Rutgers Football: 3 Keys To Game vs. UMass

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We are just one day away from Rutgers Football kicking off the season against UMass.

The Scarlet Knights will begin the year against Joe Harasymiak and the Minutemen on Thursday night from SHI Stadium.

UMass finished the 2025 season with a record of 0-12. This is a chance for Rutgers to start the year quick against a team that it has not faced since 2019. There is many aspects of this game to watch to get a sense of the 2026 Scarlet Knights.

What are the three biggest keys to the game for Rutgers on Thursday?

3. Start Quick Defensively

In case you haven’t heard, Rutgers was one of the worst defenses in the nation last year. The Scarlet Knights made moves to address this side of the ball in the offseason. This unit needs a quick start. Last time out against UMass, Rutgers fell behind 21-7. That was seven years ago but if you want a more recent example, Rutgers did not runaway from Ohio last year while allowing 31 points. Fans do not want to see UMass get the ball in the first quarter and march down the field. It is important to dominate on the defensive side of the ball in this one.

2. Get Stars Involved Early

Athan Kaliakmanis is gone and in comes Dylan Lonergan. The Boston College transfer will have plenty to work with on offense. KJ Duff is expected to be one of the top receivers in the Big Ten while Antwan Raymond is coming off a year where he rushed for 1,200 yards. This is the way to run away early in this game. UMass struggled defensively last year and did not score in the first quarters of games — ending the year 77-6. With experience back on the offensive line, there is a chance that this is the best offense Rutgers has had in years and that is saying something given the power last year. If Lonergan performs at a high level, Rutgers will be in good shape. This is a chance to show it off.

1. Show Depth/Stay Healthy

Most importantly, Rutgers needs to stay healthy in this game. You never want to lose key pieces on either side of the ball in a game that is lopsided. As a 30-point favorite, the Scarlet Knights have a chance to put the game away early and get the starters out. This accomplishes two goals — let depth get experience and make sure that the team is healthy. Plain and simple, this should be priority No. 1 in the season opener.

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