UMass has 21 players on the College Sporting News All-Independent teams.
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The Hampshire Gazette reports AD Ryan Bamford believes a long-term conference home is very important to UMass athletics.
Reading between the lines of the article plus social media posts, it appears there will be no announcement on conference affiliation until late spring or so.
One positive that is not mentioned is UMass chancellor Javier Reyes seems actually interested in Minuteman sports. If the chancellor is indifferent or hostile, it would be a serious brake on improvement efforts. Reyes would be remembered by UMass fans, if he could shepherd the athletic dept to a stable situation.
Another positive is the new "Midnight Ride Collective". With the transfer portal and NIL, college football recruiting has been totally changed in just a couple of years.
If you want UMass to be successful, this year join the Collective or the Gridiron Club and help make it happen.
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The Liberty vs Oregon Fiesta Bowl should be on the bowl season's most interesting games.
AZ Central thinks the Ducks will win.
The Richmond Times reports Liberty and JMU's bowl bids cap the rising status of those two programs.
Hail Florida thinks the Gators could poach Liberty's offensive coordinator.
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The Chicago Times says good riddance to the four-team college football playoff.
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