UMass Stuns Rutgers 37-21 in Season-Opening Upset

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — In a stunning upset to open the 2026 college football season, the UMass Minutemen defeated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 37-21 at SHI Stadium Thursday night, shocking the Big Ten faithful and raising immediate questions about the direction of the Rutgers program.

Quarterback Lonergan (No. 12) and the Scarlet Knights offense struggled to generate consistent momentum against a UMass defense that played with far more intensity than expected. Despite the home crowd and the Big Ten platform — with the game broadcast live on the Big Ten Network — Rutgers was unable to overcome the Minutemen's 16-point margin of victory.

UMass, a member of the MAC conference, came into the game as a significant underdog but played with confidence and physicality throughout, building a lead that Rutgers was never able to overcome.

The loss is a significant blow to Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano and his program as they attempt to compete in the brutally tough Big Ten Conference. Losing a home opener to a MAC program is sure to turn up the heat on the coaching staff and roster heading into a brutal Big Ten schedule that includes matchups with USC, Indiana, Michigan, Penn State, and Wisconsin.

Rutgers will look to bounce back on September 12 when they travel to face Boston College.