The 2025 season marks UMass’s return to the MAC. This move was announced back in February 2024, after UMass competed as an FBS independent. With Harasymiak, a Massachusetts native and former Maine coach, at the helm, the Minutemen are expecting a fresh start. The schedule was released on March 5, 2025, and it gives us some hints on what to expect from UMass in the upcoming season.
2025 UMass Football Schedule
- Aug. 30: vs. Temple (Hadley, MA)
- Sept. 6: vs. Bryant (Hadley, MA)
- Sept. 13: @ Iowa (Iowa City, IA)
- Sept. 27: @ Missouri (Columbia, MO)
- Oct. 4: vs. Western Michigan (Hadley, MA)
- Oct. 11: @ Kent State (Kent, OH)
- Oct. 18: vs. Buffalo (Hadley, MA)
- Oct. 25: @ Central Michigan (Mount Pleasant, MI)
- Nov. 4: @ Akron (Akron, OH)
- Nov. 12: vs. Northern Illinois (Hadley, MA)
- Nov. 18: @ Ohio (Athens, OH)
- Nov. 25: vs. Bowling Green (Hadley, MA)
The season kicks off with a home opener against Temple on Aug. 30, a rematch of a 2019 blowout loss, followed by Bryant on Sept. 6. Both are winnable, but Bryant’s form could challenge UMass’s shaky secondary.
The non-conference slate gets rough with road trips to Iowa on Sept. 13 and Missouri on Sept. 27. Iowa’s Big Ten defense and Missouri’s explosive offense, which crushed UMass 45-10 in 2024, can prove to be big hurdles for Massachusetts. MAC play begins with Western Michigan on Oct. 4 at home, where the Broncos’ aggressive offense will push UMass’s defense, followed by a winnable road game at Kent State on October 11.
The heart of the MAC schedule features Buffalo on Oct. 18 at home, a chance to flip last year’s 34-20 loss, and a road trip to Central Michigan on Oct. 25. November may be the most challenging for UMass. On Nov. 4 UMass faces Akron on the road. The rebuilding Zips squad can be an easy match for the Minutemen.
Northern Illinois on Nov. 12 at home pits UMass against a MAC heavyweight with a run-heavy scheme. A road clash with Ohio on Nov. 18, fresh off a 10-win 2024, will test the team further.
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The finale against Bowling Green on Nov. 25 at McGuirk could be a high-scoring affair, with the Falcons’ passing attack challenging UMass’s secondary, which ranked 120th nationally in 2024.
Four to six wins are within reach, and a strong and consistent showing in November could push UMass toward its first bowl since 2012.
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