By now, you’ve read all about how the UMass football team is shaping up heading into the 2024 season. What about their future opponents? 

The Minutemen’s last season as an FBS Independent before moving to the MAC won’t be a walk in the park. The first half of the season will give UMass a nice introduction of what it’ll see in conference play next year, with five of its first six games against MAC opponents. It’ll also see the cream of the crop of the conference, with games against both teams that reached the MAC title game last year. 

The schedule really heats up in the second half, with three SEC opponents — including the preseason No. 1 team in the country and another ranked in the top 12 — and a Conference USA opponent that didn’t lose a regular season game last fall. 

Going off records from last year — not the greatest way to view it, but a good index nonetheless — UMass is tied for the 20th toughest strength of schedule going into the season, with the Minutemen’s opponents going 90-63 last season. 

With two FCS opponents on the schedule, betting sites have set UMass’ win total set at 3.5 this season. 

Here’s a closer breakdown of each opponent: 

vs. Eastern Michigan (Aug. 31)

Chris Creighton enters his 11th season coaching the Eagles and will be looking to once again become bowl eligible following a 6-7 campaign last season. 

With a win total of 4.5, Vegas isn’t expecting a big year in Ypsilanti. The MAC coaches poll has the Eagles finishing sixth in the conference. 

Quarterback Cole Snyder transfers over from Buffalo and has plenty of experience under center, throwing for over 5,000 career yards. He’ll be looking to improve an Eastern Michigan offense that scored just 19.5 points per game a season ago, a mark that ranked 117th in the country. Defensively, the Eagles gave up 26.7 points per game which ranked 67th in the nation. 

In the portal, Eastern Michigan brought in 21 players. Athlon Sports named safety Quentavius Scandrett and punter Mitchell Tomasek to its MAC First-Team Preseason All Conference Team. 

at Toledo (Sept. 7)

With eventual Philadelphia Eagles first round pick Quinyon Mitchell roaming the secondary, the Rockets held the 21st-ranked scoring defense in the country (20.3 PPG) last season, propelling them to an 11-3 record and a trip to the MAC championship game, where it fell to Miami (OH). 

With a win total of 8.5, expect Toledo to be in the mix to make it to another MAC title game. 

While the offense lost numerous starters from a team that averaged 32.3 PPG last season — the 29th highest in the country — the Rockets are bringing plenty of firepower back. Tucker Gleason is expected to step in under center while Jerjuan Newton, who tallied 52 catches for 696 yards and nine touchdowns a season ago, will be his top weapon on the outside. 

Athlon Sports named defensive tackle Darius Alexander, safety Maxen Hook, safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and kick returner Jacquez Stuart, as well as Newton, to its MAC First-Team Preseason All Conference Team. Toledo brought in just seven transfers. 

at Buffalo (Sept. 14)

After a 3-9 season last fall, the Bulls moved on from coach Maurice Linguist and hired South Carolina associate head coach/special teams coach Peter Lembo, bringing 17 transfers in to upstate New York with him. 

Lembo will look to improve an offense that ranked 109th nationally in scoring (20.9 PPG) and 74th in points allowed (27.4). Vegas has set Buffalo’s win total at 4.5. 

After rotating in last season, CJ Ogbonna was named the Bulls’ starting quarterback. Linebackers Red Murdock and Shaun Dolac were named to Athlon Sports’ MAC First-Team Preseason All Conference Team. 

vs. Central Connecticut State (Sept. 21)

The first of two FCS opponents on UMass’ schedule, the Blue Devils went 3-8 a season ago. 

This game could be the return of quarterback Brady Olson to Amherst. Olson spent the first three years of his college career with the Minutemen, appearing in 19 games. 

at Miami (OH) (Sept. 28)

The defending MAC champions, the RedHawks are the odds-on favorites to repeat this fall. 

Miami — which went 11-3 — brings Brett Gabbert back for his sixth year with the program, where he’s started 39 games and thrown for 7,893 yards. Last year, he helped the RedHawks score 25.6 points per game.

It was the Miami defense that led the way a season ago, giving up just 15.9 points per game which ranked eighth in the country. Gabbert, offensive tackles Will Jados and Reid Holskey, defensive end Brian Ugwu, linebacker Matt Salopek and punt returner Cade McDonald were named to the MAC First-Team Preseason All Conference Team by Athlon Sports.

The RedHawks’ win total is set at 7.5.

at Northern Illinois (Oct. 5)

The Huskies were Bowl Eligible last season, going 6-6 in the regular season before defeating Arkansas State in the Camellia Bowl. 

NIU went bowling thanks to its defense, who surrendered just 21 PPG which ranked 26th in the country. Offensively, the Huskies scored 24.9 PPG which ranked 79th nationally. 

Vegas has NIU right about where it was last year, with its win total set at 6.5. Cornerback Javaughn Byrd was named to the MAC First-Team Preseason All Conference Team by Athlon Sports.

vs. Missouri (Oct. 12)

After starting the season with multiple MAC opponents, the schedule ramps up from here for the Minutemen. 

Missouri, which enters the season with College Football Playoff aspirations, is ranked No. 11 in the preseason AP Top 25 poll and has a roster ready to take another step forward after beating Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl last year.

Brady Cook returns for his third season as the Tigers’ starting signal caller and his top weapon, Luther Burden III, was named to AP’s First Team Preseason All American First Team after hauling in 86 passes for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns last fall.

On the line, tackle Armand Membou and guard Cam’Ron Johnson were selected to the Preseason All-SEC Third Team by coaches.

Missouri scored 32.5 PPG last year, which ranked 28th nationally, and allowed 20.9 PPG, which ranked 25th.

The Tigers’ season win total is set at 9.5.

vs. Wagner (Oct. 26)

The second FCS school on UMass’ schedule, Wagner went 4-7 a season ago. 

Rickey Spruill returns to the backfield for the Seahawks. He rushed for 704 yards and five touchdowns last fall. 

at Mississippi State (Nov. 2)

The second SEC opponent on the Minutemen schedule, UMass will be facing a new-look Bulldog squad who hired Jeff Lebby following a 5-7 campaign. 

Mississippi State scored 21.8 PPG a season ago, a figure that ranked 105th in the country. Its defense surrendered 26.9 PPG, which ranked 66th.  

With the coaching turnover, the Bulldogs brought in 19 transfers led by Blake Shapen, the former Baylor quarterback. 

Mississippi State’s win total is set at 4.5. 

vs. Liberty (Nov. 16)

The Flames offense had no trouble scoring points last season, averaging 38.3 PPG. That mark ranked ninth in the country and allowed Liberty to finish 13-1 on the season and earn a spot in the Fiesta Bowl, where it fell to Oregon. 

There was still a cost to winning as Hugh Freeze left to take the head job at Auburn. Coastal Carolina’s Jamey Chadwell was hired to replace him.

On the field, Kaidon Salter returns under center after throwing for 2,876 yards and 32 touchdowns while running for 1,089 yards on the ground a season ago. He’ll be joined in the backfield by Quinton Cooley, who ran for 1,401 yards.

Defensively, Liberty gave up 23.86 PPG, which ranked 49th nationally.

The Flames’ win total is set at 10.5. 

at Georgia (Nov. 23)

The toughest test of the season for the Minutemen will likely come down in Athens, when they face the odds on national champion favorite Bulldogs.

After capturing the 2022 and 2023 national titles, Georgia went unbeaten in the regular season last season but a loss to Alabama in the SEC championship game kept them out of the four-team playoff. A determined Bulldog team beat Florida State 63-3 in the Orange Bowl.

Scoring 40.1 PPG and allowing 15.6 PPG, both figures ranking fifth in the country, the Bulldogs can beat you in a variety of ways. Quarterback Carson Beck, who enters second in Heisman Trophy odds, is an AP First Team Preseason All-American while guard Tate Ratledge and safety Malaki Starks join him on that list. Dylan Fairchild made the second team. 

Georgia’s win total is set at 10.5. 

vs. UConn (Nov. 30)

UMass once again closes its season against the Huskies.

UConn scored 19.1 PPG last year, which ranked 118th nationally. Its defense surrendered 29.83 PPG, a figure that ranked 96th. The Huskies bring back 10 starters while Nick Evers transfers over from Wisconsin and was named UConn’s starting quarterback. 

The Huskies’ win total is set at 4.5.