University of Massachusets Athletics
Thursday, September 3
Piscataway, N.J.
6 P.M.
University of Massachusetts
at
Rutgers
Massachusetts Football Opens 2026 Season At Rutgers On Thursday
August 30, 2026 | Football
Minutemen and Scarlet Knights kickoff at 6 p.m. on Big Ten Network.
| University of Massachusetts Football Game Notes & Information | |
| Game 1 | Massachusetts (0-0, 0-0 MAC) at Rutgers (0-0, 0-0 B1G) |
| Date | Time | Thursday, Sept. 3 | 6 p.m. |
| Location | Piscataway, N.J. | SHI Stadium |
| Tickets | Purchase Here |
| Series History | Rutgers leads, 3-2 Last Meeting | Aug. 30, 2019 | Piscataway, N.J. | Rutgers 48, Massachusetts 21 |
| Game Notes & Team Information | Massachusetts: Game Notes | Game Program | Record Book Rutgers: Game Notes |
| Watch | Big Ten Network |
| Listen | WHMP 101.5 FM & 1400AM App: Download The Varsity Sports Network on your mobile device |
| Live Statistics | SideArm Stats |
| @UMassFootball | |
| UMass Football | |
| UMass Football | |
AMHERST, Mass. -- The 143rd season of Massachusetts football commences on Thursday, September 3, as the Minutemen head to Rutgers for the sixth meeting between the two programs at 6 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.
SERIES HISTORY
- University of Massachusetts football heads to Rutgers for a 6 p.m. game on Thursday, September 3, at SHI Stadium (Big Ten Network).
- Massachusetts and Rutgers have met five times previously, with the Scarlet Knights winning three of the previous five matchups.
- The teams first met on November 11, 1967, with Massachusetts winning 30-7 at home.
- Legendary quarterback Greg Landry led the Minutemen throughout that 1967 season en route to the Yankee Conference Championship (finished 7-2 overall).
- UMass followed with its second win, 25-22, on October 6, 1973 at Rutgers.
- The Scarlet Knights then went on to win three straight, coming out on top 24-7 in 1976, 21-11 in 1978, and, in the most recent meeting, 48-21 in 2019.
- Season Opener: Massachusetts travels to Rutgers for Thursday night matchup on September 3 (6 p.m.).
- Home Opener: UMass hosts the Sacred Heart Pioneers on Saturday, September 12 for its home opener at McGuirk Alumni Stadium (3:30 p.m.).
- New MAC Opponent: Sacramento State appears on the 2026 schedule as the newest MAC opponent, with UMass traveling to Sacramento on Saturday, September 26.
- Back-To-Back MAC Contests: The Minutemen welcome Eastern Michigan and Miami (OH) to Amherst on October 3 and October 10 for consecutive home matchups, with the Miami game serving as Homecoming.
- 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).
- On Friday, August 29, head coach Joe Harasymiak announced the results of the team vote for captians, following practice which included Pop Watson III on offense, Timmy Hinspeter and Tyler Martin on defense, and Derek Morris on special teams.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
- UMass welcomed 56 new faces to Amherst, which includes 30 transfers and 26 freshmen.
- Of the 30 transfers, 11 previously competed for FBS programs: Andrew DePaepe (Indiana/Michigan State), William DePaepe (Indiana), Joseph Griffin Jr. (Wisconsin/Boston College), Jahmad Harmon (Ball State/Kent State), Aubrey Melvin (Connecticut), Grant Mills (Ohio State/North Carolina), Michael Robinson (Rutgers), Kamarion Thomas (North Carolina), Aitor Urionabarrenechea (Colorado State), William "Pop" Watson III (Virginia Tech) and Justin Williams-Thomas (Marshall/California/Tennessee).
- Among the freshmen class, five Minutemen are from the state of Massachusetts – Drew Alsup, Aidan Canty-Whitt, David Chiavegato, Jake McGrath and Isaiah Simmons.
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