\nAMHERST, Mass. — Massachusetts football heads to Sacramento, California, for its Mid-American Conference opener against Sacramento State on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 9 p.m. ET\/ 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+.\u00a0
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\nSERIES HISTORY<\/p>\n
\n\tSaturday’s game between the two newest additions to the Mid-American Conference will mark the first meeting between UMass and Sacramento State.\u00a0\u00a0
\n\tThe matchup will be the last\u00a0of three consecutive first-time matchups, including the Sacred Heart and Stonehill games as well.\u00a0\u00a0
\n\tIt will also be the first time the Minutemen play in the state of California.\u00a0
\n\tThe\u00a0only previous matchup against a team from California took place on December 9, 1972, when UMass defeated UC Davis 35-14\u00a0in the Boardwalk Bowl (Atlantic City, New Jersey).\u00a0
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\nQUICK HITTERS<\/p>\n
\nREMAINING SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE<\/p>\n
NOTING THE STONEHILL WIN<\/p>\n
\nMORRIS ON THE MARK<\/p>\n
\n\tMassachusetts has started a season with a 3-0\u00a0record for the first time since 2007.\u00a0
\n\tJahmad Harmon’s<\/a> three interceptions rank tied for second in the country (one of seven\u00a0players with at least three interceptions this season). \u00a0
\n\tPop Watson III’s\u00a0175.9,\u00a0passing efficiency ranks first in the MAC and 25th\u00a0in the country and his\u00a011.84\u00a0yards per pass completion ranks third in the MAC.\u00a0
\n\tIn total defense (270.0 yards against per game), UMass ranks first in the MAC and tied for 27th nationally.\u00a0
\n\tThe UMass rushing defense ranks first in the MAC and 10th in the country (65.7 rushing yards against per game).\u00a0
\n\tMassachusetts is 11-for-11 in red zone trips this season (five rushing TDs, one passing TD, five field goals).\u00a0
\n\tUMass’ five interceptions this season lead the MAC and are tied for fifth in the country.\u00a0
\n\tThe Minutemen are one of 27 teams nationally without a fumble lost this season and the only MAC team.\u00a0
\n\tWith eight turnovers gained (five interceptions and three fumble recoveries), the Minutemen rank first in the MAC and tied for fourth nationally with Notre Dame.\u00a0
\n\tUMass’ third down defense ranks first in the MAC and tied with Oklahoma for fifth in the country at 0.225 (opponents are 9-for-40 on third down).\u00a0
\n\tLast season, nine FBS players accomplished the feat over the entire 2025 season, including\u00a0Paul Hornung Award winner KC Concepcion (Texas A&M).\u00a0
\n\tEntering week four, T.Y. Harding<\/a> is the only FBS player with a receiving touchdown, a rushing touchdown and a punt return touchdown this season.\u00a0
\n\tUMass is outscoring opponents 110-45 this season. \u00a0
\n\tThe Minutemen are the only undefeated team in the MAC as well as the only undefeated FBS team in New England\/New York and New Jersey (35 FBS teams enter the week without a loss). \u00a0
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\n\tNew MAC Opponent: Sacramento State appears on the 2026 schedule as the newest MAC opponent, with UMass traveling to Sacramento on Saturday, September 26.\u00a0
\n\tBack-To-Back MAC Contests: The Minutemen welcome Eastern Michigan and Miami (OH) to Amherst on October 3 and October 10 for consecutive home matchups, with the Miami game serving as Homecoming.\u00a0
\n\tFlagship Cup: Buffalo and UMass play the second installment of their Flagship Cup rivalry game Presented by Milton CAT on October 17 in Buffalo, New York.
\n\tRivalry Renewed: UConn is back on the schedule for a Friday night showdown on Oct. 23 at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut.\u00a0
\n\tMidweek MACtion: Massachusetts competes in MACtion with three Wednesday conference games \u2013 vs. Ball State (Nov. 4), at Toledo (Nov. 11) and vs. Akron (Nov. 18). \u00a0
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\n\tUMass is now 3-0 to start the season for the first time since 2007. \u00a0\u00a0
\n\tMassachusetts scored 30 or more points in three consecutive games for the first time since 2018: Sept. 22 vs. Charlotte (W, 49-31), Sept. 29 at Ohio (L, 58-42) and Oct. 6 vs. USF (L, 58-42). \u00a0\u00a0
\n\tJC Clark<\/a> grabbed his first career interception with a minute left in the third quarter.\u00a0\u00a0
\n\tThe Minutemen held the Skyhawks to just 27 yards rushing, the second time in three games allowing just 27 yards to an opponent. Saturday against\u00a0
\n\tUMass held Stonehill to just 82\u00a0yards of offense over the final three quarters.\u00a0\u00a0
\n\tAndrew DePaepe’s<\/a> second-quarter pass breakup was the first of his career. \u00a0\u00a0
\n\tIt is also the longest field goal by any player (UMass or opponent) at McGuirk, which includes Morris’ 53-yarder from last season and a 53-yard field goal\u00a0from Chris Freeman of UConn in 2014.\u00a0\u00a0
\n\tHis 55-yard field goal is the longest\u00a0field goal at McGuirk Alumni Stadium by a UMass player, besting Morris’ 53-yarder last season\u00a0vs. Bryant (Sept. 6, 2025).\u00a0
\n\tDerek Morris<\/a> connected on a 55-yard field goal attempt at the 1:38 mark of the\u00a0first quarter, tying his own school record from last season at\u00a0Akron (Nov. 4, 2025).\u00a0
\n\tHarding now has a punt return, receiving and rushing touchdown over the last two games.\u00a0\u00a0
\n\tUMass had a 50+ yard touchdown run and reception in the same game for the first time since last Oct. 18 against Buffalo.\u00a0\u00a0
\n\tThose marked season long rushing and receiving touchdowns by the Minutemen this season.\u00a0\u00a0
\n\tHarding also had a 51-yard receiving touchdown in the fourth quarter.\u00a0\u00a0
\n\tHarding’s first-quarter 56-yard rushing touchdown marked his first career rushing score and the longest rush of his career (he entered the day with 29 career yards on the ground).\u00a0\u00a0
\n\tDePaepe added a sack on the first play of the second quarter, the second of his career and first in a UMass uniform. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
\n\tWilliam DePaepe’s<\/a> first-quarter forced fumble was the first of his career.\u00a0\u00a0
\n\tThe Minutemen posted\u00a0back-to-back home wins for the first time since beating Georgia Southern and Appalachian State on Oct. 21-28, 2017.\u00a0\u00a0
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