Big Ten Program Drops Stunning Season-Opening Loss to 29.5-Point Underdog
A Big Ten football team began the 2026 season with a shocking 37-21 home loss to a MAC program on Thursday night.
In a shocking opening to the 2026 college football season, Rutgers faced a 37-21 home defeat to UMass, a 29.5-point underdog. This upset marked the Minutemen's first victory over an FBS school since 2023 and ended a 16-game losing streak for the Tigers. UMass dominated the game with 200 rushing yards, while limiting Rutgers to only 30.
Quarterback William Pop Watson III delivered a nearly flawless performance, completing 19 of 22 passes for 197 yards and three touchdowns, sharing the ball with eight different receivers. Watson's efficiency set a new record for UMass, as he became the first quarterback in program history to throw three touchdowns with an 80% completion rate or higher since 2008.
The victory was particularly significant for UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak, a New Jersey native who had served as Rutgers' defensive coordinator from 2022 to 2024. Harasymiak was joined by his family at the Piscataway stadium, including his parents and two brothers, adding emotional weight to the historic win. Rutgers' quarterback Dylan Lonergan, on the other hand, had a disastrous debut, throwing three interceptions and losing a fumble.
The new defense allowed an average of 6.0 yards per play and failed to force a punt until late in the third quarter, as head coach Greg Schiano acknowledged that his team "got out-licked, out-played and out-coached."
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