Since joining the FBS in 2012, the University of Massachusetts Minutemen have gone 26-134.
From 2019 to this afternoon, UMass went 8-68, including losses to multiple FCS teams.
UMass went 1,045 days without beating an FBS team. The date was October 28, 2023.
UMass was 0-12 in 2025.
Vegas had UMass as 29.5-point underdogs.
UMass was paid $1.5 million and given 500 complimentary tickets to come to Piscataway and play.
This is a small sample of why tonight goes down as one of, if not the, worst losses in Rutgers Athletics history.
It was supposed to be the Scarlet Knights’ night. The country had its eyes on this game as it was the kickoff of week 1 and a night of nearly a dozen FBS games. They were hosting their annual “Youth Sports Knight.” Barstool Sports founder and avid gambler Dave Portnoy said the Rutgers spread was the “easiest bet of the year.” They even had a post-game fireworks show planned.
Instead, fans headed home in complete silence, shock, and disgust as fireworks went off in the background in front of a near-empty SHI Stadium.
A loss like this puts head coach Greg Schiano officially on the hot seat. Now 31-42 in his second stint, there is no doubt this is the worst loss in his career and is a complete 180 from his first tenure. Between his handling of recruitment and play calling in-game, the blame falls on his lap.
Losing 16 athletes to the transfer portal, including multiple key pieces, they brought in 15 in return, with only two coming from Power-4 programs.
They play in New Jersey, arguably one of the top high school football states in the country. Despite having multiple programs nationally ranked, according to 247 Sports, out of 25 recruits in the class of 2026, only two hailed from the Garden State.
In the offseason, they brought in Dylan Longergan from Boston College with a vision that he’d lead the offense in 2026. Last night, he had a strip sack that was recovered by UMass along with three interceptions.
The offensive line would disintegrate when the ball was snapped, leaving running back Antwan Raymond to face a sea of Minutemen. The defense made quarterback William Watson III look like a Heisman Trophy candidate.
There were times Schiano played conservatively, electing to run the ball, even in an instance when they were down multiple scores and the offensive line was getting stuffed multiple times.
Where does Rutgers go from here?
Greg Schiano is one of the most notable figures in Rutgers Football history. If the game against UMass is foreshadowing the rest of the season, there is a good chance the future does not include him.
At this point, all you can really do is hope. It is only game one, and the Scarlet Knights can use this to bounce back and get back to normal. But in reality, between the assets they brought in the offseason and performance last night, a turnaround seems like a long shot for now. Losing a game tonight can break a team mentally and morally.
Athletic Director Keli Zinn came from LSU, in the land of the SEC, where sports are prioritized over academics. Even they could not prepare her for what could be coming.
