The 2025 UMass Minutemen football team represented the University of Massachusetts Amherst during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They played their home games at Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium located in Hadley, Massachusetts, and competed as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). They were led by first-year head coach Joe Harasymiak.
They failed to improve upon their 2–10 record from last season and instead continued their 16-game losing streak en route to suffering their first full winless campaign, becoming the 8th team in the MAC since 2009 to do so, as well as the second straight after Kent State did so the previous year. Some lowlights of the season included a 27–26 loss to FCS Bryant on a game-winning field goal in Week 2, a 47–7 blowout loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes in Week 3, and a Week 7 loss to the Buffalo Bulls by a score of 28–21 after holding a 1 point lead in the final minute prior to the touchdown.
Offseason
Team departures 2024 UMass graduates Jakobie Keeney-James WR Graduated/Declared for 2025 NFL draft Arsheen Jiles DB Graduated/Declared for 2025 NFL draft Jaelyn Lay TE Graduated/Declared for 2025 NFL draft Dominick Mazotti TE Graduated/Declared for 2025 NFL draft Te'Rai Powell DB Graduated/Declared for 2025 NFL draft Jashon Watkins DB Graduated/Returning to UMass. Kamren Watkins-Hunter DB Graduated/Returning to UMass. Riley Moore K Graduated/Transferred to Matt Smith TE Graduated/Transferred to URI Jalen Stewart LB Graduated/Transferred to Josh Atwood OL Graduated Macklin Ayers LB Graduated John Burton LB Graduated Lake Ellis DB Graduated Sterling Galban WR Graduated Tim Grant-Randall DL Graduated Leonard St. Gourdin DB Graduated Alessandro Houghton OL Graduated Jaylen Hudson DL Graduated Zukudo Igwenagu DL Graduated Gerrell Johnson LB Graduated CJ Kolodziey K/P Graduated Frank Ladson Jr. WR Graduated Jacob Lurie K Graduated Jackson Marx LS Graduated Ethan Mottinger OL Graduated Luke Painton OL Graduated Taisun Phommachanh QB Graduated Etinosa Reuben DL Graduated Brayden Rohme OL Graduated Tyler Rudolph DB Graduated Isaiah Rutherford DB Graduated Myles Turner LB Graduated/transferred to Towson
Transfer portal 14 Massachusetts players elected to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal during or after the 2024 season.
Departing transfers Name No. Pos. Height/weight Hometown New school Jalen John #21 RB 5'11", 220 Portland, OR Coastal Carolina Aaron Beckwith #44 DT 6'4", 300 Germantown, MD Temple Tyson Watson #55 DL 6'5", 290 Warren, MI Campbell Matt Smith #80 TE 6'5", 245 Needham, MA Rhode Island Anthony Simpson #8 WR 5'11", 180 Hartford, CT Michigan Ahmad Haston #5 QB 6'0", 200 Palm Beach, FL Tennessee Tech Ott Eric Ottender #83 WR 5'11", 185 Tallinn, Estonia Kofi Asare #94 DE 6'5", 250 Worcester, MA Florida Jyree Roberts #36 LB 6'1", 230 Erie, PA RMU Donta Whack #25 RB 5'11", 205 Sanford, FL Robert Morris Riley Moore #98 P 5'10", 190 Goodrich, MI Louce Julien #18 DL 6'2", 225 Orange, NJ Toledo Jerrod Cameron #28 DB 5'8", 175 Miami, FL Brandon McElroy #88 DL 6'5", 301 Pasadena, CA Sahnai Swain-Price #53 DL 6'1", 290 Boston, MA Rhode Island
Incoming transfers Name No. Pos. Height/weight Hometown Prev. school Reece Adkins #83 TE 6'6", 250 Lake Mary, FL UCF TJ Magee #5 DB 5'10", 190 Denham Springs, LA Davidson Kendall Bournes #5 DB 6'0", 195 Union, NJ Concord Michael Entwistle #70 OL 6'2", 295 Paramus, NJ Harvard Timmy Hinspeter #44 LB 6'1", 230 Ramsey, NJ Rutgers Malachi Madison #54 DL 6'3", 290 Chester, VA Virginia Tech Max Dowling #87 TE 6'6", 240 Buffalo, NY UT Martin Keegan Andrews #33 P 6'3", 250 Melbourne, Australia Texas A&M Marcus Lye #49 K 6'1", 210 Parkes, Australia NAU Shymell Davis #33 DT 6'2", 295 Woolwich, NJ Maine Tyree Kelly #15 WR 6'3", 208 Cairo, GA USF Alex Geraci #10 TE 6'4", 240 Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY Dartmouth Zeraun Daniel #38 DB 6'2", 205 Brooklyn, NY Georgetown Jovoni Borbon #47 LS 6'0", 190 Sierra Vista, AZ McNeese State Joshua Nobles #2 EDGE 6'4", 250 Camden, NJ Jackson State Kyle Brown #63 OL 6'4", 295 Cairo, GA Dartmouth Malcolm Greene #8 DB 5'10", 208 Richmond, VA Virginia Sullivan Weidman #57 OL 6'5", 318 Brookline, MA West Virginia David Onuoha #35 DE 6'1", 237 Aberdeen, NJ Rutgers DD Snyder #3 CB 6'0", 175 Tampa, FL Ball State Nick Hawthorne #5 EDGE 6'3", 217 Fort Worth, TX Boise State Brandon Rose #8 QB 6'2", 195 Murrieta, CA Utah Grant Jordan #9 QB 6'2", 210 New Orleans, LA Yale Dean Shaffer #52 LB 6'1", 230 Smithtown, NY Yale Rocko Griffin #8 RB 5'9", 200 Rincon, GA UTSA Timothy Passmore Jr. #56 DL 6'2", 295 Cocoa, FL UConn Derek Morris #99 K 6'2", 200 Dayton, OH California Jake McConnachie #84 WR 6'5", 215 Verona, NJ Pitt Matthew Ogunniyi #18 TE 6'5", 236 Springdale, MD Rutgers Note: Players with a dash in the new school column have not joined a new team for the 2025 season.
2025 recruiting class
Preseason
The MAC Football Kickoff was held on Thursday, July 24, 2025 at the Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan from 9:00 am EDT to 1:30 pm EDT.
Preseason polls
Coaches Poll On July 24 the MAC announced the preseason coaches' poll.
Schedule
Game summaries Temple
Statistics TEMMASS First downs 24 18 Plays–yards 65–468 62–302 Rushes–yards 36–192 22–103 Passing yards 276 199 Passing: comp–att–int 22–29–0 25–40–1 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 33:46 26:14 Team Category Player Statistics Temple Passing Evan Simon 19/25, 248 yards, 6 TD Rushing Jay Ducker 19 carries, 128 yards Receiving Jojo Bermudez 7 receptions, 87 yards UMass Passing Brandon Rose 23/38, 193 yards, INT Rushing Rocko Griffin 10 carries, 94 yards, TD Receiving Jacquon Gibson 12 receptions, 132 yards
Bryant (FCS)
Statistics BRY MASS First downs 25 21 Plays–yards 70–399 67–358 Rushes–yards 25–81 35–101 Passing yards 318 257 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–45–2 20–32–1 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 23:55 36:05 Team Category Player StatisticsBryant Passing Brennan Myer 22/44, 318 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Elijah Elliot 11 carries, 47 yards Receiving Zyheem Collick 3 receptions, 94 yards, 2 TDUMass Passing Grant Jordan 13/22, 205 yards, INT Rushing Brand Hood 11 carries, 39 yards, TD Receiving Jacquon Gibson 7 receptions, 89 yards
at Iowa
Statistics MASSIOWA First downs 8 22 Plays–yards 49–119 71–435 Rushes–yards 27–26 40–201 Passing yards 93 234 Passing: –– 13–22–0 21–31–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 27:56 32:04 Team Category Player StatisticsUMass Passing AJ Hairston 4/8, 56 yards Rushing Rocko Griffin 10 carries, 28 yards Receiving Jacquon Gibson 5 receptions, 37 yardsIowa Passing Mark Gronowski 16/24, 179 yards, 2 TD Rushing Nathan McNeil 10 carries, 56 yards Receiving Sam Phillips 3 receptions, 75 yards
at No. 20 Missouri
Statistics MASSMIZ First downs 9 31 Plays–yards 55–124 84–521 Rushes–yards 16–19 52–268 Passing yards 105 253 Passing: comp–att–int 14–39–1 27–32–1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 21:17 38:43 Team Category Player Statistics Massachusetts Passing AJ Hairston 11/31, 75 yards, TD, INT Rushing Rocko Griffin 5 carries, 23 yards Receiving Jacquon Gibson 6 receptions, 30 yards Missouri Passing Beau Pribula 26/29, 241 yards, TD, INT Rushing Ahmad Hardy 24 carries, 130 yards, 3 TD Receiving Kevin Coleman Jr. 12 receptions, 108 yards
Western Michigan
Statistics WMU MASS First downs 23 14 Plays–yards 67–380 64–260 Rushes–yards 42–217 29–57 Passing yards 163 203 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–25–0 20–35–1 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 32:26 27:34 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Michigan Passing Broc Lowry 18/25, 163 yards, TD Rushing Broc Lowry 15 carries, 92 yards, TD Receiving Aveion Chenault 2 receptions, 51 yardsUMass Passing AJ Hairston 11/18, 131 yards, INT Rushing Juwaun Price 6 carries, 54 yards Receiving Jacquon Gibson 6 receptions, 70 yards
at Kent State
Statistics MASS KENT First downs 21 17 Plays–yards 82–271 62–330 Rushes–yards 33–44 42–151 Passing yards 227 179 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 26–49–2 12–20–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 30:31 29:29 Team Category Player StatisticsUMass Passing AJ Hairston 26/48, 227 yards, INT Rushing Brandon Hood 10 carries, 36 yards Receiving Jake McConnachie 7 receptions, 67 yardsKent State Passing Dru DeShields 10/18, 148 yards, 4 TD Rushing Jordan Nubin 15 carries, 80 yards, TD Receiving Dashawn Martin 3 receptions, 42 yards, TD
Buffalo
Statistics BUFF MASS First downs 29 11 Plays–yards 85–475 58–306 Rushes–yards 30–72 44–187 Passing yards 403 119 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 36–55–1 6–14–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 34:20 25:40 Team Category Player StatisticsBuffalo Passing Ta'Quan Roberson 36/55, 403 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Al-Jay Henderson 20 carries, 59 yards Receiving Nick McMillan 10 receptions, 119 yardsUMass Passing AJ Hairston 6/14, 119 yards, 2 TD Rushing Brandon Hood 24 carries, 174 yards, TD Receiving Max Dowling 1 reception, 77 yards, TD
at Central Michigan
Statistics MASS CMU First downs 20 23 Plays–yards 77–292 66–502 Rushes–yards 26–116 53–279 Passing yards 176 223 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21-51-1 12-13-0 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 22:07 37:53 Team Category Player StatisticsUMass Passing AJ Hairston 21/51, 176 yards, INT Rushing Rocko Griffin 7 carries, 56 yards, TD Receiving Kezion Dia-Johnson 3 receptions, 41 yardsCentral Michigan Passing Joe Labas 10/11, 148 yards, 2 TD Rushing Nahree Biggins 10 carries, 94 yards Receiving Brock Townsend 2 receptions, 78 yards, TD
at Akron
Statistics MASS AKR First downs 14 25 Plays–yards 55–169 68–467 Rushes–yards 27–77 46–237 Passing yards 92 230 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–28–0 14–22–0 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 24:47 35:13 Team Category Player StatisticsUMass Passing AJ Hairston 12/20, 54 yards, TD Rushing Grant Jordan 7 carries, 51 yards Receiving Jacquon Gibson 6 receptions, 35 yardsAkron Passing Ben Finley 12/20, 197 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jordan Gant 28 carries, 153 yards, 2 TD Receiving Marcel Williams 4 receptions, 104 yards
Northern Illinois
Statistics NIU MASS First downs 22 17 Plays–yards 63–433 67–262 Rushes–yards 55–318 25–65 Passing yards 115 197 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 6–8–0 25–42–0 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 33:41 26:19 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Illinois Passing Jalen Macon 3/4, 73 yards, TD Rushing Jalen Macon 12 carries, 98 yards, 3 TD Receiving Elijah Porter 1 reception, 67 yards, TDUMass Passing Brandon Rose 11/20, 101 yards Rushing AJ Hairston 3 carries, 23 yards Receiving Jacquon Gibson 6 receptions, 64 yards
at Ohio
Statistics MASSOHIO First downs 17 17 Plays–yards 67–215 65–391 Rushes–yards 39–125 57–363 Passing yards 90 28 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–28–2 3–8–0 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 27:17 32:43 Team Category Player StatisticsUMass Passing Grant Jordan 10/21, 56 yards, TD, INT Rushing Brandon Hood 10 carries, 39 yards Receiving Jacquon Gibson 5 receptions, 21 yardsOhio Passing Parker Navarro 3/8, 28 yards Rushing Sieh Bangura 27 carries, 196 yards, 2 TD Receiving Eian Pugh 1 reception, 19 yards
Bowling Green
Statistics BGSU MASS First downs 19 16 Plays–yards 57–406 64–292 Rushes–yards 48–278 29–69 Passing yards 128 223 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 7–9–0 22–35–0 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 32:35 27:25 Team Category Player StatisticsBowling Green Passing Hunter Najm 7/9, 128 yards, 3 TD Rushing Austyn Dendy 22 carries, 115 yards, 2 TD Receiving Brennan Ridley 1 reception, 87 yards, TDUMass Passing Grant Jordan 22/35, 223 yards, 2 TD Rushing Elijah Faulkner 8 carries, 36 yards Receiving Jacquon Wilson 10 receptions, 138 yards
Personnel Roster
Coaching staff Since December 4, 2024, the head coach of the UMass Minutemen has been Joe Harasymiak. He heads a staff of eleven assistant coaches, two graduate assistants, and numerous other support staff.