UMass just pulled off one of the most stunning upsets college football has seen in years, beating Rutgers 37-21 on Thursday night to kick off the 2026 season. Think about it: the Minutemen walked into SHI Stadium as a staggering 28.5-point underdog according to FanDuel Sportsbook. That’s not just a win, that’s a statement, and nobody expected it.
The Streak Is DEAD, Long Live the Minutemen!
This wasn’t just any win for UMass. This was a *streak-snapping* victory. Before Thursday night, their last W was way back in October 2024. That’s a brutal 16-game losing streak, folks. To not only end that kind of pain but to do it against a team they were supposed to get absolutely clobbered by? That’s the stuff of legends. Rutgers got on the board first with a touchdown on their opening possession, but UMass was having none of it. They fired right back, finding the end zone on each of their first three drives. William Watson III, man, what a performance! He threw a sick 31-yard touchdown pass to Joseph Griffin Jr. that shot them out to a 21-7 lead. By halftime, it was 24-7. What a start!
Watson III and the Defense Shut It Down
William Watson III was absolutely cooking all night. He went 19 for 22 passing for 197 yards and THREE touchdowns with ZERO interceptions. Seriously, not a single pick. He even added 40 yards on the ground from six carries. But it wasn’t just the QB show. Curtis Kimmons IV chipped in with 78 rushing yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, and Elijah Faulkner added 62 yards on 19 carries. Joseph Griffin Jr. only had two catches but made one count for that huge 61-yard touchdown. T.Y. Harding grabbed five balls for 55 yards, and Dallas Elliott had three for 26.
While the UMass offense slowed a bit in the second half, head coach Joe Harasymiak’s defense absolutely stepped up. Rutgers ended with 349 total yards, but they committed FOUR turnovers and converted a pathetic three of 11 third-down opportunities. UMass, on the other hand, racked up 397 yards of offense and, get this, didn’t turn the ball over once! Rutgers tried to make a comeback, cutting the deficit to 16 points with just over four minutes left. But UMass snatched an interception and then dropped another touchdown. Ballgame.
After going 0-12 in 2025, UMass is now 1-0 to start 2026. What a turnaround! They get a chance to build on this insane momentum next week. You know they’ll be riding high after pulling off this stunner. What a way to kick off the season!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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