Massachusetts Minutemen 2025 College Football Preview
Posted June 17, 2025
2024 Recap
Record – 2-10
ATS – 7-5
It was tough to watch the Minutemen struggle all season **** as they only managed to book wins over FCS squads (Central Connecticut, Wagner). There were a couple of close calls in November as they fell to Liberty and Connecticut by a combined six points so it’s not impossible to think that Massachusetts enters the 2025 season with a bit of momentum. Let’s goooo!
**** But not as bad as watching the vomit-inducing ESPN show HIS AND HERS. Thankfully, that mess is no longer with us.
Massachusetts Minutemen 2025 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Minutemen weren’t a complete disaster on offense LY as whilst they struggled to SCORE the FOOTBALL (22.5 PPG, #110 FBS) they had a very competent rushing attack (164 YPG, #65). There are some big changes on the horizon and it starts at the QB position where LY’s backup AJ Hairston 55%, 5-0 TD to INT) will battle with Yale transfer Grant Jordan, and Utah (!) transfer Brandon Rose for the starting gig. Our well connected UMASS INSIDERS believe that Jordan will end up winning the job but we’ll keep an eye on things during the summer. In any event, we expect much better production from the QB position. The Minutemen lost their top-three (!) RBs to the transfer portal and that’s a concern but we’re happy to report that they snagged RB Rocko Griffin who should emerge as a fine #1 option in the backfield. Griffin tallied 517 yards with Vanderbilt back in 2021 and 483 yards with UTSA in 2023. The depth behind him is a bit of a mystery but they recently added speedy Brandon Hood from Colorado to the mix, so that can’t hurt. The Minutemen are gonna miss star WR Jakobie Keeney-James (839, 16.8, 6 TD LY; NFL – Lions) BIGLY but we like the depth at WR quite a bit. UMass returns their #2 and #3 wideouts (Harding, Gibson) and add a pair of potentially SPICY transfers in Tyree Kelly (USF) and Jake McConnachie (Pitt). And don’t sleep on 6-foot-5 tight end Matthew Ogunniyi who recently joined the team (Rutgers). The offensive line will be a work-in-progress as they’ve added some new faces to a group that includes a pair of experienced doods in Benjamin Roy (probable starter at center) and Ryan Mosesso (probable starter at RT or LT). We certainly expect better things from the UMass attack in 2025.
DEFENSE
Massachusetts had big problems on defense LY as they allowed a whopping 35.5 PPG (#125) and they had trouble stopping the run (#119 run D) and the pass (#107 pass efficiency D). The interior of the defensive line is in good shape with the return of a pair of solid veterans (Grant-Randall, Jackson) but they’ll need to find some new pass rushers at DE given the departure of their top-two sack producers at that position. The coaching staff believes that transfer DE Joshua Nobles can get be a difference maker at DE but we’ll see how that goes. The LB corps could be in trouble given the departure of their top-two playmakers and they’ll need Rutgers transfer LB Timmy Hinspeter to step up in a big way. The secondary is undergoing almost a total rebuild and the room is CHOCK FULL of transfers that’ll be jockeying for starting roles. We anticipate some improvement on this side of the football but it’s hard to ask for a miracle given the state of the LB corps and overall lack of depth.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The stench was PALPABLE on special teams last season and the INTREPID Phil Steele rated the Minutemen special teams group as the worst in the FBS (#134). UMass will be rolling with a new PK and punter which can’t hurt and it’s good to know that KR/PR T.Y. Harding is back for duty (PR TD LY).
Schedule Analysis
Overall – They’ve got a pair of blowout losses to look forward to in non-conference action (at Iowa, at Missouri) but they have a reasonable shot to start the year 2-0 with home dates against Temple and something called Bryant. The MAC docket is pretty reasonable as they miss Toledo and Miami Ohio and get to tangle with Akron and Kent St.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at Missouri (Sept 27)
The long-anticipated MAC OPENER (home vs Western Michigan) is up next and the Minutemen (despite coming off a bye) will probably still be taking hour-long ice baths after getting drilled by Iowa. We don’t anticipate Missouri being super-jacked for this game but it smells like a LAY DOWN AND DIE spot for UMass.
Season Win Total
Market consensus June 17
Over 4.5 +150
Under 4.5 -180
MEGALOCKS says:
No leanage.
This team appears much better on paper than LY’s squad but we’re not crazy about taking an ‘over’ higher than a ‘flat 4’. We’ll keep shopping, yo.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
Since joining the FBS ranks in 2012 the Minutemen have never won more than four games (2017, 2018), and therefore have never had the opportunity to participate in a bowl game as an FBS squad.
Shout-out to Cam Pellegrino who covers UMass football as he provided us with quite the gem. New offensive line coach Kurt Anderson has given the name “The MOL-itia” **** to the offensive line demanding that they have a “militia mentality” at all times during the season.
**** MOL – Massachusetts offensive line
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
And what could ever lead you (what could ever lead you)
Back to where we need you ? (back to where we need you?)
Welcome back, Welcome back, Welcome back.
<Welcome Back, Kotter> <theme song> <1975-1979>
The Minutemen are back in the MAC and that means things should be even more KOOKY than normal. The offense has a lot more talent than what they put on the field last season but it’ll be up to the defense to surprise to the upside if UMass plans on making a run at a bowl game. The opener vs Temple is YUUUGE and if they can win that game, who knows what lies ahead? We’ll call for four or five wins but give them a PUNCHER’S CHANCE of doing the impossible and bagging a bowl bid.
Good luck!