UMass suspends football for the season

In an unsurprising move, today the University of Massachusetts at Amherst decided to not play football in 2020.

“After consulting with university, state and public health officials, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 UMass football season,” said athletic director Ryan Bamford. “We have been in constant communication with university leadership and our football staff since March, with the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches and staff remaining our top priority. The continuing challenges surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic posed too great of a risk, and we reached the conclusion that attempting to play a season would not have placed the members of our program in the safest situation possible.”

After bringing the program to the FBS level in 2012 and four years in the Mid-American Conference, UMass went independent for the 2016 season. They’ve compiled a 19-77 record since, with a pair of 4-8 marks as the high point in 2017 & 2018. They have not defeated a team in the Power Five since their return.

The Minutemen were schedule to open the season on September 3rd against the UConn Huskies, their fellow New England independent who canceled their season last week.

As of now, UConn, Old Dominion, and all members of the MAC and Mountain West will not play football in the Fall of 2020.