UMass kicked off Week 1 of college football with an absolute shocker on Thursday night, dominating Rutgers 37-21 on the road! This wasn’t just some regular win; it was their first victory since October 2024, and their first against an FBS opponent since way back in 1978 against Boston College. Remember, these are the Minutemen who went 0-12 last year. Seriously, this team hadn’t won a season opener since 2023. Wild.
The Minutemen Came Out Swinging, And No One Saw It Coming
Rutgers was a massive 29.5 point favorite going into this game. Let that sink in. They even paid UMass $1.55 million to play on their home turf, only to watch them get dismantled. After a 7-7 tie heading into the second quarter, UMass just hit another gear. They absolutely shut down Rutgers, holding them scoreless in the entire second quarter while dropping 17 points of their own. Halftime score: UMass up 24-7. They kept rolling in the third quarter with another score while Rutgers just struggled to put anything together. Yeah, the Scarlet Knights tried a late fourth quarter push with two touchdowns, but it was way too little, too late. UMass didn’t score more than 21 points against any FBS opponent all last season, and they just dropped 37 on Rutgers. What a statement!
Their offense looked legit too. Quarterback William “Pop” Watson III was dialed in, going 19-for-22 passing for 197 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Curtis Kimmons IV added 78 rushing yards and one score. Wide receiver Elijah Faulkner grabbed two touchdowns, and Joseph Griffin Jr. added another. This wasn’t a fluke; they earned this one.
Rutgers’ Nightmare Start Just Got Real
Man, this is a rough look for Rutgers. After their first touchdown in the first quarter, their offense just evaporated. Quarterback Dylan Longeran had a brutal night, finishing 16-for-40 passing for 240 yards, two touchdowns, but also *four* interceptions. Oof. Wide receiver KJ Duff did manage to grab three touchdowns and 196 receiving yards, but it clearly wasn’t enough to overcome the overall struggles.
Now Rutgers starts the season 0-1 for the first time since 2016, when they dropped their Week 1 opener to Washington. Coming off a 5-7 season, this is just a terrible way to kick things off, especially with Big Ten competition only two weeks away. Next up, they’ve got to hit the road for Week 2 against Boston College. Then they open Big Ten play at home against No. 14 USC. Talk about a brutal gauntlet for a team that just got absolutely stunned at home! They better figure things out fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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