Rutgers suffers shocking 37-21 loss to winless UMass in season opener

Rutgers opened its 2026 campaign as overwhelming favorites, with betting lines giving the Scarlet Knights a 29.5-point edge over UMass, a team that had failed to win a game the previous season and had not recorded a victory since October 2024. The Minutemen exploded early, putting up 30 straight points while Rutgers’ defense struggled, and the score reached 30-14 late in the third quarter. UMass added another touchdown to seal a 37-21 victory.

The loss is the worst suffered by Greg Schiano since he resumed head-coaching duties in 2020, snapping Rutgers’ run of non-conference successes that had lasted since 2019. Earlier seasons had seen wins over teams like Ohio and Virginia Tech, and notable performances such as a win over Michigan in 2020 and a Pinstripe Bowl triumph in 2023. Rutgers now travels to face Boston College next week, hoping to reverse the momentum.