Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy issued an apology after his highly anticipated college football bet on Rutgers to cover a 29.5-point spread against UMass resulted in a significant upset loss for the Scarlet Knights.
Portnoy, who had declared the wager his "strongest play of the year," watched as UMass secured a 37-21 victory on Thursday. The Minutemen entered the game having lost 16 consecutive games and without an FBS opponent victory since 2023.
UMass jumped out to a 24-7 lead by halftime, making the outcome clear early on for those who followed Portnoy's pick. The win for UMass marks the largest outright upset in college football in five years, according to Action Network.
Following the game, Portnoy took to social media platform X to express his disappointment and take responsibility for the failed bet. "I apologize to everybody who followed me on the Rutgers pick," he wrote. "I'm not gonna point the finger at Greg Schiano or Rutgers for the most pathetic effort Ive ever seen. The buck stops with me. I will work to earn your trust back #rutgerssucks."
Portnoy's frustration extended further, with him suggesting that the Rutgers football program should be disbanded.
The Scarlet Knights' next game is scheduled against Boston College on September 11.