University of Massachusets Athletics
Massachusetts Football Welcomes Eastern Michigan On Saturday For Family Weekend & Band Day
September 28, 2026 | Football
Minutemen and Eagles kickoff at 3:30 p.m. at McGuirk Alumni Stadium.
| University of Massachusetts Football Game Notes & Information | |
| Game 5 | Massachusetts (4-0, 1-0 MAC) vs. Eastern Michigan (2-3, 1-0 MAC) |
| Date | Time | Saturday, Oct. 3 | 3:30 p.m. |
| Location | Amherst, Mass. | McGuirk Alumni Day |
| Tickets | Purchase Here |
| Series History | Eastern Michigan leads, 4-2 Last Meeting | Aug. 31, 2024 | Amherst, Mass. | Eastern Michigan 28, Massachusetts 14 |
| Game Notes & Team Information | Massachusetts: Game Notes | Game Program | Record Book Eastern Michigan: 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 welcomes Eastern Michigan to McGuirk Alumni Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 3, for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff for Family Weekend and Band Day. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
There are limited tickets still available for the game, which will be part of the University's Family Weekend – click here for ticket information.
SERIES HISTORY
- Massachusetts and Eastern Michigan will be meeting for the seventh time on Saturday, with the Eagles holding a 4-2 series lead.
- Shadrach Abrokwah rushed for a career-high 135 yards and four touchdowns. UMass finished with 562 yards of total offense, recorded four sacks.
- In the first meeting in series history, the Minutemen posted a 36-14 win on Oct. 18, 2014, at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
- In that win, UMass ran for 330 yards including 200 rushing yards in the first half and Marquis Young led all rushers with 168 yards on 32 carries, and he scored UMass' first touchdown of the afternoon.
- Prior to the 2021 meeting, the teams played on November 14, 2015, when Massachusetts posted a 28-17 win in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
- In 2021, Eastern Michigan earned a 42-28 victory at McGuirk Alumni Stadium. Ellis Merriweather posted his first career 100-yard rushing game in that contest (142 yards on 23 carries).
- The teams also played a close game at Rynearson Stadium in 2022, with EMU coming out on top 20-13. UMass quarterback Gino Campiotti rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns while adding 87 yards passing on 8-for-18.
- In 2023 at Rynearson Stadium, UMass scored with 2:42 left in the fourth quarter to take a 17-13 lead, but EMU answered with a touchdown with 1:20 remaining and held on to win 19-17.
- During that 2024 meeting, UMass made it a 14-7 game in the second half, but was unable to get any closer, while quarterback Taisun Phommachanh was 20-for-30 with 177 yards through the air and led UMass in rushing with 57 yards.
- The teams last met on August 31, 2024, when Eastern Michigan won, 28-14, at McGuirk Alumni Stadium and the other meetings occurred during the 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons.
- It will mark the fourth trip for Eastern Michigan to Amherst, and only the second as Mid-American Conference foes.
QUICK HITTERS
- Massachusetts has started a season 4-0 for the first time since opening 2007 with wins over Holy Cross, Colgate, Towson and Maine (first time in FBS era).
- 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 five, T.Y. Harding is the only FBS player with a receiving touchdown, a rushing touchdown and a punt return touchdown this season.
- UMass' 29.80 yards per punt return ranks second in the FBS (Illinois is first at 30.67).
- In total defense (283.3 yards against per game), UMass ranks first in the MAC and ranks 31st nationally.
- The UMass rushing defense ranks first in the MAC and 10th in the country (74.8 rushing yards against per game).
- UMass' third down defense ranks first in the MAC and tied with Virginia Tech for 14th in the country at 0.273 (opponents are 15-for-55 on third down).
- The Minutemen are one of 19 FBS teams still perfect for the season in red zone conversion rate and the only team from the MAC.
- Massachusetts is 14-for-14 in red zone trips this season, recording seven rushing TDs, two passing TDs and adding five field goals in those 14 trips.
- UMass is outscoring opponents 145-51 this season.
- A total of 22 FBS teams enter week five without a loss, while UMass is one of four undefeated Group of Six teams along with USF, North Dakota State and James Madison.
- 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.
REMAINING SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
- 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).
- The Minutemen rank third in the FBS with 11 turnovers gained this season on six interceptions and five fumble recoveries, trailing only New Mexico State (14) and UCLA (12).
- Massachusetts ranks second in the FBS with a +2.50 average turnover margin, trailing only New Mexico (3.50).
- UMass is one of 20 teams nationally without a fumble lost this season and the only MAC team.
- The five fumble recoveries are tied for third in the country and trail only Notre Dame (6) and Georgia (6).
- UMass' six interceptions lead the MAC and are tied for fifth in the country.
- Jahmad Harmon's three interceptions rank tied for second in the country (one of 11 players with at least three interceptions this season).
- UMass' one interception thrown this season ranks tied for 14th nationally and is tied with Western Michigan for the top mark in the MAC.
BUILT TO PROTECT
- The Minutemen offensive line features 16 players weighing 300-plus pounds and includes 10 players listed at 6-foot-5 or taller.
- The offensive line as a whole averages 315 pounds and 6-foot-5.
- Brock Taylor and Aitor Urionabarrenechea weigh in at 350 pounds as the heaviest offensive lineman, while Ben Noome is the tallest offensive lineman at 6-foot-9.
- Entering week five, the Minutemen are yielding 0.75 sacks per game, which ranks third in the MAC and is tied for 13th nationally, while the UMass rushing offense (194.8 yards per game) leads the MAC and ranks 35th nationally.
Players Mentioned
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Saturday, October 03
Saturday, October 03
Monday, September 28