UMass enters a Bowl rights agreement with ESPN making UMass eligible for selection to eight bowls owned by the network.
This is big news people. Back in 2019 I looked at the various bowls and exactly one bowl had an "at large" slot. Half of that bowl and all the other bowls were contractually obligated to various leagues. So UMass, if eligible, had to complete for one open slot in the entire FBS universe---a virtual impossibly. Even if the Minutemen went 8-4 in 2019, it is likely they would not have received a bid.
With no league championship and no bowl affiliations, UMass was playing for pride their whole season.
Now, UMass has a goal. Go 6-6 and their is a chance for a bowl bid. Go 7-5 or more and it's certainty.
In addition, if Brown can get us to some bowls, it will help us in seeking a conference affiliation. With several of the Power Five leagues going to 9 conference games, it may be more difficult to get pay games in the future. A league will greatly simplify scheduling and provide a peer group to compete in.
This is second only to Brown's return in good news.
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The UMass website has a video with coach Steve Casula about the UMass quarterbacks.
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The Tulane game notes are up including the Minutemen depth chart.
The depth chart looks pretty accurate. On defense, I think most of the two-deep will get reps under Brown's packages defense. The chart makes sense as far as we know. For example, it lists Jalen Mackie as the #1 MIKE linebacker. He's a FCS All-American and only has one year of eligibility. Why bring him in if he's not going to play?
On offense, again things look as expected. At QB I think they'll give several QB's a chance to move the offense.
Only three true freshmen on the two-deep. That's a big change from the last three years.
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The UMass Daily Collegian looks at what to expect from UMass' first game.
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Click on Detroit looks a the landing places of ex-Michigan players including two at UMass.
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College Football News previews the Tulane-UMass game and predicts Green Wave 45 Minutemen 17.
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The Tulane Hullabaloo looks at Tulane's prospects for 2022.
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The Analyst previews this weekend's FCS games and predicts Rhode Island over Stony Brook. The Sea Wolves took Rhody to overtime last year.
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