r/UConnFootball • u/SimpleAmusings • 3d ago
This would-be automatic win for UConn football team might not be so automatic after all
https://www.courant.com/2026/09/04/umass-ends-its-16-game-losing-streak-with-a-37-21-win-over-rutgers/Remember that automatic “W” you circled on the challenging UConn football schedule when it came out?
You know? That Friday nighter on Oct. 23 home to UMass.
You may want to circle that in pencil.
That’s because the Minutemen opened their season on Thursday night with a stunningly dominant 37-21 win at Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J. So much for the Big Ten’s Scarlet Knights scheduling a patsy to open the season.
The win not only ended a 16-game losing streak, it ended the longest current losing streak in the FBS. The Minutemen’s last win against an FBS school was against Army in 2023.
But that’s just the tip of the UMass iceberg of futility. Since 2019 the Minutemen are 10-76, now 11-76, with two winless seasons and three one-win seasons. The Huskies’ New England rivals to the north have been one of the worst programs in FBS in recent years.
But Thursday’s performance may signal a change is coming. Quarterback William “Pop” Watson III (remember that name UConn fans) passed for 197 yards and three touchdowns in the win.
Watson, a transfer from Virginia Tech, connected with Elijah Faulkner on two touchdowns and Joseph Griffin Jr. for one touchdown as UMass built a 24-7 halftime lead. It was the Minutemen’s first halftime lead against a power conference school since leading Mississippi State in 2017.
Curtis Kimmons IV added a 17-yard TD run to push the UMass lead to 37-14 late in the fourth quarter.
Watson effectively scattered his 18 completions among seven UMass receivers. The transfer from Virginia Tech was equally comfortable throwing and running the ball primarily out of the shotgun. He picked up 40 yards on six carries, leading UMass to scores in seven of its 10 drives.
The Minutemen have remade the majority of a team that was among the worst in FBS in 2025, averaging 11.1 points per game, the lowest in the country. UMass features 56 new players, which include 30 transfers and 26 freshmen. Watson is reunited with his former Springfield (Mass.) Central High School wide receiver Griffin Jr., a transfer from Boston College.
Prior to becoming the UMass coach, Joe Harasymiak served as Rutgers’ defensive coordinator from 2022-24. He grew up in Waldwick, New Jersey, about 40 miles from the Rutgers campus. Harasymiak had a handful of family and friends at SHI Stadium to witness the biggest win the Minutemen recorded since joining the FBS in 2012.
“I think probably the most special part about it is, my mom, my dad are here (Piscataway), and my two brothers,” said Harasymiak. “I just face-timed my wife and my kids, they’re at home. So certainly, growing up here, an hour away, working here for Coach (Greg) Schiano, it means a lot, but I’m just really proud about our team and what we did.”
UMass will look to move to 2-0 against Sacred Heart on Sept. 12.
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u/SimpleAmusings 3d ago
couldnt tell if Rutgers was absolutely dismal or that UMass was good based on the high light clips.
but, it seems highly unlikely that UMass is good all of a sudden. we will have to see how they fare as the season progresses - the same applies to Rutgers as well.
however, if UMass can beat a Big10 team, then So can we!!
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u/OpusJ 3d ago
I’m happy for UMass but Rutgers is a scandal. Isn’t the real issue why the Big10 took them and the ACC took Syracuse, Pitt and BC and not UConn? Maybe the SEC invites them. There’s no longer 2 divisions, UConn football is on the rise, Bball is best and they deliver ratings and crowds. Go Huskies!!!