Since moving from FCS to FBS in 2012, UMass has never come close to recording a winning season. UMass joined the MAC in 2012 and in four seasons went 8-40.
Then UMass became an independent, and didn’t fare any better. Now the Minutemen are returning to the MAC with a new coach.
Over the previous four seasons, the Minutemen have gone 7-41 after a 2-10 record last season.
UMass is pinning its hope of a turnaround on new head coach Joe Harasymiak, who was the defensive coordinator at Rutgers the previous three seasons. Before that, he was an assistant at Minnesota for four years, including the Gophers’ co-defensive coordinator his final two seasons.
Harasymiak has prior head coaching experience, which will be a major benefit. He was the head coach at Maine from 2016-2018. During his final season, he led Maine to the FCS semifinals for the first time in school history.
As with many college teams, UMass will rely heavily on transfers in its return season to the MAC.
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UMass Football’s MAC Title Betting Odds
UMass’ odds to win the MAC are +5000, via BetMGM.
UMass Football’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
- UMass’ win total Over/Under is 4.5.
- The Under is at -185.
- The Over is at +150.
UMass Football’s 2025 Schedule
- 8/30 vs Temple
- 9/6 vs Bryant
- 9/13 at Iowa
- 9/27 at Missouri
- 10/4 vs Western Michigan
- 10/11 at Kent State
- 10/18 vs Buffalo
- 10/25 at Central Michigan
- 11/4 at Akron
- 11/12 vs Northern Illinois
- 11/18 at Ohio
- 11/25 vs Bowling Green
Bold indicates MAC contests
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Key UMass Football Returners
WR TY Harding
LB Derrieon Craig
UMass Season Preview
UMass’ Starting Quarterback Battle
There appears to be a three-way battle for the quarterback job. In the spring game, freshman AJ Hairston completed 13 of 25 passes for 164 yards while graduate student Grant Jordan was 13-of-23 passing for 165 yards.
Hairston competed in four games for UMass last season, completing 40 of 73 throws for 480 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Jordan spent the previous four years at Yale. Last year, he passed for 1,938 yards and 22 touchdowns with just three interceptions.
Those two will compete with junior Brandon Rose, a transfer from Utah, where he played in three games last season. Rose played for new UMass offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Bajakian at Utah. Bajakian ended last season as Utah’s interim offensive coordinator.
UMass’ Skill Position Players
UMass’ main running back is expected to be Rocko Griffin, who began his career at Vanderbilt and spent the last two seasons at UTSA. Redshirt freshman Godson Ofonagoro, who didn’t compete last season, scored on a 1-yard run in the spring game and could be in the running back picture along with Brandon Hood, a transfer from Colorado who joined the team after spring practice.
Junior Tyree Kelly, a transfer from USF, was among the offensive standouts in the spring game with 79 receiving yards. He looks to be a valuable offensive performer.
Redshirt sophomore receiver TY Harding is looking to build on last season at UMass, where he had 19 receptions for 334 yards and five touchdowns. He also returned 11 punts for 109 yards and a touchdown and 15 kickoffs for 276 yards.
UMass’ Offensive Line Outlook
Ryan Mosesso, who appeared in 11 games last season, figures to be among the key offensive linemen. Luke Painton, who was limited to one game last season, also figures to push for a job. An impressive newcomer is Sullivan Weidman, a transfer from West Virginia, who appeared in 13 games for the Mountaineers last season, mostly on special teams, with some action at guard.
UMass Defense Adds Transfers
Several transfers are expected to play key roles on defense, including EDGE Joshua Nobles, who began his career at Western Michigan. Last year, Nobles played for Jackson State, appearing in four games and totaling 13 tackles.
Another newcomer expected to make an impact is Virginia transfer Malcolm Greene, who plays the STAR position (a hybrid defensive back). Greene began his college career at Clemson, where he stayed three seasons. During the last two years he competed for Virginia. Greene has appeared in 44 college games, making seven starts.
Timmy Hinspeter, who appeared in 14 games over the last three years at Rutgers, is looked on as a key linebacker, along with Derrieon Craig, who recorded 44 tackles in 10 games for the Minutemen.
The special teams should receive a boost from punter Keegan Andrews, a transfer from Texas A&M.
UMass Football Season Prediction
I predict UMass won’t win the MAC Championship and will go Under 4.5 wins.
I expect the Minutemen will win four games, which would double their total from last year (with the wins coming over Central Connecticut and Wagner).
So much depends on the opener against Temple, which appears to be a toss-up. If UMass can win that game, the Minutemen would have some early momentum with the new coaching staff.
Even if the Minutemen go 2-2 in non-conference games, they would have to be 2-6 in the MAC to reach four wins. That is certainly attainable, but no sure thing, especially since last year UMass went 0-5 against teams from the MAC.
