Just three hours into Week 1, college football provided one of the most shocking results of the weekend -- and maybe the entire season. After going 0-12 last season, UMass went on the road and hammered Rutgers in a 37-21 win on Thursday. With that victory, the Minutemen snapped a 16-game losing streak against FBS teams, which was the longest in the country.
The last time UMass defeated an FBS program was Oct. 28, 2023, when it beat Army 21-14. The most satisfying part of this win for UMass was that it certainly wasn't a fluke. The Minutemen were just as good as the scoreboard indicated and dominated the Scarlet Knights right from the opening kickoff.
UMass scored on each of its first four drives, and it didn't punt until there were 100 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Even though Rutgers isn't a top 25 powerhouse, this was still a highly improbable outcome. The Scarlet Knights entered the game as 29.5-point favorites, and history suggested that they should have been a lock to win this game.
Here are some of the most mind-blowing stats from this miraculous Minutemen win. UMass earned this victory with a strong effort in every phase of the game, and there are plenty of reasons to believe that the Minutemen will be able to pile up even more wins as the season progresses. UMass quarterback Pop Watson spent the last three seasons at Virginia Tech, but he was never able to break through as the starter.
That prompted his transfer to UMass in the offseason, and he's already making the most of his opportunity with the Minutemen. A three-star recruit and the No. 44 quarterback in the 2023 signing class, Watson showed exactly why a number of Power Four programs offered him coming out of Springfield Central High School (Mass.). Watson made plays with his arm and legs as Rutgers struggled to contain him, particularly in the first half.
Watson began the game on fire, and he was a major reason why UMass found the end zone on each of its first three drives. Watson's elusiveness gave the Scarlet Knights fits, but he also threw a couple of perfectly placed balls, and the best of which might have been this touchdown strike to Joseph Griffin Jr. CATCH. 🤯Make that 21-7 Minutemen in the second! @Joegogetit2 | @UMassFootball | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/XZanbaCoCe With UMass up multiple scores throughout the second half, Watson didn't need to do much, but his final numbers were still exceptional.
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