Rutgers plans to host UMass in season opener

Rutgers opens the season against UMass at SHI Stadium, a matchup shaped by UMass’s leadership under former Rutgers defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak, whose staff includes multiple Rutgers alumni and who brings intimate knowledge of Rutgers’ schemes. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano says Harasymiak will have his team prepared and notes a strategic ‘battle’ between his staff and Rutgers’ own offensive plan as both sides leverage familiarity with the other. UMass struggled to a winless 0-12 season in 2025 and is led by quarterback Pop Watson with receivers such as Joseph Griffin Jr. and T.Y. Harding, while the Minutemen seek to exploit Rutgers’s recent defensive overhaul. Rutgers is expected to unveil a sharper defense under new coordinator Travis Johansen and to have clarity at quarterback with Dylan Lonergan winning the starting job, supported by a backfield featuring Antwan Raymond and KJ Duff as primary playmakers. The week-one showdown also centers on how quickly Lonergan can process reads and release the ball, as Rutgers looks to translate offseason changes into success in the Big Ten. Multiple analysis pieces frame the opener as a test of Rutgers’s revamped units and UMass’s ability to pull off an upset, with coaches emphasizing preparation and adaptation for the early-season clash.