University of Massachusets Athletics
Football Earns Season’s First Pop-Tarts Bowl Crazy Good Team Of The Week Honor
September 08, 2026 | Football
DALLAS – The University of Massachusetts football team has been named the Pop-Tarts Bowl Crazy Good Team of the Week as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.
After trailing 7-0 early, the Minutemen scored 30 straight points to take a 30-7 lead, on the way to a big 37-21 season-opening win at Rutgers last Thursday in front of 42,454 fans at SHI Stadium.
Senior quarterback William "Pop" Watson III shined in his UMass debut, finishing 19-of-22 for 197 yards and three touchdowns, connecting with eight different receivers. Joseph Griffin Jr. led the team with 61 receiving yards on two catches, including a 31-yard touchdown reception. T.Y. Harding had five catches for 55 yards, while Elijah Faulkner tallied two touchdown receptions.
As a team, UMass rushed for 200 yards on the ground, as Curtis Kimmons IV finished with 78 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown. Faulkner had a game-high 19 carries for 62 yards.
Defensively, Jahmad Harmon had two interceptions, with Isaiah Reed recording a pick as well. Romando Johnson forced a fumble and Timmy Hinspeter led the team with nine tackles.
Junior kicker Derek Morris contributed three field goals, including connecting on 52-yard attempt.
The victory marked the first at Massachusetts for head coach Joe Harasymiak, who served as the Rutgers' defensive coordinator from 2022-24.
Massachusetts, now the 108th different program to earn this honor from the FWAA.
The FWAA has recognized a National Team of the Week since the 2022 season. Weekly candidates are evaluated by the FWAA All-America Committee with supporting data analysis from the Iron Football app.
Each honored team will receive a delivery of assorted Pop-Tarts and a custom-crafted game ball from Big Game USA, the Dallas-based manufacturer of handcrafted American-made footballs.
Florida Citrus Sports is a not-for-profit event-management organization dedicated to positively impacting the Orlando region while enhancing the quality of life in Central Florida through world-class events. Its annual events include the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, the Pop-Tarts Bowl, the Florida Blue Florida Classic, the Camping World Kickoff and the FC Series. For more information, visit FloridaCitrusSports.com.
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of approximately 1,100 men and women who cover college football. Its membership includes journalists, broadcasters, publicists and key executives involved in the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com.
After trailing 7-0 early, the Minutemen scored 30 straight points to take a 30-7 lead, on the way to a big 37-21 season-opening win at Rutgers last Thursday in front of 42,454 fans at SHI Stadium.
Senior quarterback William "Pop" Watson III shined in his UMass debut, finishing 19-of-22 for 197 yards and three touchdowns, connecting with eight different receivers. Joseph Griffin Jr. led the team with 61 receiving yards on two catches, including a 31-yard touchdown reception. T.Y. Harding had five catches for 55 yards, while Elijah Faulkner tallied two touchdown receptions.
As a team, UMass rushed for 200 yards on the ground, as Curtis Kimmons IV finished with 78 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown. Faulkner had a game-high 19 carries for 62 yards.
Defensively, Jahmad Harmon had two interceptions, with Isaiah Reed recording a pick as well. Romando Johnson forced a fumble and Timmy Hinspeter led the team with nine tackles.
Junior kicker Derek Morris contributed three field goals, including connecting on 52-yard attempt.
The victory marked the first at Massachusetts for head coach Joe Harasymiak, who served as the Rutgers' defensive coordinator from 2022-24.
Massachusetts, now the 108th different program to earn this honor from the FWAA.
The FWAA has recognized a National Team of the Week since the 2022 season. Weekly candidates are evaluated by the FWAA All-America Committee with supporting data analysis from the Iron Football app.
Each honored team will receive a delivery of assorted Pop-Tarts and a custom-crafted game ball from Big Game USA, the Dallas-based manufacturer of handcrafted American-made footballs.
Florida Citrus Sports is a not-for-profit event-management organization dedicated to positively impacting the Orlando region while enhancing the quality of life in Central Florida through world-class events. Its annual events include the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, the Pop-Tarts Bowl, the Florida Blue Florida Classic, the Camping World Kickoff and the FC Series. For more information, visit FloridaCitrusSports.com.
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of approximately 1,100 men and women who cover college football. Its membership includes journalists, broadcasters, publicists and key executives involved in the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com.
Players Mentioned
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CB
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