The 2020 UMass Minutemen football team represented the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Minutemen competed as an independent. They were led by second-year head coach Walt Bell.
UMass originally announced on August 11, 2020, that they would not play football in the fall over concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision was reversed on September 21, as UMass announced that opponents would be announced "as they become official". Although the Minutemen's home stadium was Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium, all games there were cancelled; the team played only away games in 2020.
The Minutemen finished the abridged season winless, at 0–4, and were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 161 to 12.
Preseason
Award watch lists
Listed in the order that they were released.
Outland TrophyLarnel ColemanOLRS SRWuerffel TrophyCole McCubreyLBSRSolomon SiskindTERS JR
Original Schedule *All of these games were cancelled when UMass announced they would be forfeiting their season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the Minutemen would reschedule their game at Liberty later in 2020.
Schedule UMass went 0–4, scoring 12 total points while allowing 161 points by their opponents.
Game summaries
At Georgia Southern
Statistics UMassGeorgia Southern First downs 10 20 Total yards 191 436 Rushing yards 111 308 Passing yards 80 128 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 29:09 30:51
Team Category Player StatisticsUMass Passing Mike Fallon 7/12, 41 yards, 1 INT Rushing Will Koch 4 carries, 41 yards Receiving Samuel Emilus 4 receptions, 28 yardsGeorgia Southern Passing Shai Werts 11/16, 128 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Wesley Kennedy III 6 carries, 106 yards, 1 TD Receiving Malik Murray 4 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD
At Marshall
Statistics UMassMarshall First downs 12 33 Total yards 190 495 Rushing yards 41 267 Passing yards 149 228 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 26:53 33:07
Team Category Player StatisticsUMass Passing Will Koch 12/18, 99 yards, 1 TD Rushing Ellis Merriweather 10 carries, 31 yards Receiving Taylor Edwards 1 reception, 37 yardsMarshall Passing Grant Wells 21/30, 228 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Brenden Knox 14 carries, 118 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Artie Henry 5 receptions, 71 yards
At Florida Atlantic
Statistics UMassFlorida Atlantic First downs 8 16 Total yards 147 368 Rushing yards 62 140 Passing yards 85 228 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 25:10 34:50
Team Category Player StatisticsUMass Passing Will Koch 12/22, 67 yards, 1 INT Rushing Ellis Merriweather 11 carries, 48 yards Receiving Josiah Johnson 8 receptions, 42 yardsFlorida Atlantic Passing Javion Posey 13/27, 203 yards Rushing Javion Posey 19 carries, 90 yards, 1 TD Receiving TJ Chase 4 receptions, 79 yards
At Liberty
Statistics UMassLiberty First downs 12 31 Total yards 227 629 Rushing yards 55 378 Passing yards 172 251 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 25:50 34:10
Team Category Player StatisticsUMass Passing Garret Dzuro 9/22, 172 yards, 1 INT Rushing Cam Roberson 5 carries, 17 yards Receiving Samuel Emilus 4 receptions, 82 yardsLiberty Passing Malik Willis 16/24, 223 yards, 3 TD Rushing Peytton Pickett 10 carries, 125 yards, 1 TD Receiving DeMario Douglas 4 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD
References