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UMass entered the 2026 season with the nation's longest active losing streak, but it didn't take long for the Minutemen to snap it.
As heavy underdogs in a road game against Rutgers on Thursday night, UMass produced a statement victory by defeating the Scarlet Knights 37-21. It was the team's first win since October 2024, ending a streak of 16 straight losses.
The win marks a very early notable moment in the college football season, as UMass not only got the win but did so against a Power 4 school. The Minutemen are a historically underwhelming program, as they haven't won more than four games in a season since 2011 and had two wins or fewer 10 times in the previous 14 seasons.
For one night, though, UMass produced a memorable highlight for its program. Here's a breakdown of the broken losing streak.
MORE: 8 reasons why we still love CFB heading into 2026
Longest college football losing streaks of all-time (FBS)
| Team | Years | Losing streak |
| Northwestern | 1979-82 | 34 |
| Virginia | 1958-60 | 28 |
| Kansas State | 1945-48 | 28 |
| New Mexico State | 1988-90 | 27 |
| Eastern Michigan | 1980-82 | 27 |
The longest losing streak in college football history belongs to Northwestern, which lost 34 straight games from 1979 to 1982. It is the only losing streak in FBS history to reach the 30-game mark.
After Northwestern, the next-longest losing streak is 28 games, which both Virginia and Kansas State endured early in their histories. Overall, seven teams have endured a losing streak of at least 25 games in FBS history.
Longest active college football losing streak
With UMass' win, Oklahoma State now owns the longest active FBS losing streak, having lost 11 straight games. The Cowboys won their first game in 2025 but lost each of their final 11 games, failing to win a game in Big 12 play.
Oklahoma State opens its season Saturday on the road against Tulsa, where the team should be able to break this losing streak.
UMass 16-game losing streak
| Date | Opponent | Score |
| Nov. 2, 2024 | @ Mississippi State | 45-20 |
| Nov. 16, 2024 | vs. Liberty | 35-34 (OT) |
| Nov. 23, 2024 | @ Georgia | 59-21 |
| Nov. 30, 2024 | UConn | 47-42 |
| Aug. 30, 2025 | vs. Temple | 42-10 |
| Sep. 6, 2025 | vs. Bryant | 27-26 |
| Sep. 13, 2025 | @ Iowa | 47-7 |
| Sep. 27, 2025 | @ Missouri | 42-6 |
| Oct. 4, 2025 | vs. Western Michigan | 21-3 |
| Oct. 11 2025 | @ Kent State | 42-6 |
| Oct. 18, 2025 | vs. Buffalo | 28-21 |
| Oct. 25, 2025 | @ Central Michigan | 38-13 |
| Nov. 4, 2025 | @ Akron | 44-10 |
| Nov. 12, 2025 | vs. Northern Illinois | 45-3 |
| Nov. 18, 2025 | @ Ohio | 42-14 |
| Nov. 25, 2025 | vs. Bowling Green | 45-14 |
UMass's 16-game losing streak included going 0-12 during the 2025 season, a miserable campaign for the Minutemen. UMass struggled on both offense and defense and played just two games on the season within one score, getting blown off the field in most of their contests.
Who is UMass' coach?
UMass is coached by Joe Harasymiak, who was hired by the school following the 2024 season. Harasymiak was at the helm throughout UMass' 0-12 season in 2025, but the program stuck with him, and he got his first win against Rutgers on Thursday night.
Harasymiak actually came from Rutgers, as he spent 2022-24 as the Scarlet Knights' defensive coordinator. He has been a college football coach since 2011, including as Maine's head coach from 2016-18.
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