UMass > MAC for all sports in 2025-2026

[Vuce]

UMass averaged 3k fans last year playing A10 opponents.

It’ll be at least 30% less than that this year. Probably more. And the upside is WAY less. Season ticket sales are negligible now - no one wants to see MAC basketball. They should only play hockey in Mullins now - no reason to play hoops in an empty arena. Go back to 1985 and play in the Cage. At least 1500 fans will look better there

 

[cellocgg]

I think one of the more interesting takes I've seen from UMass circles is that the MAC move basically killed their AD, sacrificing Basketball for a nothing Football program.

What do you mean the MAC killed it, your AD has been dead for the better part of 20 years. Where has all this rallying for better athletics been all this time?

 

[ZooCougar]

I think one of the more interesting takes I've seen from UMass circles is that the MAC move basically killed their AD, sacrificing Basketball for a nothing Football program.

What do you mean the MAC killed it, your AD has been dead for the better part of 20 years. Where has all this rallying for better athletics been all this time?

Exactly. I didn't realize their basketball program was still alive. They haven't made the tournament in well over a decade.

Now if they had moved say, their hockey program to a lesser conference maybe they would have a case. But there is no reason why the MAC of all things will be what holds back their two non hockey revenue sports.

 

[Vuce]

Exactly. I didn't realize their basketball program was still alive. They haven't made the tournament in well over a decade.

Now if they had moved say, their hockey program to a lesser conference maybe they would have a case. But there is no reason why the MAC of all things will be what holds back their two non hockey revenue sports.

Essentially their hoops fans 40 years old and up remember UMass when they were really good or just good. It might seem crazy to us but they hold on to those days and envision and return to being in the mix for NCAA Tournaments. They made the tournament about 10 years ago (2014). As I’ve said before maybe in this thread I’ve lived in western MA my whole life and know a ton of UMass grads/fans. It’s 80/20 at least against the move to the MAC. My golfing group has several season ticket holders and they all cancelled their hoops tickets for first time since Calipari was there. They know the MAC is literally one of the worst basketball conferences in the country. They’ve told me that if UMass is in contention to win the league they might go to a game or two down the stretch. And football up here has always been just something to do in the fall and the MAC doesn’t change that. Move hoops to the Cage to get a better home court advantage rather than than a 90% empty Mullins.

 

[ZooCougar]

Essentially their hoops fans 40 years old and up remember UMass when they were really good or just good. It might seem crazy to us but they hold on to those days and envision and return to being in the mix for NCAA Tournaments. They made the tournament about 10 years ago (2014). As I’ve said before maybe in this thread I’ve lived in western MA my whole life and know a ton of UMass grads/fans. It’s 80/20 at least against the move to the MAC. My golfing group has several season ticket holders and they all cancelled their hoops tickets for first time since Calipari was there. They know the MAC is literally one of the worst basketball conferences in the country. They’ve told me that if UMass is in contention to win the league they might go to a game or two down the stretch. And football up here has always been just something to do in the fall and the MAC doesn’t change that. Move hoops to the Cage to get a better home court advantage rather than than a 90% empty Mullins.

So their hoop fans are like us football fans here. And they did a reverse AAC departure.

 

[cellocgg]

Exactly. I didn't realize their basketball program was still alive. They haven't made the tournament in well over a decade.

They made it in that weird year in 2014 (UConn's famous run) where 6 A10 teams got bids. They were a 6 seed and lost to 11 seed Tennessee by 20 points

They've been in one NCAA tournament this century

 

[ZooCougar]

They made it in that weird year in 2014 (UConn's famous run) where 6 A10 teams got bids. They were a 6 seed and lost to 11 seed Tennessee by 20 points

They've been in one NCAA tournament this century

Yeah. Their hoop fans need to touch grass.

 

[Vuce]

Yeah. Their hoop fans need to touch grass.

Yes much like our football fans as you mentioned. The MAC isn’t a move up for them it’s at best a lateral move that prioritizes football which has been lower than dogsh*t since they went to FBS. Over those 14 seasons they’ve won a TOTAL of 26 games. The fans aren’t going to support MAC sports unless the 25 and younger crowd get into the exciting MACtion! Those Tuesday football night games coming up in Amherst in November will be a sight to see

 

[ZooCougar]

Yes much like our football fans as you mentioned. The MAC isn’t a move up for them it’s at best a lateral move that prioritizes football which has been lower than dogsh*t since they went to FBS. Over those 14 seasons they’ve won a TOTAL of 26 games. The fans aren’t going to support MAC sports unless the 25 and younger crowd get into the exciting MACtion! Those Tuesday football night games coming up in Amherst in November will be a sight to see

In comparison, we've won 22 games just since Mora's first season.

 

[cellocgg]

 

[pepband99]

Is UMass on track to set a new low for attendance?

Just put this thing out of its misery.

OT: Post in thread 'UMass to MAC'

Jun 2, 2025

Tell us this after the 2nd or 3rd MACtion game, when whatever novelty wears off. Directional Rust Belt U on a Tuesday night in November.

This is a stupid nonsensical take. MACtion is an upgrade for them. They have zero juice now. It can’t get worse. As an Indy they had no hope of improvement.

The only other rational choices were dropping football or going back to FCS.

• ZooCougar

• 

Called this. And you mocked it. Nice job - we didn't even make it to the first MACtion game.

 

[Vuce]

OT: Post in thread 'UMass to MAC'

Jun 2, 2025

Tell us this after the 2nd or 3rd MACtion game, when whatever novelty wears off. Directional Rust Belt U on a Tuesday night in November.

This is a stupid nonsensical take. MACtion is an upgrade for them. They have zero juice now. It can’t get worse. As an Indy they had no hope of improvement.

The only other rational choices were dropping football or going back to FCS.

• ZooCougar

• 

Called this. And you mocked it. Nice job - we didn't even make it to the first MACtion game.

I'm in same boat as you. It can and will get worse in the MAC. The younger fans at UMass never connected with their athletics the way that the 40+ crowd did - for obvious reasons, they won. Now, UMass has alienated whatever fanbase remained and they have to try to grow a new one by playing East, West and Central Michigan and 15 Ohio schools. At this point they should just do what BU did and drop football, throw hoops into America East or something as that is rated about the same as the MAC and just focus on hockey.

 

[pepband99]

I'm in same boat as you. It can and will get worse in the MAC. The younger fans at UMass never connected with their athletics the way that the 40+ crowd did - for obvious reasons, they won. Now, UMass has alienated whatever fanbase remained and they have to try to grow a new one by playing East, West and Central Michigan and 15 Ohio schools. At this point they should just do what BU did and drop football, throw hoops into America East or something as that is rated about the same as the MAC and just focus on hockey.

Dumping regional rivalries in EVERY sport for the ability to chase a football championship that gets them to a low-tier bowl game, off of the back of midweek 100s of people attendance games was never going to work. Some of us knew this.

 

[KryHavok]

I'm in same boat as you. It can and will get worse in the MAC. The younger fans at UMass never connected with their athletics the way that the 40+ crowd did - for obvious reasons, they won. Now, UMass has alienated whatever fanbase remained and they have to try to grow a new one by playing East, West and Central Michigan and 15 Ohio schools. At this point they should just do what BU did and drop football, throw hoops into America East or something as that is rated about the same as the MAC and just focus on hockey.

While I don't disagree with you, I think it's disingenuous for us to tell another school to drop their football program when we were given that same insane advice by hordes of idiotically stupid external fans ("UConn has football?! They should just cancel the program already and keep hoops." or something along those lines). We're still in a precarious situation given our independence, and I don't think we have any standing to excoriate a school and subject them to the same abuse that we experienced. Let them somehow figure out a way to survive, and let us beat them senseless in match-ups. It sucks seeing your school lose a high profile sport.

 

[ZooCougar]

OT: Post in thread 'UMass to MAC'

Jun 2, 2025

Tell us this after the 2nd or 3rd MACtion game, when whatever novelty wears off. Directional Rust Belt U on a Tuesday night in November.

This is a stupid nonsensical take. MACtion is an upgrade for them. They have zero juice now. It can’t get worse. As an Indy they had no hope of improvement.

The only other rational choices were dropping football or going back to FCS.

• ZooCougar

• 

Called this. And you mocked it. Nice job - we didn't even make it to the first MACtion game.

Ahh you silly troll. Nobody held a gun to them and said to continue to play bad football. It’s still an upgrade over body bag games against the SEC.

They are just so pitiful that they can’t win no matter what course of action they choose.

You’re still wrong. Continuing to play a tougher SEC schedule than Texas was a terrible way to go.

That’s what you were pushing for.

 

[Kolumbo]

The Northeast was built differently than the rest of the country resulting in many square pegs. UConn and UMass are both trying to make it work. In UMass's situation, football and basketball are both in bad shape at the same time. UMass chose to join similar institutions for football and I think it will eventually work out if capable people are in charge and if the commitment is there. I'm not sure we've seen either yet. The A-10 was ranked higher than the G5 basketball conferences but all the G5, including the MAC, are in the top 20 and I'm not sure the A-10 is in a great position anyway. There really isn't a huge difference for the basketball conferences ranked say 10-18.

Most of the Northeast programs would be better off if basketball and football were split but they all suffer until that happens. It would be one thing if UMass basketball were a perennial power but it wasn't, and there is no reason its football can't eventually be G5 level successful with the right commitment. I think it is worth the effort for football but the university has to go ALL IN.

That said, ooph

"The brainless, losing plays that UMass makes on a regular basis are not normal. They prove that the dysfunction of the program runs deeper than its players — it’s an institution built on a blueprint of incompetence."

Pellegrino: UMass has turned losing into an art form

The Massachusetts football team turns incompetence into art, one disastrous brushstroke at a time. Throughout 2025, UMass (0-6, 0-2 Mid-American) has displayed a level of ineptitude that shouldn’t be possible at any level — let alone in the premier division of college football. The Minutemen...

dailycollegian.com

 

[Kolumbo]

 

[CL82]

People wrote off our football program as well after the trifecta of incompetence that was Pasqulone, Diaco and Edsall. And no, I'm not trying to equate our two programs. UMass has an unequal history of futility across all sports, except hockey.

They were a principal rival when I was in school, so it pains me to admit this, but I low-key want them to have some degree of success. It's good for New England sports and thus good for UConn. That said, being able to achieve that probably would require a massive in sustained investment by the school in Minuteman athletics. I don't see it happening.

 

[Alum86]

UMass got drubbed by Kent State. Kent State. Football is dead in Amherst.
They have not been relevant in hoop since the days of the “U” game at the Civic Center.
I can’t believe I had to pay $75 a ticket as a Husky season tix holder at the time.
Our football program gives us reason for optimism.

 

[Vuce]

While I don't disagree with you, I think it's disingenuous for us to tell another school to drop their football program when we were given that same insane advice by hordes of idiotically stupid external fans ("UConn has football?! They should just cancel the program already and keep hoops." or something along those lines). We're still in a precarious situation given our independence, and I don't think we have any standing to excoriate a school and subject them to the same abuse that we experienced. Let them somehow figure out a way to survive, and let us beat them senseless in match-ups. It sucks seeing your school lose a high profile sport.

I'm just a guy on a message board in the Conf Realignment Forum which no one but us sickos read so any excoriating of their decisions carry no weight whatsoever. All I'm saying is that it's a move that will make no difference and result in less fans for them and more apathy (which is hard to imagine given where they were). I had season tickets to both UMass and UConn hoops during the 90's and it was pretty awesome to have programs of that caliber so close. There was some recent buzz around the program with Frank Martin and a few home games drew more than 6K - recruiting even picked up for them but they were not able to push that to postseason success. Basketball is officially dead and buried now in the MAC and they have definitely lost the high profile sport they were known for if they are widely known for any athletics. Football there has been the worst in the country over the last decade plus. Maybe eventually they will have a middling season or two but no one will really care - it'll be a novelty.

 

[pepband99]

Ahh you silly troll. Nobody held a gun to them and said to continue to play bad football. It’s still an upgrade over body bag games against the SEC.

They are just so pitiful that they can’t win no matter what course of action they choose.

You’re still wrong. Continuing to play a tougher SEC schedule than Texas was a terrible way to go.

That’s what you were pushing for.

Losing by a million to an SEC school is better than losing by a million to a MAC school. And you can also keep whatever shred of your AD alive in the A10. Now you're poorer AND have no rivalries. You continue to be a ITG and completely ignore non-football.

 

[hardcorehusky]

Saying UConn and UMass in athletics is the ultimate insult to UConn. We had a plan when we moved up from D1. A new stadium, ultimately a great practice facility, etc. UConn did it right until the tectonic plates of Conference Realignment and our reactions to them threw us down the sink hole.

UMass decided to upgrade schedule to FBS, but never built infrastructure like UConn did. They have a bubble outside a decrepit Yankee Conference stadium. The fact that Whipple and Brow won as many games there as they did is a testament to them as football lifers. I look at UMass as guilt by association. Their ineptitude somehow seeps onto the casual fan's view of UConn.

Instead of putting another $50M into the program, they should go back to FCS for football and put their money into soccer and become the next Vermont.

 

[uconnyankee]

Saying UConn and UMass in athletics is the ultimate insult to UConn. We had a plan when we moved up from D1. A new stadium, ultimately a great practice facility, etc. UConn did it right until the tectonic plates of Conference Realignment and our reactions to them threw us down the sink hole.

UMass decided to upgrade schedule to FBS, but never built infrastructure like UConn did. They have a bubble outside a decrepit Yankee Conference stadium. The fact that Whipple and Brow won as many games there as they did is a testament to them as football lifers. I look at UMass as guilt by association. Their ineptitude somehow seeps onto the casual fan's view of UConn.

Instead of putting another $50M into the program, they should go back to FCS for football and put their money into soccer and become the next Vermont.

UConn had the backing of a BCS league at the time. That was huge in getting talent, resources, etc.
Look what happened to UConn once the BCS label disappeared.

Granted it took a few years, UConn has turned the corner and has been on an upward trajectory under Mora.

I give credit to Mora, but also to DB for making some tough decisions, figuring out a better path than AAC, getting football what it needs all while protecting and allowing BB to flourish.

 

[ZooCougar]

Losing by a million to an SEC school is better than losing by a million to a MAC school. And you can also keep whatever shred of your AD alive in the A10. Now you're poorer AND have no rivalries. You continue to be a ITG and completely ignore non-football.

Football drives the bus.

UMass is so pathetic they should drop to D3.

 

[Fishy]

I am always amazed that UConn fans are so willing and eager to trash another school experiencing some kind of conference-related trauma.

Like every school not in the power structure in college sports, UMass is trying to find some way to hold on. Moving to the MAC is what you do when you realize that the A10 is absolutely a dead man walking and you have no other options - what’s happening to UMass is a shame.