As long as UMass is FBS I'd like UConn to play them on the last weekend of the season. It's UConn v UMass, honestly the name of the game alone is what CFB used to be all about. If you want to take out all of the tradition and make it a purely transactional affair, it's no different than the Yard Goats to me. And if UConn and UMass are going to play on the last weekend of the season, they might as well play for a trophy.
i agree, albeit sadly. would have loved to have this "final-week-rivalry-game" be vs a big east foe like syracuse. had the big east stayed together i imagine a true rival would have emerged from that conference, whom we could focus all of our week 14 energy/hate on.
We never got that chance, so now it's UMass.
It's a lame game that feels so high school whenever we play at McGuirk, but if we keep getting better and UMass finally gets their friggin house in order and starts winning some stinkin' FBS games, then maybe this can be a mutually beneficial series/rivalry. But until UMass actually shows signs of life, this game is a drag on our season, and almost feels like another FCS win, tbh.