The Massachusetts Minutemen delivered a stunning upset on Thursday night, defeating the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 37-21 in their season opener at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. The victory marked a remarkable turnaround for a program that had endured significant struggles in recent years, snapping multiple losing streaks in the process.
The result proved particularly embarrassing for Rutgers, a Big Ten Conference member that entered the matchup as a overwhelming 29.5-point favorite. The loss prompted criticism from sports insider Brett McMurphy, who questioned the Big Ten’s standing as the nation’s premier conference following the defeat. Reports later indicated that Rutgers had paid approximately $1.5 million to host the Minutemen, making the outcome even more costly for the program.
Massachusetts’ triumph represented their first victory against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent since 2023 and their initial win over a power conference team since 1978. The Minutemen had previously endured a 16-game losing streak in FBS play and went winless throughout the 2025 season. Their last victory prior to Thursday came in October 2024 against Wagner.
The upset underscored the unpredictable nature of college football’s opening week and raised questions about the Scarlet Knights’ competitive standing heading into the new season under head coach Greg Schiano.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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