UMass Football News--May 11th, 2026

 College Football News does a detailed preview of the 2026 Minutemen and predicts a 2-10 season.

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The MAC Conference blog "By the Belt" explores the possibility of two MAC teams playing in Toronto. 

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 FBS Schedules.com has more on the new MAC-affiliated Puerto Rico Bowl.

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A 24-game college football playoff gains momentum. 

This would be wonderful for UMass. A 24 team playoff would include all conference champions. That would mean the MAC conference (and UMass) would directly receive some of the huge amount of revenue the playoffs generate.

In addition, win the MAC conference and go to the college football playoffs! That's a goal that would make any team (and their fans) scalps tingle.

The MAC champion would probably be rated one of the lower ranked teams in the playoff, which in turn mean a game against the top of the rankings like Alabama or Ohio State. That would be an awesome trip. In following UMass, I've been to Penn State, Kansas State, Michigan and Texas Tech. Visiting another big time program would be great.

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UMass Football News--May 9th, 2026

 If you missed the WMUA interview with Thorr Bjorn it's well worth your time to watch.

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The MAC conferece blog "By the Belt" has a couple of interesting articles.

They interview new Kent state coach Mark Carney. Mrs Blog and I went to the Kent State game in 2025 and believe me their facilities are in no way superior to UMass'. If they can win games, so can we.

The MAC conference will participate in the new Puerto Rico Bowl. 

Note: the Bahamas Bowl is defunct. The last edition was played on January 4, 2025 (Buffalo vs. Liberty).

For 2026 the MAC will have the following opportunities. 

Primary/direct:Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl (vs. Mountain West)
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (vs. Mountain West)

Secondary/shared (MAC gets spots based on availability, geography, and rankings):68 Ventures Bowl (vs. Sun Belt)
Boca Raton Bowl (Group of 6 pool)
Cure Bowl (Group of 6)
Frisco Bowl (Group of 6)
Salute to Veterans Bowl (vs. Sun Belt or others)
Myrtle Beach Bowl (shared)
Others like New Mexico Bowl or Puerto Rico Bowl as needed. 

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CBS Sports looks at the 2026 CFP and all of 2026 bowls.

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UMass Football Recruiting 2028--Riley Selvais

 

Hudl.com image

Riley Selvais, a 6-0 190 pound WR from St. John's Prep in Danvers, MA has a UMass offer

247Sports page here. 

Hudl.com has video highlights. 

This article from December 2025 features Selvais. 

Selvais has a Power Four offer from Purdue. UMass and Georgia State have offered from Group-of-Five. He could get an excellent education and play in front of friends and family with the new look Minuteman offense in Amherst. 

UMass Football Recruiting 2027--Tylek Lewis

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 Tylek Lewis, a 6-0 210 pound RB from Zachary, LA has a UMass offer

247Sports three-star player. 

Hudl.com has video highlights. 

Averaged 9.7 yards/carry in 2025. 

Lewis has 14+ offers. Arkansas, Arizona, Northwestern and West Virginia have offered from Power Four. UConn, Tulsa, Tulane and many more have offered from Group-of-Five. Lewis could get a quality East Coast education and see early playing time in Amherst with the Minutemen. 

UMass Football Recruiting 2027--Moreno Fisher

 

247Sports image

Moreno Fischer, a 6-7 275 OT from Charlotte, North Carolina, has a UMass offer.

247Sports three-star player. 

Hudl.com has video highlights. 

All-Conference last year. 

Bsides UMass, Fisher has an offer from Toledo in the MAC. North Carolina has offered from Power Four. Local FBS teams East Carolina, Charlotte,  Coastal Carolina and Liberty have offered from the Group-of-Five. Fischer could get a quality Northeast education and play FBS football with the resurgent Minuteman offense.

UMass Football Recruiting 2027--Chase Clark

 

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Chase Clark, 6-4 280 pound OL from Mount Carrmel HS in Chicago, IL has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here. 

Hudl.com has video. 

Clark is a three-star recruit. He has offers from Miami (Ohio), Northern Illinois and Ohio from the MAC. Liberty, Delaware and Missouri State have also offered. He's an athletic big man and could find a home and lots of playing time in Amherst. 

UMass Football Recruiting 2027--Isaac Oberting

Hudl.com image

 Isaac Oberting, a 6-4 223 pound DE/TE from Lakeville, CT has a UMass offer.

 Hudl.com has video. 

MaxPreps has stats. 

Oberting has 15 total offers. Syracuse has offered from the ACC. Coastal Carolina, Temple and Bowling Green have offered from the Group-of-Five. In addition, most of the Ivies have offered from FCS.

Oberting could get a high quality education and play FBS football as well with the new Minuteman offense.