Harasymiak’s Return Against Old Team | Rutgers Scarlet News

Rutgers kicks off their 2026 season at home against UMass in a matchup with historic ties and personal stakes—UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak, once Rutgers’ defensive coordinator, seeks his first win as head coach against his former team. With Rutgers favored and loaded with returning talent like QB Dylan Lonergan and rusher Antwan Raymond, the Scarlet Knights aim for a strong start. UMass, meanwhile, brings a QB with limited experience, making this a prime opportunity for Harasymiak to turn things around. The last meeting? A wild 2019 game where Rutgers came back from a 21-7 deficit for a 48-21 victory. Expect fireworks—and maybe a few surprises—as Rutgers looks to open the season with a statement win. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/4c5b7e70dd1f109e