2020 UMass Minutemen football team explained
The 2020 UMass Minutemen football team represented the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Minutemen competed as an independent. They were led by second-year head coach Walt Bell.
UMass originally announced on August 11, 2020, that they would not play football in the fall over concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision was reversed on September 21, as UMass announced that opponents would be announced "as they become official".[1] Although the Minutemen's home stadium was Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium, all games there were cancelled; the team played only away games in 2020.
The Minutemen finished the abridged season winless, at 0–4, and were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 161 to 12.
Preseason
Award watch lists
Listed in the order that they were released.
Schedule
UMass went 0–4, scoring 12 total points while allowing 161 points by their opponents.
Game summaries
At Georgia Southern
See also: 2020 Georgia Southern Eagles football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| GASO −31 | 62[4] | |
| Statistics | UMass | Georgia Southern |
|---|
| First downs | 10 | 20 |
| Total yards | 191 | 436 |
| Rushing yards | 111 | 308 |
| Passing yards | 80 | 128 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 29:09 | 30:51 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| UMass | Passing | Mike Fallon | 7/12, 41 yards, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Will Koch | 4 carries, 41 yards |
| Receiving | | 4 receptions, 28 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Shai Werts | 11/16, 128 yards, 3 TDs |
| Rushing | Wesley Kennedy III | 6 carries, 106 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Malik Murray | 4 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD | |
At Marshall
See also: 2020 Marshall Thundering Herd football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| MRSH −44.5 | 55.5 | |
| Statistics | UMass | Marshall |
|---|
| First downs | 12 | 33 |
| Total yards | 190 | 495 |
| Rushing yards | 41 | 267 |
| Passing yards | 149 | 228 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 26:53 | 33:07 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| UMass | Passing | Will Koch | 12/18, 99 yards, 1 TD |
| Rushing | | 10 carries, 31 yards |
| Receiving | Taylor Edwards | 1 reception, 37 yards |
| Marshall | Passing | | 21/30, 228 yards, 3 TDs |
| Rushing | Brenden Knox | 14 carries, 118 yards, 2 TDs |
| Receiving | Artie Henry | 5 receptions, 71 yards | |
At Florida Atlantic
See also: 2020 Florida Atlantic Owls football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| FAU −32.5 | 50.5[5] | |
| Statistics | UMass | Florida Atlantic |
|---|
| First downs | 8 | 16 |
| Total yards | 147 | 368 |
| Rushing yards | 62 | 140 |
| Passing yards | 85 | 228 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 25:10 | 34:50 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| UMass | Passing | Will Koch | 12/22, 67 yards, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Ellis Merriweather | 11 carries, 48 yards |
| Receiving | Josiah Johnson | 8 receptions, 42 yards |
| Florida Atlantic | Passing | Javion Posey | 13/27, 203 yards |
| Rushing | Javion Posey | 19 carries, 90 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | TJ Chase | 4 receptions, 79 yards | |
At Liberty
See also: 2020 Liberty Flames football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| LIB −35.5 | 57.5[6] | |
| Statistics | UMass | Liberty |
|---|
| First downs | 12 | 31 |
| Total yards | 227 | 629 |
| Rushing yards | 55 | 378 |
| Passing yards | 172 | 251 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 25:50 | 34:10 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| UMass | Passing | Garret Dzuro | 9/22, 172 yards, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Cam Roberson | 5 carries, 17 yards |
| Receiving | Samuel Emilus | 4 receptions, 82 yards |
| Liberty | Passing | | 16/24, 223 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | Peytton Pickett | 10 carries, 125 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | | 4 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD | |
Notes and References
- Web site: UMass reverses call, to play limited fall schedule . ESPN.com . 21 September 2020 . en . 21 September 2020.
- Web site: 2020 Outland Trophy Watch List Unveiled. July 21, 2020 . July 23, 2020.
- Web site: The Wuerffel Trophy 2020 Watch List (Non AP). July 23, 2020 . July 23, 2020.
- Web site: Massachusetts Minutemen vs Georgia Southern Eagles . Odds Shark . 18 October 2020 . en.
- Web site: Massachusetts Minutemen vs Florida Atlantic Owls . Odds Shark . 17 November 2020 . en.
- Web site: Massachusetts Minutemen vs Liberty Flames . Odds Shark . 27 November 2020 . en.
