Rutgers Stumbles Out of the Gate | Rutgers Scarlet News

Rutgers football’s 2026 season started with a brutal stunner, losing 37-21 to winless FCS-bound UMass — a team coached by former Rutgers defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak. The final score barely scratches the surface: UMass hadn’t beaten an FBS team in 23 games and hadn’t won since October 2024. Despite star talent like KJ Duff and Antwan Raymond, Rutgers’ offense sputtered under rookie QB Dylan Lonergan, who threw two TDs but three INTs and lost a fumble. UMass’s defense, staffed with ex-Rutgers assistants, executed a masterful game plan, exposing Rutgers’ weaknesses. The Scarlet Knights’ defense, despite offseason changes and transfers, looked sluggish and disorganized — mirroring last year’s collapse. With momentum gone and fans dwindling, head coach Greg Schiano now faces an uphill battle to salvage what was supposed to be a bowl-bound season. 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/d4c032ede2a61b6e