UMass Football News--May 28th, 2026

 The Minuteman Command has a video interview with Jack Hinspeter, the first member of the 2027 recruiting class.

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Lineup.com has MAC championship win odds. 

Note that the Minutemen are a huge bottom feeder in the odds. The second lowest team Ball State is at +10,000. UMass is +25000. That might be worth a $20 bet..

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HERO Sports has an FCS 2026 prediction. Rhode Island has had back-to-back 11-3 seasons is rated #8 preseason for 2026 in the HERO article. More food for discussion the Rams should jump to FBS and join the MAC, which would return to UMass an old rival in basketball and football.

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HREO Sports also looks at the MAC conference's football budgets. 

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UMass releases kickoff times and media coverage for six 2026 football games. 

The Friday night game at UConn on the CBS Sports Network should give the Minutemen some national exposure.

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The MAC Conference blog "By-the-Belt" has an article on the entire 2026 conference TV schedule. 

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UMass Football Recruiting 2028--Douglas Thompson

 

Douglas Thompson, a 6-2 190 pound WR/DB/OLB from Philadelphia, PA has a UMass offer.

Hudl.com has video Highlights. 

Also ran track. 

Thompson has offers from Akron and Howard. He has an FBS frame and could play either side of the ball in College. There is lots of playing time up for grabs in Amherst as well as an excellent education. 

UMass Football News--May 26th, 2026

 

RB Justin Williams-Thomas

The Minuteman Command has a post-spring review of the UMass running backs.

IMHO, except for Pop  Watson, the running backs have the chance to provide the biggest improvement impact in 2026.

In 2025, UMass was #131 out of 134 FBS teams in net rushing. We were next to last in rushing TD's with 6 total for the season. QB Grant Jordan accounted for 2 of the six, so running UMass running backs scored 4 TD's for the season.

We averaged 2.81 yards/carry and 82.4 rushing yards a game. 

Moving the running game to FBS average (about 150 yards/game) would  make a big improvement in the Minuteman offense. Not to mention making Pop Watson look good.

UMass added Jordan Washington and Justin Williams-Thomas through the transfer portal.

I also like true freshmen TK Davis and Justin Lewis.

I didn't get the transfer portal 240-pound FB/H back I wanted, but Washington and Williams-Thomas have decent size.  

Last year we rushed for 101 net yards against FCS Bryant and 69 net yards against Bowling Green (the next-to-last team in the MAC). Hopefully, that's in the past.

Go UMass! 

Memorial Day--2026

 

Hope all UMass fans, players and staff have a peaceful Memorial Day. Please remember the Fallen and those who made sacrifices to make this quiet weekend possible.

UMass Football Recruiting 2027--Amari Cannon

 

Amari Cannon, a 6-1 185 pound RB from Downington, PA has a UMass offer.

247Sports page here. 

Hudl.com has video highlights. 

1,046 rushing yards and 319 Receiving yards in 2025. 

Cannon (good name for a RB) has 10 offers including UMass, Temple and Kent State from FBS. He could be part of the Minutemen resurgence and get an excellent education in Amherst. 

UMass Football Recruiting 2027--Jack Hinspeter commits to UMass

 

 

The Minuteman Command has New Jersey LB Jack Hinspeter commits to UMass.

Don Bosco Prep coach Dan Sabella comments on Hinspeter's joining the Minutemen.  

New Jersey Sports Zone has some highlight film and reports on Hinspeter's commitment.  

I blogged about Hinspeter's recruitment back on April 15th. 

Hinspeter is an excellent beginning to the 2027 class. I look forward to following his career with the Minutemen.

UMass Football News--May 21st, 2026

 The MAC blog "By-the-Belt" has a detailed breakdown of the MAC Conference's options
on it's 2027 media package.

This warrants careful reading. The upcoming media package is a big deal for UMass. The media money will be a major source of income for the athletic dept. 

The MAC's last package was too long in duration. As the article relates, ESPN went through multiple revisions during the lifetime of the contract. Sports viewership is a big part of today's media. The traditional networks have imploded and sports provides, in many cases, the only thing to watch.

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The proposal that the Big 10 and the SEC pool their media rights is controversial.  

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Who would televise the proposed 24-team college football playoff? 

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