Rutgers University's football team experienced a humbling 37-21 defeat to the UMass Minutemen on Thursday night. Adding to the embarrassment, the stadium was filled with a large fireworks display, planned in anticipation of a victory that did not materialize. The SHI Stadium was largely empty as the pyrotechnics lit up the night sky following the Scarlet Knights' unexpected loss.
UMass entered the game on a 16-game losing streak, with their last win occurring in October 2024. Rutgers was a 28.5-point favorite entering the matchup. The Minutemen were compensated $1.55 million for playing in the game.
Rutgers has a notable history with pyrotechnics. According to FOIAball, the school was the highest spender on fireworks among Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams in the previous season, with expenditures approaching $200,000. Other FBS teams also invest significantly in fireworks, with Virginia Tech reportedly spending over $31,000 for a single game last season.
The loss has placed head coach Greg Schiano under scrutiny. "I want to congratulate UMass and Coach [Joe] Harasymiak and his staff and players," Schiano told reporters after the game. "They outcoached us. They outcoached me. They outplayed our players. We got licked tonight, and there’s no other thing to say about it."
Rutgers' next scheduled game is against Boston College, who will host the Scarlet Knights. The team will aim to refocus on its performance following this significant upset.