UMass Football News--November 2nd, 2026

 The latest edition of UMass' Plant-the-Flag podcast. Interviewed is senior Safety Zeraun Daniel.

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"X" post by Jason Yellin about Josh Mauer. 

Jason Yellin and  Josh Mauer were great at UMass. I miss them both.

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 AP News has a breakdown of Wednesday's UMass-Ball State game. 

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Vegas has UMass a 3.5 point favorite over Ball State.

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My early morning sessions working on the blog have been more fun lately..

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UMass Football News--November 1st, 2026

 WWLP has a post on Dallas Elliott's illness.

The Hampshire Gazette also has a short post on Elliott. 

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 Rutgers made a spirited effort against Michigan, but lost 28-21.

Sacred Heart moved to .500 with a big comeback win over Stony Brook. 

Stonehill held off Mercyhurst 34-28. 

Eastern Michigan plays Wednesday. 

Sacramento State earned their first ever MAC win over Kent State. 

Miami (Ohio) plays Tuesday.

Buffalo plays Tuesday.

UConn lost to Air Force 35-26. 

Ball State plays UMass Wednesday.

Toledo plays Sacramento State Wednesday.

Bowling Green lost to Western Michigan 23-10.

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UMass Football News--Bye Week 2026

 

Coach Harasymiak's Monday press conference on a Friday.

Sad news as Harasymiak revealed that WR Dallas Elliott has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and has started treatment. Elliott was one of the three stating WR's at the beginning  of the season.

Several local news sources have stories about Elliot, but all are paywalled.   

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UMass's game notes for Ball State are up. 

Ball State's game notes for UMass. 

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Ball State's coach Mike Uremovich does not like the 24-team college football playoffs.

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Yahoo Sports has how UMass, Boston College and North Carolina can qualify for a bowl game.

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Fan Sided has five college football teams getting the worst return on their NIL money.

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UMass Football News--October 30th, 2026

 

UMass football receives a major donation to support the script "U" scholarship fund.

The Minuteman Command has a post on the donation. 

WWLP has a story on the Riccio's donation to the program. 

This is a big boost for the UMass football program. A mere four wins brought national attention to the University. In a vast majority of the states the state university receives solid support from all manner  of interest groups. Football is a sport that unites the alumni, the students and the citizens of many states ---and that translates into financial support of the  university.

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Phil Vandersea passes away. Vandersea was a decades-long supporter of the program. He will be missed..

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Ball State is 3-5 overall, but three of their losses are to Ohio State, Liberty (5-1 and at the top of CUSA) and Toledo. 

We do get them at home and we badly need a victory.

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UMass Football News--October 29th, 2026

 The Minuteman Command reports the UMass run game was living on borrowed time.

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Injuries have stalled the Minuteman offense. After the first four games UMass was a top-40 offense. After a four game losing streak they're #113 in total offense and #86 in scoring offense.

UMass is still top-40 in total defense and  #46 in scoring defense. That's an amazing turnaround from last year. If we can get some of the injured back on offense, we still have a  chance for our best year ever in FBS.

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Video of UConn WR Shamar Porter talking about his blocked punt for a TD against UMass. 

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Maryland offers students a chance a tuition-free semester if  they stay for most of  the game vs Illinois.

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UMass Football News--October 28th

 

The UConn "Daily Campus" recaps the Huskies-Minutemen game. UConn WR Shmar Porter became a trivia question answer as he scored a TD wearing two different jersey numbers.

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The MAC Blog "By-the-Belt" has another interview with MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher. He said the new MAC media deal is nearly finalized. The link also has video of the interview.  

The Conference media package is a big deal for the Minutemen as UMass did not receive any media money as an Independent.

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MAC Reports Online records Buffalo RB Messiah Burch was a MAC player-of-the-Week as he ran for 184 yards against Bowling Green. He gained 172 yards and averaged 6.1 yards a carry against UMass and was a big factor in Buffalo's win.

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Yahoo Sports reports big money for quarterbacks has created a back-up QB crisis.

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UMass Football News--October 27th, 2026

 The Ball State website notes the Cardinals and UMass will kick off the start of mid-week MACtion November 4th at McGurik

The UMass-Ball State series is tied 2-2 with the last UMass win in 2014 under Mark Whipple. It was a 24-10 victory at McGuirk.

Ball State is the only MAC team on this year's schedule that we do not have a losing record.

All-time records for the remaining teams: 

Akron 2-4

Ball State 2-2

Bowling Green 0-5

Toledo 1-8 (last win 1976) 

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The Southwick Jug trophy turns up at UConn.  Great to know it hasn't been lost.

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I subscribe to PFF and they rank UMass #121 with a 1% chance to make a bowl.

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The MAC blog "By-the-Belt" has its "Monday Musings" covering the weekend's MAC conference games.

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