I believe Fall camp starts today with meetings and other procedural stuff. On-the-field work starts tomorrow.
The latest version of the 2024 roster is up.
I'm optimistic. I think the 2024 roster has more FBS-level players than any roster we have had since we went to the top division in 2012.
The 2024 schedule is difficult. We play three SEC teams and the probable conference champs in the MAC and C-USA. UMass plays five MAC teams, which are in our wheelhouse, but we play four of the five on the road. See home field advantage.
Despite the schedule I think the Minutemen have a chance to win four or five games. We should beat Central Connecticut State and Wagner. UMass is currently a slim 1-point favorite over Eastern Michigan. The Minutemen should be competitive with Buffalo and Western Michigan on the road. Our best ever MAC result was 3-5 in 2014 in the MAC East under Coach Whipple.
Crucial to our season is UConn. It's our bowl game. UMass has to play the Huskies one week after getting beat up by Georgia. UConn plays Syracuse on the road the same weekend. At least it's a home game for the Minutemen.
UMass could have a chance to upset Liberty. The Flames play a cakewalk schedule, ranked by some as the lowest difficulty in 2024. The Minutemen will be coming off a bye week and we're playing at home. The Flames will be coming off a road game with Middle Tennessee State. The Flames are a warm weather team and I'm hoping for a cold, drizzling, November day at McGuirk. I think Liberty will lose at least once in 2024 and we have as good a chance as anyone on their schedule.
So I'm hoping for four or five wins. To make six wins and a bowl game UMass will have to beat three of five MAC teams and beat UConn or Liberty.
Go UMass!
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If you're thinking of traveling to Georgia to see UMass play the Dogs, be prepared for one of the highest priced tickets in college football.
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Yahoo News thinks 2024 opponents Missouri and Georgia could make the college football playoffs.
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