UMass > MAC for all sports in 2025-2026

[Kolumbo]

The Calhoun comparison isnt even close. He said it's doable because UConn was playing in the best hoops conference in the country and while they were playing some games in Greer, Gampel was already planned but hadn't been built yet. UMass isnt playing in a great football league and has a dump for a stadium with nothing new planned. Add to it that football is tons more difficult to improve than college basketball, and the northeast just doesnt support college football, It will be at least a decade before UMass gets any traction and they've already aliened all but a handful of their died hard fans. It's all hopes and wishes at this point for UMass with very little chance of anything coming of this

To clarify, we're not suggesting UMass Football win national championships. Just be decent enough to compete in the MAC. That is doable. And it's not too difficult to improve when the only place you have to go is up and leapfrog programs like Kent St, Akron, Ball St, and a few directional Michigans. They are making some improvements to McGuirk and probably too little, but it's a start. I know you refuse to see anything positive about the move to the MAC. No skin off my back.

 

[Vuce]

I think UMass football will improve because like you said, it's hard to intentionally be as bad as they have been the last 10+ years. McGuirk is a dump and short of a complete remodel, it wont make any difference. Also, I'm just saying that the MAC move will result in less interest and attendance at football and hoops for the forseeable future. Are they thinking about moving hoops games from Mullins back to the Cage? That would be a good move - better atmosphere and even if they get 1000 fans it'll look better

 

[Bongo Fury]

Curry Hicks is currently torn up and being re-purposed for something else. I think it’s doable to be competitive in the MAC. Not too long ago, many thought UConn couldn’t get Moorhead.

 

[noeynox]

Yeah we are talking about rising toward the top of the MAC. That shouldn't be insurmountable.

 

[Vuce]

Curry Hicks is currently torn up and being re-purposed for something else. I think it’s doable to be competitive in the MAC. Not too long ago, many thought UConn couldn’t get Moorhead.

That’s too bad. Mullins is gonna be a mausoleum.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[Kolumbo]

That's too bad. UMass actually led at the half 14-10. Roberson in his 7th year had 399 passing for the Bulls!

 

[huskymedic]

That's too bad. UMass actually led at the half 14-10.

UMass was winning w/ 59 seconds left!

 

[Kolumbo]

Oooh, that's tough. I guess the flagship cup goes to the semi-flagship. a rivalry is born. i have to see the missing 36 seconds leading up to the TD Pass

 

[huskymedic]

 

[cellocgg]

The more I hear about UMass the more I'm convinced it's not even a real university

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Somewhere in the Berkshires eight or nine people will cry themselves to sleep tonight.

 

[Kolumbo]

ya always gotta wait for the fat lady

 

[CL82]

Oooh, that's tough. I guess the flagship cup goes to the semi-flagship. a rivalry is born. i have to see the missing 36 seconds leading up to the TD Pass

Ouch.

 

[ZooCougar]

I watched the 4th quarter of this. The coaching was so bad on both sides, both teams should gotten an L. The analyst was losing his mind over the cavalcade of bad decisions.

 

[Waquoit]

I watched the 4th quarter of this.

Was it penance of some sort?

 

[Rufus]

The MAC Preseason Men's Basketball Poll has been released and UMass is predicted to finish in 5th place behind Akron, Miami, Kent State, and Ohio.

2025-26 MAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
(First Place Votes)
1. Akron (11) – 143
2. Miami (2) – 133
3. Kent State – 122
4. Ohio – 108
5. UMass – 98
6. Toledo – 95
7. Bowling Green – 73
8. Ball State – 62
9. Eastern Michigan – 52
10. Western Michigan – 46
11. Buffalo – 37
12. Central Michigan – 31
13. Northern Illinois – 14

Tournament Champion: Akron (8), Miami (2), Kent State (1), Ohio (1), UMass (1)

2025-26 MAC Men’s Basketball Preseason All-MAC Teams
First Team
Tavari Johnson, Senior, Guard, Akron
Javontae Campbell, Senior, Guard, Bowling Green
Delrecco Gillespie, Senior, Forward, Kent State
Peter Suder, Senior, Guard, Miami
Jackson Paveletzke, Senior, Guard, Ohio

Second Team
Evan Mahaffey, Senior, Wing, Akron
Shammah Scott, Graduate Student, Guard, Akron
Daniel Hankins-Sanford, Senior, Forward, UMass
Eian Elmer, Junior, Wing, Miami
Javan Simmons, Redshirt Junior, Forward, Ohio
Sonny Wilson, Junior, Guard, Toledo

MAC Announces 2025-26 Men's Basketball Preseason Poll, All-MAC Teams

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Akron Zips have been chosen as to repeat as Mid-American Conference regular season champions and win their third straight tournament championship in the 2025-26 MAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll, as voted on by the league’s head coaches. The Zips received 11 first place...

getsomemaction.com

 

[Husky92]

I watched the 4th quarter of this. The coaching was so bad on both sides, both teams should gotten an L. The analyst was losing his mind over the cavalcade of bad decisions.

This is a fact. I watched a lot of this game too. Roberson had impressive passing yards but also looked terrible at times. Really bad decision making. But overall, the game was really bad football and showed me how far we’ve come!

 

[ZooCougar]

This is a fact. I watched a lot of this game too. Roberson had impressive passing yards but also looked terrible at times. Really bad decision making. But overall, the game was really bad football and showed me how far we’ve come!

 

[huskymedic]

 

[ZooCougar]

They could probably just get a bounce just by improving their strength and conditioning program.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Undefeated in Nov

 

[Drew]

SIAP

It’s Missouri State’s first year in FBS and they have 4 wins over FBS teams

UMass has 4 wins over FBS teams since the start of the 2019 season

 

[ZooCougar]

SIAP

It’s Missouri State’s first year in FBS and they have 4 wins over FBS teams

UMass has 4 wins over FBS teams since the start of the 2019 season

I think they were on the right path with Don Brown. He didn't have the resources to improve at a better rate, but there was at least some competence.

Instead they brought in basically a Nick Charlton with no experience at this level. It takes someone with some real talent to turn a ship like UMass around.

 

[noeynox]

I think they were on the right path with Don Brown. He didn't have the resources to improve at a better rate, but there was at least some competence.

Instead they brought in basically a Nick Charlton with no experience at this level. It takes someone with some real talent to turn a ship like UMass around.

Never should have fired Whipple.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Very sparse Mullins Center crowd for UMass’ 78-72 hoop loss to Marshall.

 

[Bongo Fury]

Never should have fired Whipple.

Could have supported him more too? I remember him losing a really good player because they didn’t accept him into grad school. Think the player went to Auburn then NFL

 

[CTBballfan243]

Could have supported him more too? I remember him losing a really good player because they didn’t accept him into grad school. Think the player went to Auburn then NFL

I assume the player didn’t qualify academically to get into the graduate program.

 

[Kolumbo]

Welp, I dunno. It is not a good conference and then you go and get pummeled by a not very good conference mate
44 Akron
10 UMess

 

[UConnJim]

Can you imagine playing football games on Tuesday and Wednesday nights? Or, playing a really crappy crappy basketball schedule? Anybody who ever suggests UConn should join the MAC should be banned from the board.