University of Massachusets Athletics
Saturday, September 26
Sacramento, Calif.
9 P.M.
University of Massachusetts
at
Sacramento State
Massachusetts Football Heads To Sacramento State For MAC Opener On Saturday
September 21, 2026 | Football
Minutemen and Hornets meet for the first time at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
| University of Massachusetts Football Game Notes & Information | |
| Game 3 | Massachusetts (3-0, 0-0 MAC) at Sacramento State (1-3, 0-1 MAC) |
| Date | Time | Saturday, Sept. 26 | 9 p.m. ET |
| Location | Sacramento, Calif. | Hornet Stadium |
| Tickets | Purchase Here |
| Series History | First Meeting |
| Game Notes & Team Information | Massachusetts: Game Notes | Game Program | Record Book Sacramento State: 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 Sacramento, California, for its Mid-American Conference opener against Sacramento State on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m., PDT on ESPN+.
SERIES HISTORY
- Saturday's game between the two newest additions to the Mid-American Conference will mark the first meeting between UMass and Sacramento State.
- The matchup will be the last of three consecutive first-time matchups, including the Sacred Heart and Stonehill games as well.
- It will also be the first time the Minutemen play in the state of California.
- The only previous matchup against a team from California took place on December 9, 1972, when UMass defeated UC Davis 35-14 in the Boardwalk Bowl (Atlantic City, New Jersey).
QUICK HITTERS
- Massachusetts has started a season with a 3-0 record for the first time since 2007.
- Jahmad Harmon's three interceptions rank tied for second in the country (one of seven players with at least three interceptions this season).
- Pop Watson III's 175.9, passing efficiency ranks first in the MAC and 25th in the country and his 11.84 yards per pass completion ranks third in the MAC.
- In total defense (270.0 yards against per game), UMass ranks first in the MAC and tied for 27th nationally.
- The UMass rushing defense ranks first in the MAC and 10th in the country (65.7 rushing yards against per game).
- Massachusetts is 11-for-11 in red zone trips this season (five rushing TDs, one passing TD, five field goals).
- UMass' five interceptions this season lead the MAC and are tied for fifth in the country.
- The Minutemen are one of 27 teams nationally without a fumble lost this season and the only MAC team.
- With eight turnovers gained (five interceptions and three fumble recoveries), the Minutemen rank first in the MAC and tied for fourth nationally with Notre Dame.
- UMass' third down defense ranks first in the MAC and tied with Oklahoma for fifth in the country at 0.225 (opponents are 9-for-40 on third down).
- 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 four, T.Y. Harding is the only FBS player with a receiving touchdown, a rushing touchdown and a punt return touchdown this season.
- UMass is outscoring opponents 110-45 this season.
- The Minutemen are the only undefeated team in the MAC as well as the only undefeated FBS team in New England/New York and New Jersey (35 FBS teams enter the week without a loss).
REMAINING SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
- 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).
- UMass is now 3-0 to start the season for the first time since 2007.
- Massachusetts scored 30 or more points in three consecutive games for the first time since 2018: Sept. 22 vs. Charlotte (W, 49-31), Sept. 29 at Ohio (L, 58-42) and Oct. 6 vs. USF (L, 58-42).
- JC Clark grabbed his first career interception with a minute left in the third quarter.
- The Minutemen held the Skyhawks to just 27 yards rushing, the second time in three games allowing just 27 yards to an opponent. Saturday against
- UMass held Stonehill to just 82 yards of offense over the final three quarters.
- Andrew DePaepe's second-quarter pass breakup was the first of his career.
- It is also the longest field goal by any player (UMass or opponent) at McGuirk, which includes Morris' 53-yarder from last season and a 53-yard field goal from Chris Freeman of UConn in 2014.
- His 55-yard field goal is the longest field goal at McGuirk Alumni Stadium by a UMass player, besting Morris' 53-yarder last season vs. Bryant (Sept. 6, 2025).
- Derek Morris connected on a 55-yard field goal attempt at the 1:38 mark of the first quarter, tying his own school record from last season at Akron (Nov. 4, 2025).
- Harding now has a punt return, receiving and rushing touchdown over the last two games.
- UMass had a 50+ yard touchdown run and reception in the same game for the first time since last Oct. 18 against Buffalo.
- Those marked season long rushing and receiving touchdowns by the Minutemen this season.
- Harding also had a 51-yard receiving touchdown in the fourth quarter.
- Harding's first-quarter 56-yard rushing touchdown marked his first career rushing score and the longest rush of his career (he entered the day with 29 career yards on the ground).
- DePaepe added a sack on the first play of the second quarter, the second of his career and first in a UMass uniform.
- William DePaepe's first-quarter forced fumble was the first of his career.
- The Minutemen posted back-to-back home wins for the first time since beating Georgia Southern and Appalachian State on Oct. 21-28, 2017.
MORRIS ON THE MARK
- Junior kicker Derek Morris has had an impressive start to the 2026 season.
- 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).
- 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.
- Entering week four, Morris ranks first in the MAC and is tied for third in the country with 2.33 field goals made per game.
- Morris enters the week as one of four FBS kickers with at least two field goals of at least 50 yards this season, joining Manaki Watanabe (Fresno State), Malik Orsan (South Carolina) and Canaan Moore (Boise State).
Players Mentioned
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