Episode #1 of the Flagship podcast is up. Mike Corey and Rene Ingoglia talk about the state of UMass football and the prospects for 2025. It's worth listening to.
They're pretty optimistic. They think six wins in 2025 is doable. I think that's a stretch. Four or five wins would be a good start to our MAC career. We never won more than three times in the MAC (Mark Whipple 2014: Kent State, Eastern Michigan and Ball State).
I do agree with a number of their points. The performance center, the press box and the bubble are as good as anything in the MAC.
The big positive in my opinion is the MAC conference schedule and media money attached. The MAC signed a ten year media package that runs out in 2027. MACtion has been a ratings success and I think the next media package will be much improved. Besides the media money the conference gets some revenue from bowl appearances and UMass will share in the that (1/2 share in the first year).
Right now in college football it's all about the money.
The other big improvement will be a regular conference schedule. No more playing three Power Four teams in the same year. The 2026 and 2027 schedules are significantly easier than this year.
If we were to get six wins this year and a bowl bid, it would be real sea change for the program and UMass sports.
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The Minuteman Command also has an interview with TE coach Matt Layman.
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