The Biggest Upset of Week 1

On Opening Night, September 3, 2026, the college football world was turned upside down at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. The UMass Minutemen, coming off a winless 0-12 season in 2025, rolled into Rutgers as 29-point underdogs — and left with a 37-21 victory that will be remembered as the signature upset of the entire Week 1 slate.

Snapping the Nation's Longest Losing Streak

For UMass, the victory meant far more than just a single win. The Minutemen entered the game carrying the nation's longest active losing streak — a dismal run of futility that had made the program a national punchline. That streak is now over, and the emotional release on the UMass sideline told the story of a program that had been waiting for this moment for far too long.

Schiano's Seat Growing Hotter

For Greg Schiano, the loss is being called potentially the worst defeat of his coaching career. The Rutgers head coach, who returned to New Brunswick with NFL experience and high expectations, now finds himself squarely on the hot seat. The conversation has already turned to his buyout — a figure that has become a major talking point among fans and media alike. Despite the embarrassment, Schiano maintained that he does not believe the program is in 'dire straits', but the optics of losing at home to a team that won zero games last season are difficult to spin.

The Viral Moment: Fan Cancels All Season Tickets

As the final minutes ticked away and the reality of the upset set in, a viral video captured a Rutgers fan canceling all season tickets on the spot. The moment encapsulated the frustration and disbelief of a fanbase that had expected a routine opening-night win and instead witnessed a program-defining disaster.

What This Means for CFB 27

In CFB 27, this upset sends shockwaves through the independent and mid-major tiers. UMass's program ratings get a significant morale boost, while Rutgers drops in the coaches' perception. For Dynasty mode players, this is the kind of result that triggers coaching carousel movement — watch for Schiano's job security rating to drop significantly after this one. The 'snap the streak' narrative also makes UMass an appealing rebuild target for players who enjoy turning around struggling programs.