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 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.
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