Historic UMass Upset
UMass Stuns Rutgers with Historic Upset and Puts Coach on Hot Seat
Anonymous
Key Points
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UMass coach Joe Harasymiak, who was Rutgers’ defensive coordinator from 2022 to 2024, told his players before the game, “We’re coming here to win the game.” Afterward, he said, “Tonight, we were the better team.”
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UMass neutralized Rutgers running back Antwan Raymond, holding him to 42 yards on 14 carries with no run longer than five yards; Harasymiak said the Minutemen’s investment in their offensive and defensive lines was central to the upset.
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Rutgers paid UMass a $1.55 million guarantee to play the game, described as the second-highest such payment ever made by a college football team that went on to lose; the postgame fireworks display also proceeded despite Rutgers’ defeat.
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Rutgers’ defense allowed 251 total yards and 24 points in the first half alone, while wide receiver KJ Duff was identified as the Scarlet Knights’ lone bright spot in the loss.
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Schiano said Rutgers had about 10 players unavailable, including some significant contributors, when explaining why the defense failed to meet expectations in the opener.
UMass stunned Rutgers 37-21 at home on Saturday, ending a 16-game losing streak and delivering what Audacy called a humiliating defeat that put coach Greg Schiano firmly on the hot seat. The 29-point underdog dominated from the start, outgaining Rutgers 200-30 on the ground while recording five sacks and forcing four turnovers from quarterback Dylan Lonergan.
Schiano accepted full responsibility, saying UMass outcoached and outplayed his team. 247 Sports described the game as one of the worst losses in recent Rutgers history. The loss intensified questions about Schiano's future, with 2026 now widely viewed as a must-win season despite his roughly $18 million remaining contract.
UMass Exploited Rutgers at the Line of Scrimmage
UMass coach Joe Harasymiak, who served as Rutgers' defensive coordinator from 2022 to 2024, told his players before kickoff, "We're coming here to win the game." After the upset, he said simply, "Tonight, we were the better team." My Central Jersey reported that Harasymiak credited his team's investment in offensive and defensive line strength as central to the victory.
Rutgers running back Antwan Raymond managed just 42 yards on 14 carries with no run longer than five yards. The Scarlet Knights' defense allowed 251 total yards and 24 points in the first half alone. Boston.com noted that the game was far worse than the 16-point final score suggested.
Schiano Cites Injuries but Accepts Blame
Schiano acknowledged that Rutgers had roughly 10 players unavailable for the opener, including some significant contributors. However, he did not use those absences as an excuse. Audacy reported that Schiano said he "never saw it coming" and admitted he failed to prepare the team properly for the season.
The defensive performance raised particular concerns, as the unit appeared worse than in the prior year despite offseason overhauls. Wide receiver KJ Duff was identified as the lone bright spot in Rutgers' offense. The quarterback errors and offensive miscues prevented Rutgers from stabilizing the game's tempo.
Rutgers' Hot Seat and the Financial Reality Ahead
App.com reported that Rutgers paid UMass a $1.55 million guarantee to play the game, making it the second-highest such payment ever made by a college football team that lost. Despite the defeat, Rutgers proceeded with its pre-scheduled postgame fireworks display, adding to the surreal nature of the night.
Athletic director Keli Zinn emphasized improvement without setting a specific win target, but the loss has compressed internal decision timelines. With Schiano's $18 million remaining contract making an immediate coaching change expensive, 2026 is now framed as a must-win season for him to remain through his contract's end. The opening-week collapse has shifted scrutiny from end-of-season evaluation to immediate program accountability.
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