UMass Football News--June 6th, 2026

 

UMass ledgend Rene Ingoglia named to the 2026 College football Hall-of-Fame ballot.

2026 full ballot here. 

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The MAC blog "By-the-Belt" explores the proposed College Sports Act.

BTB also looks at the TV broadcast history of four MAC teams. 

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Athlon Sports predicts the 2026 MAC conference. 

The Athlon Sports 2026 college football magazine is out. 

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The official 2026-2027 college football bowl and playoff schedule is out. 

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UMass Football News--May 2nd, 2026

 The Minuteman Command has a Spring recap by Christian McCollum and Rene Ingoglia.

It's well worth listening to. It has some interesting details. I think the Minutemen have significantly increased their talent level from last year. However, I have been worried about the OL and the running backs. Christian and Rene think UMass is good in those two rooms. 

Generally, if you can run the ball, you've got a good looking offense and a good looking quarterback. Expecting Pop Watson the jump start the passing game and then also do a dual-threat thing is asking a lot. Being able to run the ball will make it easier on him and help the passing game too.

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ESPN has a good, detailed preview of the MAC conference for 2026.  They pick us last, of course, but we deserve that until we play better.

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New conference foe Sacramento State wraps up Spring Ball.

The Hornets' write-up on their Spring practice. 

UMass is one of the four MAC teams that have to make the trek to Sacramento, the others are Ohio, Kent State and Toledo. 

It will be interesting to see how the new-look UMass team does against ex-FCS Sacramento. It could give us an early indication on how 2026 is going to go for the 2026 season.

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The MAC blog "By the Belt" has a post on three MAC players drafted by the CFL, which includes Keegan Andrews. 

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UMass Football News--August 12th, 2025

 The Minuteman Command talks with UMass OC Mike Bajakian.

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The Democrat looks back at Bishop Kearney football and has extensive coverage of Rene Ingoglia.

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Hustle Belt previews  2025 opponent Kent State. The Golden Flashes do not have a permanent head coach or defensive coordinator..

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Toledo receives 13 votes in the AP preseason Top-25 voting. The Rockets went 4-4 in the MAC last year but beat two Power Four teams, both on the road.

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Sports Information Services places UMass' Benjamin Roy on the 1st team preseason offensive All-MAC team.

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UMass Football News--July 31st 2025

 

Yesterday was the first day of Fall Camp. 

Video of Coach Harasymiak taking questions after the first practice. 

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The Hampshire Gazette has a post on the opening of Fall camp. 

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Mike Corey and Rene Ingoglia have  Episode #15 of the Flagship Podcast.

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The UMass at Iowa game on September 6th is sold out. 

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Temple, UMass' opening opponent, also started Fall camp yesterday. 

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UMass Football News--June 12th, 2025

 Episode # 8 of the Flagship Podcast is up. Christian McCollum fills in for Rene Ingoglia this week.

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College Football,News previews the 2025 UMass team and predicts 2.5 wins.

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Hustle Belt has the House vs NCAA settlement from a MAC point of view. 

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Athlon Sports previews the 2025 MAC conference and predicts UMass 12th in the 13-team league. 

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Hawkeyes Wire looks at 2025 Power Four opponent Iowa. 

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Paul Finebaum thinks the new NIL structure leaves mid-major teams "with no chance of success". 

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North Carolina basketball will pay its NIL roster a "staggering" amount of money in 2025. 

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UMass Football News--May 1st, 2025

 The Minuteman Command has episode #2 of the Flagship podcast as Mike Corey and Rene Ingoglia look at Minuteman sports.

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UMass football adds two staff positions concerned with recruiting. 

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Hustle Belt has a MAC free agent tracker. 

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Kent State fired coach Kenni Burns after an investigation and an interim coach will serve for the entire 2025 season.

Looks like another tough year for the Golden Flashes.

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UMass Football News--April 24th, 2025

 Episode #1 of the Flagship podcast is up. Mike Corey and Rene Ingoglia talk about the state of UMass football and the prospects for 2025. It's worth listening to. 

They're pretty optimistic. They think six wins in 2025 is doable. I think that's a stretch. Four or five wins would be a good start to our MAC career. We never won more than three times in the MAC (Mark Whipple 2014: Kent State, Eastern Michigan and Ball State).

I do agree with a number of their points. The performance center, the press box and the bubble are as good as anything in the MAC.

The big positive in my opinion is the MAC conference schedule and media money attached. The MAC signed a ten year media package that runs out in 2027. MACtion has been a ratings success and I think the next media package will be much improved. Besides the media money the conference gets some revenue from bowl appearances and UMass will share in the that (1/2 share in the first year). 

Right now in college football it's all about the money.

The other big improvement will be a regular conference schedule. No more playing three Power Four teams in the same year. The 2026 and 2027 schedules are significantly easier than this year. 

If we were to get six wins this year and a bowl bid, it would be real sea change for the program and UMass sports. 

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The Minuteman Command also has an interview with TE coach Matt Layman. 

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UMass Football News--June 4th, 2024

 College Football News previews the 2024 Minutemen and predicts 3.5 wins.

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 Rene Ingoglia named to the 2025 College Football Hall-of-Fame ballot.

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I think UConn has a decent chance at a bowl game in 2024. Scheduling really helps and the Huskies have a great slate this year.

First, UConn plays seven home games. In addition, the Huskies play SIX of them in a row (something I don't think anyone else in college football does).

Last year UMass played three conference champions (MAC, AAC and CUSA). The Minutemen will likely play three more in 2024 (AAC, MAC and SEC).

UConn's home schedule:

• Wagner- September 7th
  
• Florida Atlantic- September 21st (4-8 in 2023)
• Buffalo- September 28th (3-9 in 2023)
• Temple -October 5th (3-9 in 2023)
  
• Wake Forest-October 19th (4-8 in 2023)
  
• Rice-October 26th (7-6 in 2023)
• Georgia State-November 2nd  (7-6 in 2023)
  

The Huskies also play:

• Away-UAB (4-8 in 2023)
  
• Away-UMass (3-9 in 2023)

Not a conference champion in the pack. UConn will play six sub-.500 teams and two more that were one win over .500.

The Huskies could upset Wake at home and might have a chance against Syracuse (the Orange fired Dino Barbers last year as they went 7-6). Anyway, eight very winnable games in 2024 and UConn should get at least six wins.

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UMass Football News--March 2nd, 2024

 

The UMass Midnight Ride Collective and the UMass Collective (basketball) release a joint statement embracing the move to the MAC and are moving forward.

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UMass basketball coach Frank Martin on his Twitter feed:

2 years ago “change” chose me, today WE chose change. Either way we should always be excited when there is change, because growth follows. The future is exciting. We are UMass.

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The Hampshire Gazette has an interview with UMass legend and ESPN broadcaster Rene Ingoglia on the move to the MAC.

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For 2024, the NCAA proposes allowing helmet communication, a two-minute timeout before the end of halfes and more. 

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UMass Football News --Groundhog Day 2024

 As yesterday was the first day of the Spring semester, UMass announced the 2024 transfers. 

UMass press release covering the 19 transfers and 3 walk-ons joining Minutemen football. 

The Hampshire Gazette has a post on the transfers joining UMass football.

Probably more to come after schools hold Spring ball.

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Also UMass announced the 2024 Spring schedule with practices starting March 28th. The Spring game will be April 27th.

Former UMass stars Adam Breneman and Rene Ingoglia may attend.

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Some potential candidates for the vacant Boston College HC.

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UMass Football News--June 16th, 2023

 Mike Traini of "Fight Massachusetts" has a post on the eight players who will attend this weekend's first 2023 OV event.

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UMass legend Rene Ingoglia predicts the Minutemen will be playing for bowl eligibility in November.

I really respect Rene's opinion. Anything more than a couple of wins will be balm to the battered psyche's of UMass fans. Let's hope he's right. The November 25th game with UConn would be like old times if there is something actually in play.

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Brandon Collier with Hugo Klages and Magnus Von Saldern.

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Penn State announces tickets for the Nittany Lions-Minutemen game will start at $60. 

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UMass Football News--June 7th, 2023

 How about the Big 12 striking back at the Big Ten and the SEC by building a basketball super conference?

If the Big 12 invites UConn, how about inviting North Carolina (the ACC is going to break up anyway) and then invite Gonzaga and Creighton as basketball only members.

Apparently, the Big 12 is already thinking of Gonzaga. 

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UMass-Army on  October 28th will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network.

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The New England Football Journal reports the 2023 TV schedule for UMass, UConn and BC is taking shape.

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Former UMass star Rene Ingoglia is on the 2023 college football Hall-of-Fame ballot.

Rene should be in the Hall-of-Fame.

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Former UMass star CB Isaiah Rogers is facing NFL gambling violations.

Jeeze Isaiah, all that work to get there..

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UMass Football News--November 9th, 2021

 

Above is a video presentation by the Athletic Dept with A.D. Ryan Bamford about the coaching change. Worth watching.

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The on-line New England Football show has Rene Ingoglia and discusses the changes at UMass

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The Hampshire Gazette has  a post on A.D. Bamford's thoughts on the change and the hiring process.

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UnderDog Dynasty has some potential coaches that could be considered for the UMass job. 

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Predictably, the coaching change has caused the anti-football zealots  to poke their heads out of their holes. I'm not going to link to any of them because I'm tired of the we-can't-do-it-so-we-should-quit types.  

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UMass Football News--Jult 17th, 2021

 UMass Sports legend Rene Ingoglia signs for another year of college football announcing for ESPN.

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UConn has twelve commits so far in its 2022 class.

Saturday Blitz previews the 2021 Huskies.

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Boston College center Alec Lindstrom has been named a preseason All-American by Lindy's Football Magazine.

BC returns all five offensive linemen for 2021and four of the five have been named first or second team All-ACC by pundits. All four will probably end up NFL draft picks.

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Athlon Sports predicts UMass 2021 opponents Toledo, Coastal Carolina, Army and Liberty to go a combined 33-15. They predict Toledo to win the MAC East, Coastal to win the Sun Belt, Army to win the Commander-in-Chief trophy and Liberty to contend to be the top team in the Group-of-Five.

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SOMEBODY NOTIFY MONTE PYTHON

When a New Hampshire state police marine patrol boat attempted to stop a speeding boater he took off. When the escaping boater was in a no-wake zone he slowed down----and so did the pursuing state police boat.

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UMass Football News--Summer Solstice 2020

There has not been much actual football sports news lately. Hopefully, as things open up there will be more to write about than just recruiting.

Thanks to the blog reader who sent me this link about UMass and Hampshire College starting fall semester early.

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The Berkshire Eagle reports the latest college football Hall-of-Fame ballot has UMass stars Rene Ingoglia and WR Steve Schubert. Both still rank high in UMass career stats.

Ingoglia is still #3 career rushing yards with 4623, # 3 in rushing attempts with 905 and #2 in rushing TD's with 54. He averaged 5.11 yards rush and 112.8 yards/game.

Steve Schubert is #3 in average yards/catch at 17.77. Schubert #4 in punt return yards with 586 and #7 punt returns with 48. He is tied for #1 in punts returned for TD's with 2. Schubert averaged 12.21 yards a return.

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UConn athletes are cleared to return to campus.

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Dawg Nation says create the most awesome college football season ever with a 64 team playoff.

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Meanwhile, a CT senator thinks fans-in-the-stands is "Insane".

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Season ticket sales at 2020 opponent Troy are going well. They will play college football down South.

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Athlon Sports previews the 2020 Appalachian State team.

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July 6th is the return date for New Mexico football.

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New Mexico State begins voluntary workouts for football players.

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Liberty HC Hugh Freeze is waiting to reunite with his team.

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FIU is looking at a four-way QB battle when camp opens.

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UMass Football News--May 25th, 2020

Mike Traini of "Fight Massachusetts" has a post on 2021 recruit Jamir Roberts.

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Colts.com has the story on how Isaiah Rogers made his own Pro-Day.

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Thanks to the Blog reader who sent me this link about UMass great Rene Ingoglia.

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University of Michigan says no students on campus, no college football.

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The SEC on the other hand, is ready to go. If the SEC plays a full schedule, then UMass' November 14th money game against Auburn will likely happen. That would be a good thing for Minutemen football and the athletic department's finances.

Speaking of Auburn, Caylin Newton the younger brother of Cam Newton, just joined the Tigers.

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Temple adds a Power Five transfer at QB.

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College football can't get here fast enough!

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UMass Historical Scans---1991

First off I fixed the link to the UMass historical scans. Clicking on the Tangerine Bowl image should take you to Google album with the scans. Then clicking on an image in Google photos should display the full-rez image making the print readable.

Google keeps making changes to their Google albums without any notification. After Google decommissioned Picassa, they went to Google Photos and they don't really seem very interested in it. The same could be said for Blogger. It's a very old platform. You remember when I would post polls? I was going to do a poll this Spring asking how many games UMass everyone thought UMass would win this year and found Blogger no longer supports polls. Nobody blogs anymore.

I've been thinking about moving the blog to another platform, but I haven't been able to pull the trigger.

Let me know if the link does not work. Google automatically signs me in because I'm the blog administrator, so it may respond differently to me than to someone visiting the blog. On thing I have not been able to do so far is add a visible information tag such as "1991" to the images.

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Sunday I added 27 images from my collection of UMass 1991 game programs and the 1991 UMass Football press guide. I also added one image of the first page of one edition of the UMass Touchdown Club (the football booster club) edited by Gerry Grady. Include are the covers from three away games (Maine, Northeastern and James Madison).

The 1991 team had Jimmie Reid as HC, Mike Hodges, Doug Berry and Joe Cullen as assistant coaches.

Among the players were Ben Albert, Jerome Bledsoe,Rich Cavanaugh, Rich Kane, Mario Perry, Ron Villone and Vaughn Williams and many more. The "Incoming Freshman" page has Rene Ingoglia and Jason Tudryn.

Lots of UMass football history in 1991. UMass finished 4-7 in '91 and 3-5 in the Yankee Conference. 1991 was the last year Jimmie Reid was head coach.

I think this link will jump you directly to the new images. Let me know if it doesn't work. Blogger's "preview" function no longer creates functional links, so I can't check before publishing.

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Click on the image and Blogger displays a larger view.

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UMass Football News--June 4th, 2019

According to  the UMass Football Twitter Feed the south wall at McGuirk came down yesterday. After 50 years, improvements are coming!

The honors listing will be moved to the front wall of the new end zone club.

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UMass Sports has a post on Steve Schubert and Rene Ingoglia being named candidates for the College Football Hall of Fame. Schubert was probably the Minutemen's best ever special teams player and Ingoglia ran the ball between the tackles with the best of them. During one play against Delaware, nine Hens defensive players touched Ingoglia during one run and he went threw 'em all.

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FBS Schedules has a downloadable .pdf Independents helmet schedule.

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Maryland lands a OL with a UMass offer.

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Arizona Sports says Andy Isabella is projected to start for the Cards.

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UMass Football News--December 31st, 2019

Coach Bell said when he arrived that recruiting was all about having a "relationship" with the recruit. With the minimal time he has had for 2019 recruiting, he seems to have done pretty well.

According to the 247Sports recruiting page (I'm a subscriber), UMass has 196 offers out for 2019 (if I counted right). Many of those might not be active as they were from the previous staff.

Coach Bell has 150 offers out for 2020 and 30 for 2021.

Those numbers are way too much for me to do recruiting posts on each. I'll stick to the "Top Target", "High Choice" and "Interested" categories.

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The Deseret News has the top plays from each of BYU's games in 2018.

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The Heights reviews Boston College's 2018 season.

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Roanoke.com has a profile of Military Bowl analyst Rene Ingoglia.

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Maine promotes from within to fill their head coaching position.

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OT, but:

Georgia coach Tom Cream credits sellout crowd for the Dogs win over UMass.

A UMass fan at the Georgia game sent me the image below.

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Dave Barry's (he cracks me up) Year in Review asks "Is there anything good we can say about 2018?"

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UMass Football News--November 2nd, 2017

Logan Laurent named New England Football Writers Association Gold Helmet Award Winner.

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UMass has their game notes for Mississippi State up.

The UMass Daily Collegian says the Bulldogs will be the Minutmen's biggest challenge yet.

The Clarion-Ledger has how to watch the Mississippi State-UMass game .

SEC Country has five things to know about the Bulldogs-Minutemen game.

Mississippi State has only allowed three sacks in its first seven games.

USA Today predicts Mississippi State 45, UMass 14.

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Da'Sean Downey is third in the nation in tackles for loss.

UMass is #20 in the nation in passing offense.

The Minutemen are #38 in total offense.

UMass is dead last in the NCAA in sacks allowed. Mississippi State is #12 in scoring defense.

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Rene Ingoglia is the feature of this story by Yahoo Sports: Cop by day, football analyst by night.

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BYU football gets a boost from the sidelines.

UMass rises to #11 in this power ranking of BYU's opponents.

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