Image courtesy of UMass Athletics  AMHERST – UMass is no longer the worst college football team in the country. At least for now. The road to redemption after an 0-12 campaign officially started on Monday morning with the first training camp practice of the summer for the Minutemen. Following practice, second-year head coach Joe Harasymiak met with the media. Here’s everything he had to say: Opening statement “Good to have…

Images courtesy of UMass Athletics UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak, new face-of-the-program Pop Watson and veteran leader Tyler Martin were in Detroit on Wednesday for MAC Media Day. Here’s everything they had to say while on set. The entire MAC Media Day is available in the replay section of ESPN+ HARASYMIAK  On the messaging about turning things around in 2026 “I think the biggest thing that we’ve kind of taken…

On Wednesday, UMass fans learned four different kickoff times for games in 2026, with networks begging to slowly reveal their TV coverage plans. The Minutemen’s season opener will start at 6:00 p.m. against Rutgers on Thursday, September 3 and the game will air nationally on the Big Ten Network. On November 4 (a Wednesday night), Ball State visits McGuirk Stadium for a 7:00 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. kickoff. That MACtion…

By Ryan Barry NEFJ Correspondent AMHERST – A cool spring afternoon at McGuirk Alumni Stadium was the setting for the 2026 UMass Football Spring Game in Amherst, Massachusetts. Unlike last year’s event that featured a Team Maroon vs. Team White format, this year was a lot simpler with four quarters, a running clock, and an offensive vs. defensive unit without points. Across 13 total drives, fans saw four touchdowns and…

While the offense and defense certainly deserved plenty of criticism for the year UMass had in 2025, special teams is of course part of that too. Special teams often flies under the radar during seasons like that because there are so many other problems much bigger than the execution of the kick off, punt and field goal units. But, the lack of a return and coverage game, along with just…

Image courtesy of UMass Athletics  The UMass offense can’t get any worse or anemic than it was last year. So, new offensive coordinator Max Warner is starting with a relatively low bar. Warner should have plenty to work with this season, particularly with the hometown QB-WR duo of Pop Watson and Joe Griffin Jr. now on board. Following spring practice on Tuesday morning, Warner spoke to the media for the…

Following practice on Thursday, former Springfield Central star and most-likely starting UMass quarterback William ‘Pop’ Watson spoke to the media. This was the first time Watson has spoken in this setting since his decision to return home after a couple of not-so-great seasons at Virginia Tech. Last week following the first spring practice, head coach Joe Harasymiak spoke highly of his relationship with Watson already, noting that the two are…