV,Curtis 7 yd pass from Watson III,William () 6 plays, 71 yards, TOP 02:41
UMA 9, UCN 35
UCN - Osborne,Kalieb 13 yd run (O'Connor,Jack kick), 9 plays, 41 yards, TOP 05:05
UMA 16, UCN 35
UMA - Williams-Thomas,Justin 6 yd run (Morris,Derek kick), 9 plays, 57 yards, TOP 01:48
