Nothing was going to stop Rutgers from celebrating Thursday, even if it had to come during arguably the team’s worst loss in program history.
Rutgers entered its season-opening contest against UMass as multi-touchdown favorites. The Minutemen had not won a game in ages, bringing with them a 16-game losing streak dating back to September 2024.
The game started normally enough. Rutgers powered in a touchdown on its opening drive to take an early 7-0 lead at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, N.J. But it was all UMass from that point on, as the Minutemen scored the next 30 points unanswered to pummel the Scarlet Knight in a 37-21 drubbing on their own home field.
Fans quickly dispersed from their seats once Thursday’s game was all but decided. Rutgers’ stadium staff still pushed through with an elaborate fireworks display, despite hardly any fans left to enjoy it.
Rutgers lost as 30 point favorites but no one was stopping them from post game fireworks pic.twitter.com/tBxyYtopEa
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) September 4, 2026
Rutgers was college football’s biggest spender on fireworks last year, using up nearly $200,000 worth of pyrotechnics throughout their 5-7 season. The Scarlet Knights could not get the win on the field Thursday, but at least remain on track to defend that title.
UMass got paid $1.55 million to play Rutgers on the road, in what the Scarlet Knights expected to be a cakewalk first win to build confidence for the rest of the season. So much for that.
