Game Day Miami (Ohio)--2026

 Miami (Ohio) is one of the three top teams we will meet this year. Toledo and UConn are the other two. Miami is the only one of the three we get at McGuirk. The other two are on the road. Miami is in the top echelons of MAC resources. They are near the top in NIL money. They have an excellent athletic administration and the university is interested in increasing their athletic footprint.

From the Redhawks website: Miami football ranks first all-time in the Mid-American Conference in wins (742), conference wins (330), MAC Championships (17) and bowl wins (9).  Historically, Miami's 742 career wins are third all-time among Group-of-Five programs, behind just Navy (758) and Army (747).

They are down to their third-string QB, Caleb Heavner. He's a transfer from Fort Hays State.  Most pundits picked Miami to return to the MAC championship game in 2026. They'll be a challenge today.

If UMass can play with the intensity we displayed in the first four games and control turnovers, our chances should be good.

I'll be there cheering for the Minutemen. Go UMass!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Miami's game notes for UMass. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Minuteman Command has know your opponent Miami (Ohio).

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The MAC blog "By-the-Belt" power rankings for Week #5.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

Yahoo Sports says take the over in the Redhawks-Minutemen game.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

Athlon Sports thinks UMass will beat the spread.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The Oxford Free Press says the Redhawks are dealing with some weaknesses.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

UMass Football News--October 9th, 2026

 

The latest edition of the Flagship Podcast with Rene Ingoglia.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Officially official. See you in Madison in 2027. #Flagship 🚩 https://t.co/H2Q33hcoe2

— UMass Football (@UMassFootball) October 8, 2026

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The UMass "X" feed has some images of a classic (and maybe my favorite) Minuteman helmet.

The terror of the Yankee Conference

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The MAC conference blog "by-the-Belt" previews the UMass-Miami (Ohio) game.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The Miami student newspaper previews the Redhawks-Minutemen game.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The Dayton Daily News has five things you need to know about the UMass-Miami game.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

UMass Football News--October 8th, 2026

 

If you missed ESPN's game day picks mentioning UMass (for the first time ever, maybe) it's above.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Minuteman Command has a post on UMass using its early games to provide information on improving.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

MAC Reporter Online previews the UMass-Miami (Ohio) game.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Bleacher Reports picks Miami 24 UMass 22.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

After Week#5, ESPN predicts UMass to the Salute to Veterans Bowl.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

UMass Football News--October 7th, 2026

 In his Monday press conference Coach Harasymiak said transfer RB Jordan Washington is out for the season. He played in 2 games and went 11-54. Washington was considered one of the top transfers for the 2026 season.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Greenfield Recorder says UMass strives to respond for the Miami (Ohio) game.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

UMass and Indiana have canceled their 2027 game by mutual agreement. 

The revised 2027 schedule is here.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

"Indiana saw what UMass did to Rutgers and got spooked."

— Rutgers Rant (@RutgersRant) October 6, 2026

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Buffalo loses their opening game QB to a season-ending injury.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

UMass Football News--October 6th, 2026

 UMass opens as a 2.5 underdog to Miami (Ohio).

The Red Hawks have been a consistent winner in the MAC, reaching the MAC championship game the last three yeas in a row. Miami has bigger dreams than the MAC. They recently offered between $30 million to $40 million to join the American conference.  Note that the American conference has a reported $1 billion dollar media package. .

Miami (Ohio) is down to their third string QB. Caleb Heavner's Red Hawks bio here.

Heavner's press conference after the loss to Bowling Green.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

WWLP reports UMass seeks a comeback after Eastern Michigan loss.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

Amherst Wire reports Coach Harasymiak said UMass needs to change the narrative against Miami (Ohio). 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Minuteman Command writes Coach Harasymiak feels Eastern Michigan flipped the script against UMass.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

UMass Football News--October 5th, 2026

Coach Harasymiak's Monday press conference.

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The MAC blog "By-the-belt says Eastern Michigan humbled UMass.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

Pop Watson takes ownership for the loss. It was not all his fault.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The Hartford Courant says the buzz is building for the UMass-UConn game.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The Amherst Wire discusses what went wrong in the Minutemen's loss to Eastern Michigan.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The Eastern Michigan student newspaper says the Eagles silenced the hype.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

UMass drops 17 slots to #120 in ESPN's power rankings.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Yahoo Sports predicts Miami (Ohio) 31 UMass 21.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

UMass Football News--October 4th, 2026

 Well, UMass looked flat and uninspired in a loss to Eastern Michigan. We fumbled a scoring chance, missed a field goal (a long one admittedly) and threw a costly interception. Eastern Michigan QB Noah Kim was in control all game and picked apart the UMass secondary. The Eagles repeatedly converted third-and-long situations. 

The Eastern Michigan defense was as good as advertised. The Eagles held UMass to its lowest offense stats of the year.

Pop Watson was not sharp and did not influence the game. Conference play is tough. We have a chance to play better against Miami (Ohio) next week and they are one of the MAC's top teams. Shake it off and play better next week.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

UMass write-up here. 

Eastern Michigan write-up here. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Minuteman Command said the Eagles crushed UMass' unbeaten dreams. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CBS Sports says Eastern Michigan routs UMass.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

The Greenfield Recorder says Eastern Michigan sank UMass in front of a sell-out crowd.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

MassLive reports UMass is perfect no longer.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The Daily Collegian says UMass handed itself the loss.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

Rutgers got whacked by #6 Indiana 47-15. 

Sacred Heart continued their run through the CAA beating Maine in Orno 24-16.

Stonehill had a bye.

Sacramento State had a bye.

Miami (Ohio) also had a bad day and was upset by Bowling Green 24-20.

Buffalo lost a close one to Western Michigan 20-17. 

 UConn lost a thriller to Syracuse in overtime.

Ball State lost to Toledo 39-24. 

Central Michigan ran over Akron 41-17.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------