2026 MAC Football Week 8 Game Preview: UMass Minutemen at UConn Huskies

The "UGame" between UConn and UMass has not seen stakes like this for both teams since their days in the Atlantic 10 Conference, when both were FCS members.

Both teams are fighting for bowl eligibility, with UConn at 3-3 and UMass at 4-3 (1-3 MAC). Fittingly, one of the Northeast's last remaining FBS rivalries receives a rare Friday night spotlight on CBS Sports Network. The winner will find itself on a better trajectory to make a bowl and possibly position itself as a Lambert Trophy frontrunner for the best New England-based football program.

Safe to say this is the most important UMass-UConn game in decades.

Game notes

• Date and Time: Friday, October 23rd, 2026 at 7 p.m. Eastern time
• Location: Pratt & Whitney Stadium in Hartford, Connecticut
• TV options: The game will air on CBS Sports Network. A valid cable subscription is required for viewing.
• Streaming options: The game will be available with applicable subscription-based cable/satellite streaming options.
• UMass radio options: Jay Burnham (play-by-play) and Matt Goldstein (color) will provide the UMass call for 101.5 WHMP-FM.
• Gambling Considerations: UConn is a 14.5-point favorite and the over/under is 50.5
• Series History: The series is tied 38-38-2. UConn won the last meeting 47-42 in 2024.

UMass Outlook

Pop Watson III looks likely to be back for UMass after a two-game absence due to an ankle injruy. UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak lists Watson as a game-time decision, while Pete Thamel of ESPN reports he will be "expected to play."

Watson's injury directly impacted the trajectory of the season for the Minutemen; while under center, UMass averaged

After averaging 31.5 points per game with Watson in their first five games, they dropped to 18.5 in the two games he missed. The run game struggled the most in his absence, as the Minutemen averaged 143 non-sack rushing yards in its two games without Watson, after averaging 181 in their first five contests.

If Watson (720 passing yards, 167 rushing yards, 11 total touchdowns) cannot go, then the Minutemen will turn to Logan Inagawa again. Inagawa performed well for most of the Buffalo game, passing for 168 yards and rushing for 87 non-sack rushing yards.

Curtis Kimmons IV (301 yards, four TDs) and Elijah Faulkner (361 yards, one TD) lead the run game for UMass. Faulkner handled most of the load last week against Buffalo, running 23 times for 84 yards, while Kimmons IV had just one carry.

After missing both TY Harding (28 receptions, 327 yards, two TDs) and Joe Griffin Jr. (eight rec., 134 yards, TD), Kezion Dia-Johnson and Jabari Lewis have emerged as top targets. Dia-Johnson led the Minutemen with five receptions for 79 yards against Buffalo last week, while Jabari Lewis has caught 14 of his 18 passes for the season over the last three weeks. At tight end, Max Dowling (14 rec., 111 yards, three TDs) remains a reliable short-passing game threat.

Timmy Hinspeter continues to lead the defense at linebacker with 64 tackles. He had 13 stops last week against Bowling Green. UMass' defensive line continues to have incredible depth. Nine different players have at least one sack. However, William Depaepe, who leads the team in sacks (two) has not played since September 26th.

The secondary is arguably the strength of this defense, but it will have its hands full against a UConn passing game averaging 256 yards per game. TJ Magee leads the team with seven pass breakups and disrupted Buffalo's passing game last week. Magee broke up three Bull passes and intercepted his first pass of the season.

Isaiah Reed joins him to form one of the most feared cornerback tandems in college football. Reed has six pass breakups and an interception on the year. Jahmad Harmon leads the Minutemen with three interceptions. Safeties Kendall Bournes (43 tackles, 2nd on the team) and Zeraun Daniel (36 tackles, fourth on the team) are trusted tacklers in space.

Edward Phillipson is averaging 45.6 yards per punt and has placed 13 of his 26 kicks inside the 20. Derek Morris is a Groza Award candidate, with four field goals made from over 50 yards. He is 10 for 15 on the season. The return game has been lackluster for UMass. In T.Y. Harding's absence, the Minutemen have returned two punts for one yard. Kick returns have not been much better; the Minutemen average 17.9 yards per return.

UConn Outlook

Toledo transer Kalieb Osborne has followed the great Joe Fagnano well so far. He has thrown for 1,421 yards and 10 touchdowns to just two interceptions. He is also UConn's second-leading rusher with 270 yards (365 before sacks).

Cyncir Bowers is an efficient back, averaging nearly seven yards per carry and leading the team with 433 yards this year. Bowers should excel against UMass after the Minutemen allowed UB's Messiah Burch to run for 172 yards last week. A pair of former MAC transfers also help carry the load in Trey Cornist (228 yards, 6.2 yards per carry) and Kenji Christian (192 yards, 5.1 yards per carry).

Although there is no clear-cut #1 receiver like last year for UConn with Skylar Bell, the Huskies have a well-rounded receiving corps. Four receivers have at least 190 receiving yards. Shamar Porter is the leader with 235 yards and a dangerous deep threat averaging 21 yards per catch.

On defense, linebackers Pegg Hayden and K'Von Sherman lead the team in tackles with 40. Sherman has eight tackles for loss this year and be disruptive against a UMass offensive line that has allowed three sacks each of the last two weeks.

Safety Braedyn Moore anchors the secondary with 34 tackles and an interception. Saxton Suchanic (five PBUs) and Renick Dorilas (three PBUs) have also been solid.

Tommy Warner handles punting duties with a 43-yard average on 22 kicks. Four of his kicks have gone over 50 yards. Kicker Jack O'Conner has attempted only six kicks and made four. Julian Allen is an exciting punt returner averaging 12.5 yards on six returns, with a long of 49. Four different Huskies have returned kicks for a combined average of 22.2 yards.

Game outlook

Pop Watson is the biggest factor in this game.

If he is able to play, UMass’ offense immediately becomes more balanced. If not, the Minutemen face significant challenges against a tough UConn defense. I am basing my prediction on Watson playing.

With Watson, I believe UMass makes this a closer game, but ultimately falls short due to UConn’s incredibly balanced offense.

Final score: UConn 31, UMass 28