UMass opened its season with a 37-21 road win over Rutgers, ending a 16-game losing streak against FBS opponents and delivering its first FBS victory since beating Army in 2023.
Nearly 30-point underdog UMass took control early, building a 24-7 halftime lead and never letting Rutgers mount a serious comeback.
Jahmad Harmon helped seal it with two fourth-quarter interceptions of Dylan Lonergan, part of a three-pick night for the Minutemen; after one return, he collided with a woman on the sideline.
The result was billed as the biggest outright college football upset in five years at +2400 and UMass's first win over a current power-conference opponent since 1978.