2026 MAC Football Week 1 Game Preview: UMass Minutemen at Rutgers Scarlet Knights

UMass enters its second year in the MAC hoping to improve upon its disastrous 0-12 2025 season. The Minutemen will not have an easy task, facing a Rutgers team that is a consistent bowl threat in the Big Ten. Still, the Scarlet Knights offer a glimpse of the future holds for UMass.

UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak served on Greg Schiano’s staff at Rutgers from 2022-2024. He played an integral part in Rutgers’ transformation from Big Ten laughingstock to consistent bowl contender. A look across the sideline is a reminder that such a metamorphosis is possible in Amherst.

A competitive showing goes a long way to giving UMass fans hope they have desperately needed over the last 14 years. Not to mention, the Minutemen have not beaten a Power conference team since long before the term existed in 1978, when it beat Boston College.

Game Notes

• Date and Time: Thursday, Sept. 3rd, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time
• Location: SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey
• Network: Big Ten Network
• Streaming options: The game will be available via the Fox Sports App. A valid subscription is required for viewing. Other applicable cable/satellite streaming services are also available with a valid subscription. Other streaming carriers include Sling, DirecTV Stream, fuboTV, Hulu Live TV, or YouTube TV.
• UMass radio:  Jay Burnham (play-by-play) and Matt Goldstein (color) will provide the Akron call for 101.5 WHMP-FM.
• Gambling Considerations: Rutgers is a 29.5-point home favorite, with an over/under set at around 51.5 to 52.5, depending on site, per Covers.
• All-Time Series: Rutgers leads the series, with a 3-2 record. The teams last played in 2019, with Rutgers taking a 48-21 win to break the series tie.

Rutgers outlook

Naturally, as with most of Greg Schiano’s teams, the running back is the focal point. Antwan Raymond returns after running for 1241 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Scarlet Knights. Raymond is also an adept pass catcher, averaging 13 yards per catch on 18 receptions.

The quarterback position was the biggest question of the offseason for Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights lost 3,000-yard passer Athan Kaliakmanis. Kaliakmanis was not only Rutgers’ first 3,000-yard passer since Mike Teel in 2008, but also their first drafted quarterback since Teel.

Boston College transfer Dylan Lonergan will open the year as the Scarlet Knights’ starter. Although Boston College struggled to a 2-10 record in 2025, Lonergan showed flashes of brilliance throughout the year. He had three games with over 300 passing yards, including 390-yard and 362-yard games against Michigan State and Georgia Tech.

K.J. Duff, a 2026 Biletnikoff Award watchlister, will once again be the top target, after catching 60 passes for 1,084 yards and seven scores.

An experienced offensive line rounds out the offense. Rutgers returns players with starting experience on all five positions on the line. 

Like several programs, Rutgers is a completely new unit on defense. The defense will start either transfers or unproven players who have stuck around the program for multiple years at most positions. Safety Kaj Sanders is the lone returning starter, notching 64 tackles and a pass breakup last season.

Former Toledo star Malachi Davis (5.5 sacks and 9.5 TFLs in 2025) joins with Tulsa transfer J'Dan Burnett (6.5 sacks and 9.5 TFLs) to try to improve a pass rush that mustered just 11 sacks last year.

Two transfer linebackers look to be the lifeblood of Rutgers' 4-2-5. Ty Morris comes to Piscataway from Rice, while Sean Allison transfers from Drake.

Despite the perceived talent disadvantage, UMass can take advantage of the lack of chemistry on the Scarlet Knights' defense. 

UMass Outlook

William “Pop” Watson III will man the quarterback position for the Minutemen. Watson started three games for Virginia Tech in 2024, including the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against Minnesota. He showed his high potential in that year’s Commonwealth Cup against Virginia with 254 passing yards and 48 rushing yards.

While Jordan Washington should get most of the carries at running back, coach Harasymiak was impressed with Elijah Faulkner’s efforts this Summer. Washington ran for 340 yards last year and caught 22 passes for 205 yards at Murray State. Faulkner returns for his second year at UMass after running for 114 yards last year.

The return of T.Y. Harding is one of the most anticipated storylines for the Minuteman offense. Harding missed most of 2025 after averaging nearly 20 yards per catch on 19 receptions in 2024. He is also an effective returner, notching 109 punt return yards and 276 kick return yards in 2024. A tight end room featuring experienced targets in Max Dowling (20 receptions for 199 yards), Reece Adkins (nine receptions for 133 yards), and Jax Markovic (seven receptions for 38 yards) will augment Harding in the passing game.

The offensive line matches well with a Rutgers squad that struggled to get to the quarterback last year. Last season, UMass allowed 34 sacks, while Rutgers tallied just 11. Peyton Miller, Jaxon King, and Brock Taylor lead this group after seeing significant playing time in 2025.

UMass’ defense will probably have to keep the Minutemen in the game, while the revamped offense works out some kinks early. Luckily, the defense returns a wealth of experience in the linebacking corps and secondary. Tyler Martin returns after making 104 tackles. Timmy Hinspeter provides even more stability for a defense after making 69 tackles in an injury-shortened 2025.

The safeties are the strong suit of the secondary. Kendall Bournes and Zeraun Daniel return as starters. The defensive line and cornerbacks are the biggest uncertainty for UMass, but a plethora of transfers will see playing time at both positions Thursday.

Game Outlook 

UMass seems to have new energy, led by Pop Watson’s confidence. The Minutemen catch Rutgers at a good time, particularly on defense, when the Scarlet Knights have a lot of unanswered questions from its mostly refurbished unit.

Still, while UMass should hang around early, Rutgers remains well-coached under Greg Schiano and should wear UMass down as the game progresses. The Minutemen should lose by a few scores, but will look respectable in doing so.

Score Prediction: Rutgers 38, UMass 17