UMass ends 16-game skid with win over Rutgers

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Pop Watson III passed for 197 yards and three touchdowns as UMass ended a 16-game losing streak with a 37-21 win over Rutgers in the season-opener for both teams on Thursday night. It ended the longest current losing streak in the FBS. The Minutemen's last win against an FBS school was against Army in 2023. Watson 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. KJ Duff, an AP All-America second-team wide receiver caught three TD passes for Rutgers. UMass' 16-point victory is the largest win by a 29+ point underdog since Texas State defeated Houston 30-13 in Week 1 on Sept. 1, 2012 in Texas State's first game as an FBS program, according to ESPN Research. Texas State was a 35-point underdog entering that game. "We got out-licked, out played and out-coached," Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. "There is no other way to say it. I didn't have them ready." 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. Rutgers continued its defensive woes from last season where it allowed at least 30 points in eight of its 12 games. New quarterback Dylan Lonergan had mixed results in his Rutgers debut. He passed for 242 yards and two touchdowns but threw four interceptions and lost a fumble. Schiano said he was lifted in favor of AJ Surace in the fourth quarter due to an undisclosed injury. Prior to becoming 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," Harasymiak said. "I just FaceTimed 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." The Associated Press contributed to this report.