Saturday marks game one of the 2023 college football season for the Massachusetts Minutemen. UMass has been ranked toward the very bottom of every poll over the past several years, and has won just one game in each of its last three full seasons dating back to 2019. 

But the buzz is different in Amherst this fall. With a chunk of returning contributors on both sides of the ball, Don Brown and the Minutemen are adamant huge strides have been taken over the course of the offseason. Veteran quarterback Taisun Phommachanh is taking the reins of an offense that has talent and speed on the outside and a deep running back corps determined to fill the departure of Ellis Merriweather. Defensively, UMass has a unit that should be good enough to stay in most games. Many players from last year’s starting lineup are returning, and the Minutemen added strong depth from the transfer portal to defensive coordinator Keith Dudzinski’s unit as well.

UMass’ schedule – although bearing two Power 5 contests – consists of some very winnable games.

“We’re not gonna talk about it and all that,” Brown said. “Just go out and play and be yourself. Go out and play the game the way you’re capable and good things will happen.”

Below is a full schedule breakdown of each UMass game in 2023.

Saturday, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. – UMass at New Mexico State

Series history: New Mexico St. leads 2-0

Last meeting: New Mexico St. won 23-13 in 2022

Players to watch: Diego Pavia is a dual-threat quarterback who only got better and better as last season progressed. Pavia led all of college football in QBR after Oct. 1 in 2022. He will be back, along with both of New Mexico State’s starting running backs – Star Thomas and Jamoni Jones. Look for their running game to try and control things early against UMass to help set up Pavia’s arm for big plays later on.

Outlook: The Aggies won six of their last seven games to finish last season, including a victory in the Quick Lane Bowl over Bowling Green. New Mexico State’s offense should be a scary unit this year, with not only Pavia and the running backs leading the charge, but also the Aggies’ play-making wide receivers on the outside. Four of the top five statistical-leading pass catchers return for New Mexico State, giving the Aggies plenty of firepower to keep the UMass secondary’s hands full. 

Saturday, Sept. 2 at 3:30 p.m. – UMass at Auburn

Series history: First meeting

Last meeting: N/A (first meeting)

Players to watch: Junior running back Brian Battie (South Florida transfer) is looking to put together another impressive season in the backfield. Battie eclipsed 1,000 yards and rushed for eight touchdowns on 6.8 yards per carry a season ago. He has big play ability and should be the Tigers’ main man to lean on offensively. Right beside him is quarterback Payton Thorne, who Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze just named as QB1 last week. Thorne, a Michigan State transfer, beat out fellow quarterback Robby Ashford for the starting job. Defensively, the Tigers are led by senior cornerback DJ James and junior defensive tackle Justin Rogers.

Outlook: UMass isn’t expected to keep this one close, let alone win it. However, the Minutemen have given SEC schools a run for their money over the last near-decade, and they won’t be going into Jordan-Hare Stadium playing scared. Being huge underdogs, UMass has nothing to lose. With veterans in the Minutemen’s secondary and lots of defensive talent returning, they could certainly catch Thorne and the Auburn offense sleeping in what is the Tigers’ first game of the season.

Saturday, Sept. 9 at 3:30 p.m. – Miami (Ohio) at UMass

Series history: Miami (Ohio) leads 3-1

Last meeting: 20-13 Miami (Ohio) in 2015

Players to watch: Starting quarterback Brett Gabbert is back in control of the Redhawks offense. Gabbert – the brother of former NFL quarterback Blaine Gabbert – suffered a non-throwing shoulder injury early on last season that caused him to miss eight games. He will be hungry to get back to his previous form, one where he threw for four touchdowns and no interceptions in the season opener a year ago. Jacquez Warren is a ball-hawking, hard-hitting safety always looking to make a big play in the secondary and leads what is a stacked Miami (Ohio) defense.

Outlook: The Redhawks’ defense finished No. 1 in the MAC in scoring and rushing defense last year. And all but one of those starting guys are back and primed to make another run at a conference title. Linebacker Matthew Salopek leads a stout linebacking corps that was terrific against the run. The defensive front is athletic, quick and very deep. They rotate several guys that can all disrupt the UMass backfield if not dealt with accordingly. This one will come down to whether or not the Minutemen can find a way to score against Miami (Ohio)’s stingy defense.

Saturday, Sept. 16 at 2 p.m. – UMass at Eastern Michigan

Series history: Series tied 2-2

Last meeting: 20-13 Eastern Michigan in 2022

Players to watch: The biggest threat on the field during this game – on either side – will unquestionably be Eagles senior running back Samson Evans. Evans was just recently added to the 2023 Walter Camp Player of the Year watch list, as he looks to build on his 1,166 yards and five scores from a season ago. His best performance came against Arizona State, where he exploded for 258 yards in an upset win.

Outlook: Eastern Michigan is expected to have some growing pains on offense. The Eagles said goodbye to seven starters from last year’s team, which means there is lots of gaps to fill this season. There has been plenty of rightfully deserved offseason hype around Evans, but the Eagles are down their starting quarterback and most of their top receivers. Defensively, they also lost Jose Ramirez – the conference defensive player of the year – to the NFL, which is a serious blow to the Eastern Michigan pass rush. If the Minutemen can find a way to slow Evans and the Eagles run game down, they just may be able to pull out a win on the road.

Saturday, Sept. 23 at 3:30 p.m. – New Mexico at UMass

Series history: First meeting

Last meeting: N/A (first meeting)

Players to watch: New Mexico landed quarterback Dylan Hopkins in the transfer portal from UAB, and he is expected to be the guy for the Lobos on offense. Hopkins threw for just shy of 2,000 yards last season while tossing 10 touchdowns. Joining him in the backfield are running backs Christian Washington and Andrew Henry – both of who are hoping to make a huge impact on the New Mexico run game in 2023. Tight end Trace Bruckler also has big upside given his combination of size and athleticism.

Outlook: Lobos defensive coordinator Rocky Long departed after last season, so the defense will be taking commands from a new voice this year. New coordinator Troy Reffett is looking for new faces to step into the linebacker position after New Mexico lost a ton of production in that unit from a season ago. Despite lingering questions about their front seven, the Lobos’ secondary should be something to look out for. If Minutemen quarterback Taisun Phommachanh isn’t careful with his decision making, cornerbacks Donte Martin and Tavian Combs will be ready to pounce on any errant throw in their direction.

Saturday, Sept. 30 at 3:30 p.m. – Arkansas State at UMass

Series history: Arkansas State leads 1-0

Last meeting: 35-33 Arkansas State in 2022

Players to watch: The Red Wolves were thrilled to get back their stud wide receiver in the transfer portal. Corey Rucker returns from South Carolina (he was originally with Arkansas State, then transferred to South Carolina, and is now back with the Red Wolves) with aspirations to lead the Arkansas State offense. As a freshman with the Red Wolves, he caught 59 passes for 826 yards and nine touchdowns. Senior quarterback JT Shrout is thrilled to be spinning it Rucker’s way, and is even more thrilled he now has a starting role. Shrout bounced around from Tennessee to Colorado before settling down at Arkansas State. This duo could be deadly together this season.

Outlook: Arkansas State’s secondary wasn’t the strongest by any stretch a season ago, and losing star corner Kenneth Harris to Oklahoma doesn’t help. On the other side of the ball, the Red Wolves’ third down offense was abysmal last year, as they completed just 29-percent of their opportunities. Arkansas State only completed over 25-percent of its third downs in three out of its 12 games in 2022. If the Minutemen can get them to third-and-long consistently and take advantage of favorable matchups on the outside, UMass should be in prime position to get the bad taste of last year’s loss out of their system.

Saturday, Oct. 7 at 1 p.m. – Toledo at UMass

Series history: Toledo leads 6-1

Last meeting: 55-10 Toledo in 2022

Players to watch: Quarterback Dequan Finn is back for the Rockets, and considering he accounted for an incredible 51-percent of the Toledo offense last year, he gets the nod for player to watch. Finn totaled 2,901 total yards and scored 32 of the Rockets’ 54 touchdowns. Finn also has a play maker he trusts on the outside by the name of Jejuan Newton, who earned second-team All-Mac last season.

Outlook: Toledo has a whopping 82-percent of its offense returning in 2023, the sixth-most in all of FBS. The reigning MAC champs are favorites to do it again, and the offense is the reason why. Sixteen different players recorded a reception last year. The Rockets are huge on spreading the ball around, which is tough to defend and game plan against. The only blemish on Finn’s remarkable statistics in 2022 was the high interception rate. He threw 12 picks (compared to two in 2021) and forced throws into tight windows. That’s where the Minutemen may be able to get him. If UMass can bait Finn into making tough throws and make him uncomfortable in the pocket, the Minutemen can keep this one close.

Saturday, Oct. 14 at 3:30 p.m. – UMass at Penn State

Series history: Penn State leads 1-0

Last meeting: 48-7 Penn State in 2014

Players to watch: With program legend Sean Clifford finally out of eligibility, the Nittany Lions turn to a 19-year-old to lead their offense. Drew Allar, a former five-star prospect, steps into the spotlight as QB1 with nothing but pressure and expectations. Helping him relieve that pressure is a big, reliable offensive line led by Olu Fashanu – a consensus first-round pick in next year’s NFL Draft. In the backfield with Allar is the sophomore running back tandem of Nick Singleton (1,061 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2022, good for a Penn State freshman record) and Kaytron Allen (867 yards). The three of them combined with that talented offensive line is why some experts believe Penn State could make it to its first ever College Football Playoff.

Outlook: Penn State head coach James Franklin has said himself that he thinks this year’s Nittany Lions squad is his most talented and deepest in 10 seasons at the helm. Penn State’s expectations are big – Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff big. The Nittany Lions checked in at No. 7 in the AP Top 25 Preseason Poll, so the hype is definitely real. They return 13 of their 22 starters (six on offense, seven on defense) to go along with a plethora of other contributors who played backup roles during their 11-2 season in 2022. On the road, playing a powerhouse – who will most likely be in the midst of a Big Ten title race – in the middle of the season, this doesn’t bode well for the Minutemen.

Saturday, Oct. 28 at 12 p.m. – UMass at Army

Series history: Army leads 5-0

Last meeting: 44-7 Army in 2022

Players to watch: Senior captain and linebacker Leo Lowin recorded 100 tackles in 2022, the first Army player to do that since 2019. Lowin leads a long list of 13 Black Knights players who were named to a Preseason All-Independent Team. Other names include wide receiver Isaiah Alston, running back Tyson Riley (159 yards against Villanova last season), and offensive lineman Connor Finucane, who has been a force up front for Army’s rushing attack.

Outlook: Because the Minutemen are expected to be much improved from a year ago, highlighted by their aforementioned high-flying defense, they should be able to stay within punching distance against Army this year. The Black Knights don’t necessarily have a standout force on offense, which is even better news for UMass considering they gave up 44 points to Army last season.

Saturday, Nov. 4 at 3:30 p.m. – Merrimack at UMass

Series history: First meeting

Last meeting: N/A (first meeting)

Players to watch: Sophomore quarterback Gavin McCusker leads the Merrimack offense in 2023. McCusker showed poise and ability as a young freshman last year, and ended his campaign on a high note – throwing three touchdowns and no interceptions in the Warriors eighth and final win against Central Connecticut State. Alongside McCusker is Tyvon Edmonds Jr., a junior running back who takes over the starting position due to the departure of Victor Dawson.

Outlook: Merrimack was very good in FCS competition in 2022. The Warriors finished their season 8-3, and were serviceable on both sides of the ball. In Merrimack’s eight victories, the Warriors averaged 30.6 points per game, and allowed only 17.5 points per game. While UMass should have the advantage in talent, Merrimack is more than capable of hanging around in this contest. And the longer the Warriors hang around, the more confidence they will play with. Merrimack was 5-1 in games decided by one possession or less in 2022. The Minutemen need to put the Warriors’ hopes to bed early just in case.

Saturday, Nov. 18 at 1 p.m. – UMass at Liberty

Series history: Liberty leads 4-1

Last meeting: 42-24 Liberty in 2022

Players to watch: Anybody on Liberty’s defense is worth noting. The Flames held their opponents to 21 points or less six times in 2022, and with a solid portion of returning players, that unit should once again be good enough to win games alone. Junior defensive tackle Kendy Charles, senior line backer Tyren Dupree, junior cornerback Kobe Singleton, and safeties Brandon Bishop (senior) and Quinton Reese (junior) are all game-breakers who can disrupt an offenses rhythm in the blink of an eye.

Outlook: Over the past two seasons, the Flames have turned the ball over 49 times, including 27 a season ago. Liberty has had issues with ball control, but it hasn’t seemed to caught up with them yet. The Flames went 8-5 in 2022 and were a field goal shy of winning the Boca Raton Bowl over Toledo. There are currently three quarterbacks in the mix for the Flames starting position, two of which split time last season and another who transferred in from Southern Miss. The key for the Minutemen is to turn Liberty over early and often, especially with the current uncertainty at quarterback – though by mid-November they should have that figured out.

Saturday, Nov. 25 (time TBD) – UConn @ UMass

Series history: UMass leads 38-36

Last meeting: 27-10 UConn in 2022

Players to watch: Kevens Clercius Jr. can take a lot of pressure off starting quarterback Joseph Fagnano. Clercius Jr. is the team’s leading returning receiver and looks to take that next step to become the clear-cut WR1 for Fagnano. The Huskies o-line is led by junior guard Christian Haynes who will be clearing the way for tail back Victor Rosa and the rest of the UConn backfield. Defensively, Kansas-transfer Eriq Gilyard (linebacker) looks to make a big impact on the Huskies front seven along with senior defensive end Eric Watts.

Outlook: UConn is coming off one of its best seasons in recent memory, as head coach Jim Mora and the Huskies became bowl eligible for the first time since 2015. UMass hung with the Huskies for the first 30 minutes of game time last year, as the Minutemen went into the locker room trailing by only three points. Elsewhere, UConn committed 25 more penalties then its opponents in 2022. If the Minutemen can stay disciplined, they could have a big advantage in that department. The Huskies were also outscored by 52 points in the second quarter throughout last year. UMass needs to put together a complete four-quarter performance, but the Minutemen could be looking at a home victory to wrap up the season.

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