EAST HARTFORD - Joe Harasymiak did not dress it up Friday night.

After UMass lost to UConn 35-16 at Rentschler Field, its fourth straight loss after a 4-0 start, the Minutemen’s head coach credited the Huskies and pointed at the things that decided the game.

“They played better than us tonight, especially when it came to a lot of the key things in the game,” Harasymiak said. “They ran the ball very effectively. We did not.”

UConn ran for 265 yards and outgained UMass 438-303. The Minutemen ran for 53 yards, and the offense never let quarterback Pop Watson’s return get off the ground. UMass went three-and-out eight times, punted seven times and had another punt blocked for a touchdown.

“I just thought offense overall was nowhere near good enough,” Harasymiak said.

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Watson, back after missing two games with an ankle injury, finished 22-for-38 for 205 yards and a touchdown, but UMass managed just three points until the fourth quarter.

“We got to run the ball better to help him out,” Harasymiak said. “He’s battling everything.”

The running game never gave Watson help. UMass carried 22 times for 53 yards, and the failures on early downs bled into third down, where the Minutemen went 2-for-14.

“We had 22 rushes for 53 yards,” Harasymiak said. “2 of 14 is not going to get done, but the distance was probably too much to overcome.”

The game broke open in the final two minutes of the first half, when a 7-3 game became 21-3 in the span of 32 seconds. UConn took over at the UMass 45 with 2:43 left in the half and scored on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Kalieb Osborne to JD Willoughby.

“We just got beat on a slot fade there,” Harasymiak said.

UMass went three-and-out in 19 seconds, and on the first snap of UConn’s next possession, Cyncir Bowers ran 70 yards for another touchdown. Harasymiak said the defensive end on the play had a specific job and did not do it.

Harasymiak said the playside defensive end got too far up field, possibly worried about Osborne as a runner or passer instead of playing the running back first, which was his assignment in that situation.

“We didn’t do that and because we’re in single high defense, we’re short anyway,” Harasymiak said. “He got too far up the field and they hit the explosive run to make it 21-3.”

UMass was still within striking distance midway through the third quarter when Shamar Porter blocked Edward Phillipson’s punt.

“They rushed two guys on the blocked punt,” Harasymiak said flatly.

UConn recovered in the end zone to take a 28-3 lead and the game was gone.

Underneath all of it is the roster’s health. Watson’s entire week of preparation for his return was two walkthroughs on the short week, and he is not the only Minuteman on a pitch count.

“We got a lot of guys practicing once a week right now,” he said. “Our safety #38 (Zeraun Daniel), I think he’s practiced every Friday since Sac State and that’s it.”

“We just got to take some time and get some guys healthy. I think those guys are playing with a lot of things that we’ll keep in house.”

The Minutemen get a bye week before they host Ball State on Wed, Nov. 4, and Harasymiak left no doubt about how badly it is needed.

“We need it.”

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EAST HARTFORD - For most of the first half, UMass was in a one-score game, but in the span of 32 seconds just before halftime, UConn broke it open and never looked back here at Rentschler Field on Friday night.

Husky quarterback Kalieb Osborne threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to JD Willoughby with 1:36 left in the half. After UMass went three-and-out in just 19 seconds, UConn running back Cyncir Bowers took the first snap of the next possession 70 yards up the middle for another touchdown.

The three-score deficit was too large for the Minutemen to come back from and they went on to lose 35-16, their fourth straight loss after beginning the season with four straight wins.

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Trailing 21-3 at the half and needing to do something on offense, UMass instead went three-and-out on its first two possessions of the third quarter, and by the time Shamar Porter blocked Edward Phillipson’s punt and recovered it in the end zone to put the Huskies up 28-3, the game was essentially over even though it wasn’t yet 10 minutes into the half.

UMass quarterback Pop Watson was up-and-down in his return after missing two straight games with an ankle injury. He finished 22-for-38 for 205 yards and a touchdown with just 11 rushing yards on seven attempts.

He was up at the start, though.

UMass took the opening kickoff and marched 69 yards in 13 plays, chewing 7:57 off the clock. Watson completed all five of his throws for 58 yards on the drive, and a double pass, Watson to Kezion Dia-Johnson and back to Watson, produced a first-down to the UConn 18. The drive stalled inside the 5, though.

Running back Elijah Faulkner gained 2, a direct snap to Reece Adkins lost 2, Watson took a sack, and Derek Morris settled it with a 24-yard field goal at the 7:03 mark of the first quarter.

UConn answered with a 13-play, 75-yard drive of its own, which UMass helped it along.

Cornerback TJ Magee drew a pass interference penalty on 3rd-and-11, and a facemask on Justin Krueger turned a stop at the 19 into 1st-and-Goal at the 9. Osborne capped it by finding Shamar Porter for a 5-yard touchdown with 1:13 left in the quarter.

The second quarter turned into a field-position fight, and for 13 minutes, UMass’ defense held up. The Minutemen sacked Osborne three times in the quarter, once each by Krueger, Aubrey Melvin and William DePaepe while Isaiah Reed broke up a fourth-down pass to give UMass the ball at its own 39.

The offense didn’t do its part, though.

UMass punted five times in the second quarter and gained just 54 yards. After being perfect in the first, Watson was just 5-for-15 in the second.

UConn finally cashed in on the field position with 2:43 left in the half, taking over at the UMass 45. Bowers ran for 13 and 4 and then Osborne scrambled for 8 before hitting Willoughby with a 20-yard touchdown pass with 1:36 to play.

UMass’ three-and-out gave the Huskies the chance to add on and Bowers took the first snap 70 yards for the score.

UConn outgained UMass 283-126 in the first half and averaged 8.3 yards per play to the Minutemen’s 3.6.

Bowers carried 11 times for 112 yards. Osborne went 7-for-10 for 129 yards and two touchdowns.

Watson was 11-for-21 for 100 yards, and more importantly UMass was just 1-for-8 on third downs.

After the blocked punt for a touchdown in the third quarter, UMass’ offense finally showed signs of life later in the quarter.

Watson hit Joe Griffin Jr. deep for 41 yards, the Minutemen’s longest play of the night, then found Jabari Lewis for 11 before the quarter ended. Two plays into the fourth, Watson found Curtis Kimmons IV with a nifty toss for an easy seven-yard touchdown. UMass elected to go for two to try to cut the lead to 17, but Reece Adkins dropped a wide-open pass to keep it at 28-9 with 14 minutes to play.

The Minutemen had their final true effort fail on its next possession when they turned the ball over on downs midway through the fourth quarter.

Osborne capped the ensuing nine-play, 41-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown run, shaking two UMass defenders in the process.

The Minutemen inserted backup quarterback Logan Inagawa for mop-up duty on their final drive of the game and he engineered a nine-play, 57-yard drive, which ended with a 6-yard touchdown run by Justin Williams-Thomas.

For the game, UConn outgained UMass 438-303, including 265-53 on the ground, and the Minutemen were penalized 10 times for 100 yards. Osborne finished 14-for-19 for 173 yards and two touchdowns passing and ran 15 times for 66 yards and another touchdown. Bowers carried 15 times for 131 yards.

Griffin Jr. led UMass with four catches for 77 yards, Kimmons IV caught five passes for 33 yards and the touchdown, and Inagawa finished 4-for-6 for 45 yards. UMass sacked Osborne five times, Isaiah Reed broke up three passes, and neither team turned the ball over.

The Minutemen have a bye next week before coming back to host a MACtion game against Ball State on Wednesday, Nov. 4th.

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Kinsler explains why he preaches fit over the highest bid, the three factors he values most when a family evaluates a school, and why this is the hardest time ever for high school recruits.

He also discusses his Rutgers ties to Joe Harasymiak, why he brought four of his top prospects to Amherst last month, and how the perception of UMass has changed around the recruiting world.

00:00 Intro
01:09 What an NIL agent actually does
02:45 Beyond the money: his three core values for evaluating a school
04:41 From four-year starter at Cincinnati to the NFL
05:15 How NIL, revenue sharing and the portal changed recruiting
07:13 The biggest misconceptions about NIL
09:14 How programs without big resources can compete for top players
11:20 His Rutgers ties to Joe Harasymiak and the UMass staff
12:50 Bringing four high-level prospects to visit UMass
13:52 How the perception of UMass has changed
16:26 Opportunity, playing time and player retention
17:49 The coaches who did not sign up for this era
22:21 Why the bulk of his business is underrated players
24:33 Wrap up

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The math of Friday night is not complicated.

UConn scores 35.7 points a game and averages 449.2 yards of offense. UMass has built its season around a defense that travels, bends and keeps the Minutemen in games regardless of the offense. Something has to give at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field (7:02 p.m., CBS Sports Network), in the 79th meeting between the programs and the first since UConn’s 47-42 win last November.

The rest gap is real. UConn is 3-3 and coming off its bye, last seen beating Temple 34-20 on October 10. UMass is on a short week after the overtime loss at Buffalo with injury concerns.

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Start With The QB

For UConn, everything in its offense runs through QB Kalieb Osborne, who carries a 91.0 PFF overall grade with an 86.9 passing grade and an 82.7 rushing grade. UConn throws for 256.5 yards a game at 8.8 yards an attempt and has thrown only three interceptions on 175 attempts.

Osborne protects the ball, extends plays and has a run game behind him that uses a rotation instead of a bell cow. RB Cyncir Bowers grades 81.0 overall with an 88.0 rushing grade and RB Kenji Christian grades 79.4, while RB Trey Cornist ran for 114 yards on seven carries against Temple, with runs of 51 and 41. UConn runs for 192.7 yards a game at 5.3 a carry and has scored 17 of its 28 touchdowns on the ground.

The Crack Is Protection

For all of that, UConn has allowed 17 sacks in six games and PFF grades its pass blocking at 53.5. The tackles are the soft spot, Ty Chan at 56.2 and Fred Johnson at 45.5. That is the door for a UMass pass rush that produced 16 pressures and four sacks at Buffalo. If UMass is going to have a chance, it needs to get pressure.

The Corners Get Their Test

Isaiah Reed and TJ Magee just erased Buffalo’s receivers. Reed graded 81.5 and allowed one catch on six targets. Magee graded 78.3 with an interception.

UConn presents a different problem. The Huskies’ team receiving grade is 80.3 and four WRs grade within two points of each other: Shamar Porter at 73.6, Javon Brown at 71.9, Ryder Treadway at 71.4 and JD Willoughby at 71.3. There is no best option to take away, and Raymond Liggins III owns the best receiving grade on the team at 84.1, albeit on only 28 snaps.

The inside matchup may flip in UMass’ favor. Buffalo’s TE beat the Minutemen for both touchdowns and S Zeraun Daniel graded 57.0. UConn’s most-used TE, Xavier Watson, grades 59.8 on 241 snaps, the lowest mark among its regular pass catchers, with Matt Ragan the better-graded option at 70.8.

UMass’ QB Answer Comes Friday

Joe Harasymiak has not announced who will start at quarterback yet.

If healthy, Pop Watson will certainly get the nod. If not, it figures to be Logan Inagawa for the second straight week.

Inagawa graded a respectable 77.9 in his first start at Buffalo, and the staff has a plan for each of them.

Watson’s playmaking ability alone would give the Minutemen a giant boost if he’s able to go, but if he’s not, Harasymiak and offensive coordinator Max Warner will have a plan for Inagawa as well.

Where UMass Can Move It

UConn’s defense grades 67.4 overall and its coverage grade of 50.7 is the weakest unit grade on either roster.

CB Saxton Suchanic has played a team-high 404 snaps and carries a 49.0 coverage grade, and Jayden Price is at 55.1. That is where opposing offenses have aimed, and whoever plays quarterback for UMass will get chances outside if the line gives him time.

It Could Come Down To A Kick

The usually reliable Derek Morris missed two field goals against Buffalo and another that was wiped out by a penalty. He also drilled a 53-yarder that could have been the winner.

Harasymiak proved last week that he’s got real faith in Morris regardless of the circumstances and we’d expect the same against UConn if the opportunity presents itself.

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A quick refresher on how this works before the numbers. PFF grades every player on every snap on a 0-to-100 scale. A grade in the 80s is excellent, the 70s are good, the 60s are average and anything in the 50s or below is a problem. The overall grade is a blend of everything a player is asked to do, and that blend is where the story sometimes hides.

Inagawa Was The Best Player On The Offense

The third-string quarterback made his first career start on the road, in a rivalry game, behind a line that has struggled all season, and PFF graded him as the best player on the UMass offense.

Inagawa finished with a 77.9 overall grade and an 80.2 passing grade. His rushing grade (63.2) was only average, which is fair. He took some bad sacks at critical times. But as a passer, on a day when UMass had to throw to stay in the game, the grades match what Joe Harasymiak said afterward.

“He gave us a chance to win,” Harasymiak said.

For context, Pop Watson’s overall grade for the season is 85.1, so the standard in that room is high. Inagawa did not match Watson’s best days. He was also nowhere near the drop-off the depth chart promised.

The Corners Erased Buffalo’s Receivers

Buffalo QB Jason Wright finished 16-35 for 134 yards, and the UMass corners are the biggest reason his line is so pedestrian.

Isaiah Reed graded 81.5, the best mark on the defense, and his coverage line is about as clean as it gets: six targets, one catch, four yards, two pass breakups. TJ Magee graded 78.3 next to him, with an interception, two more breakups and four catches allowed on 10 targets for 43 yards.

Wright’s two touchdown passes both went to tight end Clint Walker, working inside. When he threw at the two starting corners, he went 5-16 for 47 yards with an interception.

The damage happened inside, where safety Zeraun Daniel graded 57.0, allowed a touchdown and a 140.3 passer rating on the three balls thrown his way.

Still, UMass had a chance to clinch the game in the final minutes, but one of its strengths all season didn’t show up.

On the game-tying drive, Wright dropped back 12 times, was not sacked once and had way too much time. His 13-yard scramble, on a play where UMass rushed five and spied him, was the snap Harasymiak circled Monday as one they wanted back from a call standpoint.

On the day, the pass rush produced 16 pressures and four sacks on the afternoon, but failed to come up with the game-changing play when it mattered most. The grades say the coverage story of this game is two different stories depending on where you look.

The Line Remains The Line

The middle of the offensive line held up reasonably well. Peyton Miller (71.0) and right tackle Jaxon King (70.3) posted the two best grades up front, and tight end Reece Adkins added a 73.4 run-blocking grade.

But the problem spots were the problem spots. Right guard Brock Taylor graded just 29.2 in pass protection, and the group’s overall numbers (Greg Knox III at 53.5, Aitor Urionabarrenechea at 50.3) explain why Inagawa spent so much of the afternoon throwing on the move.

Next Up For The Corners

Reed and Magee get the biggest test of the season on Friday night.

UConn QB Kalieb Osborne carries a 91.0 overall grade into the game, with an 86.9 passing grade, and the receiver room behind him is the deepest UMass has seen.

UConn’s team receiving grade is 80.3, and four receivers grade within two points of each other: Shamar Porter at 73.6, Javon Brown at 71.9, Ryder Treadway at 71.4 and JD Willoughby at 71.3.

That is a different problem than Buffalo. Reed and Magee erased the Bulls by taking away their best options. UConn does not have a best option. Osborne can work through four receivers who all grade like starters, so winning outside does not shrink this offense the way it shrank Buffalo’s.

There is a change-of-pace threat, too. Raymond Liggins III owns the best receiving grade on the team at 84.1, but it comes on only 28 snaps, so treat it as a spark rather than a foundation.

The inside matchup may actually flip. Buffalo’s tight end beat UMass for both touchdowns, but UConn’s most-used tight end, Xavier Watson, grades 59.8 on 241 snaps, the lowest mark among their regular pass catchers. Matt Ragan (70.8) is the better-graded option.

If the UMass corners can do to Osborne’s receivers what they did to Buffalo’s, the Minutemen have a chance. If the damage comes inside again, the grades will tell that story too.

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When UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak was asked Monday about going against UConn offensive coordinator Nunzio Campanile this week, his answer sounded less like a scouting report than a reference letter.

“Me and Nunz worked together at Rutgers,” Harasymiak said. “He’s from North Jersey, so am I. Recruiting, when he was the head coach at Bergen Catholic and those kinds of things.

“Nunz is a great dude. I appreciate him a lot.”

The two have stayed close since Rutgers. They talk every offseason, and Harasymiak’s evaluation of Campanile goes beyond the play sheet.

“Just a really good coach, someone that I would want to work with again,” said Harasymiak. “Just the way he handles his players. He’s a great dad. All the things that you want.”

The Harbaugh family may get a lot of attention in terms of a family of coaches, but they’ve got nothing on the Campaniles.

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Nunzio Campanile became the Huskies’ offensive coordinator this offseason after spending the last three seasons at Syracuse, where he served as Associate Head Coach. Prior to that, he coached at Rutgers, where he served on the same staff as Harasymiak. Campanile served several roles for the Scarlet Knights, including offensive coordinator and interim head coach.

Before all of that, he was one of the most successful high school coaches in New Jersey, spending eight seasons at Bergen Catholic, going 60-28 and winning the 2017 state championship as head coach, after a decade as the offensive coordinator at Don Bosco Prep where he helped produce six state championships and the 2009 national title. He played quarterback and safety for his father, Mike, at Paramus Catholic.

His father was a legendary high school coach in New Jersey. His brother Vito is currently at Bergen Catholic, where he has cemented himself as one of the best high school coaches in America. He has another brother, Nicky, who is the head coach at DePaul Catholic High School in New Jersey. And, still another brother, Anthony, who is currently the defensive coordinator with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Vito played quarterback for the Minutemen in the 90s while Anthony is coaching under UMass legend Liam Coen in Jacksonville, so there are some ties to the University.

“It’s a coaching family,” Harasymiak said.

Friday night, that family business becomes UMass’ problem.

Campanile calls the plays for what Harasymiak has called the most explosive offense the Minutemen will probably face all year.

The production backs up the praise.

In Campanile’s first season with the Huskies, UConn is averaging 35.7 points and 449.2 yards per game, with 28 touchdowns scored six different ways: 17 on the ground and 11 through the air. They have topped 34 points in four of their six games, and the balance is what makes them hard to sit on, 192.7 rushing yards per game at 5.3 per carry against 256.5 passing yards per game at 8.8 per attempt.

It is built on a quarterback who fits the play-caller.

Kalieb Osborne has thrown just three interceptions all season while leading an offense that has produced 39 plays of 20+ yards. The running game goes three deep with Cyncir Bowers, Kenji Christian and Trey Cornist, who broke out for 114 yards on just seven carries against Temple. And Osborne is the second-leading rusher from behind center.

There is no single player to take away, which is exactly how Campanile has always built it.

“I know he’ll have them prepared. Him and Vito are great offensive play-callers, so I know he’ll have them ready.”

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Joe Harasymiak was pretty clear about the challenges UConn will present when he met with reporters on Monday.

“This is the most explosive offense by far we will probably face all year,” Harasymiak said.

Harasymiak clearly has a ton of respect for first-year UConn head coach Jason Candle, who had a ton of success in the MAC at Toledo before taking over the Huskies.

“It starts with obviously Coach Candle,” Harasymiak said. “Was a power in this league for a very, very long time, has won a lot more games than I have, done a great job. And you can see that he’s in his first year there and he’s building what he wants to build.”

What he has built is a big-play machine. UConn is 13th in the country in 20-yard-plus plays, with 58 through six games.

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“They are going to heavily, heavily challenge us,” Harasymiak said. “They’ve got skill on the outside. I think they’re the best group of backs we’re going to see up until this point, backs that can get a lane and get a crease and go for the entire length of the field. They’ve shown it, they’ve proven it.”

UConn quarterback Kalieb Osborne is the triggerman. Harasymiak sees a young quarterback on the rise, the kind whose weekly growth is part of the problem of playing him in October.

“Quarterback’s playing very, very well,” Harasymiak said. “He’s getting better every game. A young quarterback, there’s that growth process. There’s nothing you can do to speed that up, and I think he’s just playing better every game. He’s putting the ball where it needs to be. He’s great with his legs.”

The defense presents a different kind of problem. UConn defensive coordinator Ryan Manalac came from Pitt, and the Huskies play like it, with pressure and man coverage in the Minutemen’s face.

“Defensively, they’re going to get after us,” Harasymiak said. “They’re going to pressure you. They’re going to get in your face. We have to play violent. We’ve got to play with our eyes up and pick up stuff, and then ultimately, when the play presents itself, whatever that is, we’ve got to make it.”

Even the special teams got a warning label from Harasymiak.

“Special teams also, they’re just sound,” Harasymiak said. “They do a good job. They create a lot of plays. The returners are dynamic.”

Add it up, on the road, on six days against a team coming off its bye, and Harasymiak’s summary of the assignment seemed pretty honest.

“A very talented team, very explosive on both sides of the ball. It can get ugly quickly if we don’t play the way we need to play.”

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Pop Watson, T.Y. Harding, Joseph Griffin Jr. and William DePaepe all walked through Monday’s practice, and Harasymiak said all four will likely come down to Friday afternoon and pregame warmups before their status is decided. Aedan McCarthy is potentially available, but Harasymiak said the freshman quarterback is a step behind that group in his recovery.

The good news is that UMass came out of the Buffalo game without any new injuries, and running back Curtis Kimmons IV is building toward his normal workload alongside Elijah Faulkner.

The Minutemen have lost three straight, the last two in the final minute, and Harasymiak’s message for the short week was direct.

“The mindset this week is you can’t be denied,” Harasymiak said. “We can’t be denied again. We’ve got to go in there, we’ve got to attack, we’ve got to earn things.”

UConn will make them earn it. Harasymiak called the Huskies the most explosive offense UMass will probably face all year, pointing to a group that ranks 13th in the country in plays of 20 yards or more, with dynamic returners and a defense that pressures under a coordinator who came from Pitt.

It is also a game that carries weight beyond the standings between two New England programs, with CBS Sports carrying it on Friday night.

“I’m excited about the environment that I know that place has, and my first ever head coaching game was there,” Harasymiak said. “So here we go.”

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Three quarterbacks have started games for UMass this month, and the Minutemen may not know which one starts Friday night at UConn until shortly before kickoff.

That may be a concern for the fans, and understandably so, but their head coach is projecting confidence regardless of who offensive coordinator Max Warner will be working with.

“I told the team the last two weeks in the Friday night team meeting, I have no concern about who the quarterback is in terms of whether it was going to be Aedan or Logan,” Harasymiak said Monday.

“I have full confidence in Max and his staff to put together a plan.”

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Watson is the first choice when healthy, and UMass started 4-1 with him running the show. He has not played since the loss to Eastern Michigan on Oct. 3.

He walked through Monday’s practice with the rest of the Minutemen’s injured regulars, and with only one full-speed practice on a short week, his status may not be finalized until Friday afternoon and pregame warmups.

“I have to listen to the player, but I also have to trust my eyes and see what they do,” Harasymiak said. “Can they do what they need to do to be effective in the game? Can they protect themselves?

“You look in the kid’s eye and he’ll tell you. Eyes don’t lie.”

McCarthy seems Doubtful at this point. The true freshman made his first career start against Miami (Ohio) in place of Watson, finishing 15 of 29 for 171 yards before suffering an ankle injury in the fourth quarter and being helped off the field.

Harasymiak said McCarthy is potentially available Friday, but did not group him with the injured regulars who walked through Monday.

“He’s a little bit probably farther behind those four guys,” Harasymiak said.

The two healthy-ish options have similarities that could make the uncertainty of the week easier for Warner and his staff to game plan around. Harasymiak called McCarthy the big arm who can get the ball over the top. Inagawa, he said, plays the most like Watson.

“Certainly with Aedan, it’s a different type of mentality,” Harasymiak said. “Big arm, strong, able to get the ball over the top.”

Inagawa was the third-stringer when this stretch began. He came off the bench against Miami (Ohio) and completed all six of his passes for 83 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown to Dowling with one second remaining before the Minutemen’s two-point try for the win failed.

He made his first start at Buffalo and finished 14 of 25 for 168 yards with an interception while running 19 times for 66 yards and a touchdown in the 25-18 overtime loss.

“He gave us a chance to win,” Harasymiak said.

Warner has had to build a plan for each of them, sometimes in the same week, and he has had to do it for Buffalo without starting receivers Joseph Griffin Jr., T.Y. Harding and Dallas Elliott. UMass spent the Buffalo game in 13 and 12 personnel, leaning on tight ends and its running game to protect whoever was under center.

“What Max has done and his staff, with a true freshman and a quarterback that was third string at the time, to be able to put us in games,” Harasymiak said.

“A lot of the things that we’ve done well over the last two weeks is, no matter who’s in, we kind of have a plan for what that’s going to be.”

The plan for Friday may come together late, the way everything about this quarterback room has lately. If Watson can go, he goes. If not, it seems like the Minutemen will turn things over to Inagawa again.

“Whoever it is, everyone else has got to step up in a big-time environment.”

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The Minutemen are down two quarterbacks and three receivers in the middle of a three-game losing streak, and their head coach’s message has not changed.

Lou Holtz has a famous quote for just about every situation a football coach can find himself in. Joe Harasymiak is living one of them right now.

“Don’t tell your problems to people; 80 percent don’t care and the other 20 percent are glad you have them.”

Harasymiak did not quote Holtz after Saturday’s 25-18 overtime loss at Buffalo, but he can certainly relate.

“No one cares,” Harasymiak said of the rash of injuries his team is dealing with. “No one cares right now.”

The problems are real, and they are not small.

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Pop Watson and Aedan McCarthy, the Minutemen’s top two quarterbacks, were both out with injuries, leaving third-stringer Logan Inagawa to make his first start. Joseph Griffin Jr., T.Y. Harding and Dallas Elliott, three of the team’s top receivers, were out too.

Inagawa did enough to win. He threw for 168 yards, ran for 66 and a touchdown, and had UMass in front by a field goal with under two minutes to play.

“He gave us a chance to win,” Harasymiak said.

The receivers who were left standing did their part too, according to their coach.

“Kez (Dia-Johnson) had a couple big catches, I thought,” Harasymiak said. “Jabari (Lewis) had the one at the end there.”

None of it changes the math.

UMass has lost three straight games, and the last two came down to the final play.

The Minutemen lost by a point at home to Miami (Ohio) last week. On Saturday, Derek Morris made a 53-yard field goal for an 18-15 lead with 1:57 left, and Buffalo drove 63 yards to tie the game at the gun and won it in overtime.

“We had every opportunity to win the game and we did not do that,” Harasymiak said. “When you let someone hang around, you don’t make plays, that’s what’s going to happen.”

Buffalo’s drive in the final minutes to force overtime is the part that stuck with him. The Bulls went 63 yards in the final 1:57 against a defense that has carried this team all season.

“If you want to be the number one defense in the league, that doesn’t happen,” Harasymiak said. “You don’t allow that to happen. That’s where this program’s got to go.

“When you have someone down and you’ve got the number one defense in a two-minute drill, you can’t give it up, bottom line. And we did that.”

The offense had its own moment that set him off. UMass has struggled in short yardage all season, and it happened again Saturday.

“Division-I football, you’ve got to get a yard when you need a yard,” Harasymiak said. “We’ve had a problem in short yardage. We haven’t gotten it fixed.

“That was why the emotion came out, because we’ve got to nut up. I get it. We’re down. I don’t care. Go get a yard. Go get a yard. Go make the play. It’s college football.”

It does not get any easier next week. UMass has a short week, playing at UConn on Friday night, against a good Husky team that has had plenty of rest after a bye this weekend.

“We’ve got to step up,” Harasymiak reiterated. “Our whole program just has to nut up. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Go out there and do it. Go win the game. No one cares.

“I’ll have to make sure I get that message across very sternly (Sunday).”

Three straight losses have not changed his read on where this program is headed. Maybe the Minutemen haven’t reached the point some dreamed of reaching when they started 4-0, but they’ve certainly progressed noticeably from last year’s disastrous results.

“I don’t think this team is anything like last year’s team or any of the teams before it,” Harasymiak said. “So keep putting yourselves there, but I ain’t going anywhere. We’re not going anywhere and we’ve just got to rally back and get it done.

“That’s what has to happen now. Instead of talking about it, we’ve got to go do it.”

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UMass’ defense kept the Minutemen in the game all day. Until it didn’t.

After missing two field goals earlier in the game, Derek Morris made a 53-yarder, which appeared like it was going to be the game-winner. But it wasn’t.

Buffalo drove 63 yards in the final 1:57 to force overtime on Oliver Hautanen’s 29-yard field goal with two seconds left, then scored on the first possession of overtime to beat UMass, 25-18, on Saturday at Broadview Stadium.

Buffalo quarterback Jason Wright found tight end Clint Walker for a 15-yard touchdown in overtime and UMass’s answering possession fell apart.

Third-string UMass quarterback Logan Inagawa took a 13-yard sack on 3rd and 12 and his Hail Mary on 4th down was broken up on the game’s final play.

The Minutemen (4-3, 1-3 MAC) lost their third straight and dropped the Flagship Cup for the second straight year. The Bulls (4-3, 2-1) beat UMass for the 11th time in 17 meetings.

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Inagawa, starting with Pop Watson and Aedan McCarthy both out with injuries, finished 14 of 25 for 168 yards with an interception and ran 19 times for 66 yards and a touchdown. Elijah Faulkner carried 23 times for 84 yards and a score as UMass ran for 171 yards and finished with 339 total yards to the Bulls’ 351.

Buffalo running back Messiah Burch carried 28 times for 172 yards, his fourth straight 100-yard game. The Minutemen held him to 47 yards on 13 carries in the first half, but he broke a 46-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter and wore the defense down late. Wright went 16 of 35 for 134 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, both scores to Walker, who caught seven passes for 45 yards.

The teams were even in turnovers, two apiece, with both UMass takeaways belonging to cornerback TJ Magee.

UMass opened the game with an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, capped by Inagawa’s 20-yard touchdown run. Buffalo answered with Hautanen’s 26-yard field goal to make it 7-3 after one quarter.

The second quarter turned on special teams.

Inagawa was sacked in the end zone by Sedrick Vessah for a safety, and after Drew Alsup muffed a punt at the UMass 15, Buffalo settled for Hautanen’s 33-yard field goal and an 8-7 lead.

UMass got the favor back three minutes later when Miles Greer muffed a punt and Magee recovered at the Buffalo 3. Faulkner scored from two yards out and Inagawa hit Lewis for the two-point conversion and a 15-8 lead.

Magee struck again on Buffalo’s ensuing possession, intercepting Wright at midfield and returning it to the Buffalo 35, but Morris missed a 55-yard field goal, got a second chance when Buffalo ran into him, and missed the 50-yarder too. The Minutemen led 15-8 at the half.

Buffalo tied it on the first drive of the third quarter, going 75 yards and scoring on Wright’s 2-yard pass to Walker. Kobi Blackwell intercepted Inagawa at the Buffalo 38 later in the quarter to kill a UMass drive that had started at its own 7.

Burch’s 46-yard run to open the fourth gave Buffalo the ball at the UMass 34, but the defense held and forced a punt.

UMass then drove 65 yards from its own 8, only to watch Morris miss from 45 yards. After another defensive stop, Inagawa and Faulkner moved the Minutemen from their own 37 to the Buffalo 35, and Morris drilled a 53-yard field goal with 1:57 left for an 18-15 lead.

Wright answered with completions of 17 yards to Jaylen Andrews and 8 yards to Walker in the final minute, and Hautanen’s 29-yard field goal at the two-second mark sent the game to overtime.

Buffalo needed four plays to score in overtime, with Wright hitting Walker from 15 yards. Hautanen’s first extra point missed, but UMass was offside and he made the retry. UMass reached the Buffalo 14 on its possession before the two Inagawa fumbles and the final incompletion ended it.

UMass returns to action Friday night at UConn.

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UMass will try to snap a two-game losing streak Saturday against a Buffalo team that has found success running the football and playing physical defense.

The Minutemen (4-2, 1-2 MAC) will face the Bulls (3-3, 1-1) at Broadview Stadium in Buffalo for a 1 p.m. kickoff on ESPN+, with the Flagship Cup on the line for the second time.

Buffalo enters the matchup following a 23-8 road victory over Toledo, its most impressive result of the season. The Bulls previously lost to Western Michigan, 20-17, after opening the season with two wins and two losses in nonconference play.

UMass, meanwhile, is looking to rebound from a 20-19 loss to Miami (Ohio) that followed a 38-14 defeat against Eastern Michigan.

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Buffalo At A Glance

• Record: 3-3 overall, 1-1 MAC

• Head coach: Pete Lembo, third season

• Offensive coordinator: Tony Tokarz

• Defensive coordinator: Brian Dougherty

• Scoring offense: 20.8 points per game

• Scoring defense: 26.8 points per game

• Total offense: 319.8 yards per game

• Rushing offense: 157.2 yards per game

• Passing offense: 162.6 yards per game

Buffalo Offense: Burch Leading The Way

The biggest concern for UMass defensively is running back Messiah Burch, who has emerged as the centerpiece of Buffalo’s offense.

Burch has rushed for more than 100 yards in three consecutive games, totaling 389 yards during that stretch. He ran for 137 yards and a touchdown against Toledo after gaining 146 yards against Robert Morris.

His 79.4 PFF rushing grade reflects his recent production.

Burch’s emergence has been particularly important with Buffalo adjusting to a quarterback change.

Jason Wright has taken over for injured starter Elijah Holmes and has completed 52 percent of his passes over his last three starts while averaging approximately 160 passing yards per game.

Wright has also shown the ability to contribute on the ground. He rushed for 95 yards against Robert Morris and ran for a touchdown against Toledo.

But, his 65.2 PFF passing grade since taking over trails the 82.1 mark Holmes earned before his injury.

Buffalo’s leading receiving threat is Chance Morrow, who has 34 receptions for 414 yards and six touchdowns. The fifth-year receiver has already exceeded his combined production from his previous three seasons with the program.

The Bulls are thin behind Morrow. Preseason All-MAC selection Jasaiah Gathings, who started the opener, does not appear on the two-deep in this week’s game notes, and injury reports list Bobby Mays and Terrell Richards as Out with Alvin Jones III and Jeremiah Watkins Questionable. Springfield, Mass., native Dwayne Early Jr., who was one of Pop Watson’s receivers at Springfield Central High School, and Patrick Clacks III are listed as the other starters.

The Bulls have also increased their use of tight ends. Clint Walker and Trevor Wilson have combined for 18 receptions, more than Buffalo’s tight ends recorded in either of the previous two full seasons.

Strength vs. Strength

Buffalo’s rushing attack will face a UMass defense allowing just 109.3 rushing yards per game, the second-best mark in the MAC and 32nd nationally entering the week.

Linebacker Timmy Hinspeter has been one of the Minutemen’s most effective defenders, earning an 89.7 overall PFF grade and an 88.0 grade against the run.

The challenge will be containing Burch while limiting the additional rushing opportunities Wright creates.

UMass also has potential advantages along the defensive front.

Buffalo offensive tackle Nathan Natoli has a 26.2 PFF pass-blocking grade, while guard Thomas Barr has graded at 41.3. Those numbers suggest opportunities for UMass to pressure Wright, particularly with Joshua Nobles and Andrew DePaepe rushing off the edge.

Nobles has generated 15 pressures this season, while DePaepe has 13.

The Minutemen have also been effective at creating turnovers, ranking among the national leaders with 11 takeaways through six games. Buffalo has improved its ball security, however, going two straight games without a turnover after committing nine during its first four contests.

Jahmad Harmon has been particularly effective in coverage, recording three interceptions while allowing a 28.2 passer rating when targeted, according to PFF.

One concern for UMass is tackling. William DePaepe has missed 40 percent of his tackle attempts, per PFF, while several other regular contributors have struggled in that category.

Against Burch, missed tackles could turn manageable gains into significant plays.

Buffalo Difficult To Run Against

Buffalo’s defensive identity begins with stopping the run.

The Bulls have allowed only one individual 100-yard rushing performance this season, with Penn State’s Quinton Martin reaching exactly 100 yards. In their first two MAC games, Buffalo held Western Michigan to 115 rushing yards and Toledo to 110.

Linebackers Zach Bergmann and Stevie Bracey have been central to that success, earning PFF run-defense grades of 86.1 and 85.6, respectively.

That presents a difficult matchup for a UMass offensive line whose five starters all carry run-blocking grades below 59.

Curtis Kimmons, who has earned an 84.1 PFF rushing grade, could be especially important if healthy enough to play. Kimmons was limited by an injury against Miami, and his availability will influence how UMass approaches Buffalo’s defensive front.

The Bulls can also generate pressure on passing downs.

Edge defender Logan Goodwin has produced 21 pressures and an 87.8 PFF pass-rush grade.

UMass has been more effective in pass protection than run blocking, with Peyton Miller earning an 81.8 pass-blocking grade and Brock Taylor grading at 75.6.

That matchup could be critical if the Minutemen need to rely more heavily on the passing game.

Where UMass Can Attack

Despite Buffalo’s success against the run, its coverage numbers suggest opportunities for UMass.

Safety John Keough has allowed three touchdown passes and a 152.9 passer rating when targeted, according to PFF. Nickel SaVeon Brown has allowed opponents to complete 81.3 percent of passes thrown in his direction.

They figure to create potential opportunities for UMass to move the football through the air, although exploiting them will come down to protection and the quarterback’s execution.

Logan Inagawa is coming off a relief appearance against Miami in which he helped lead a 91-yard touchdown drive that nearly gave the Minutemen a victory. His play was extremely encouraging, albeit it was an equally extremely small sample size, with just 22 snaps.

With Pop Watson and Aedan McCarthy both considered unlikely to play as of the start of the week, Inagawa and Ty McCutcheon have been preparing for larger roles.

When healthy, the Minutemen have plenty of productive receiving options in T.Y Harding and Joseph Griffin along with the emergence of Jabari Lewis and tight end Max Dowling, who has caught a touchdown pass in three consecutive games.

But again, that’s when healthy. Harding, Griffin and Lewis were all dealing with varying levels of injuries this week.

Still, finding opportunities through the air against Buffalo’s coverage could be pivotal if the Bulls succeed in limiting UMass on the ground.

Special Teams And Turnovers

Both teams have potential advantages in the kicking game.

Buffalo punter Ethan Stumpf leads the MAC with an average of approximately 46.8 yards per punt, including a season-long 72-yarder against Western Michigan.

UMass counters with kicker Derek Morris, who set a program record with a 56-yard field goal against Miami. Morris has made three field goals from at least 50 yards this season.

The Minutemen have also been dangerous returning punts, averaging 29.8 yards per return entering the week.

Turnovers could be another deciding factor.

Buffalo has protected the ball considerably better during conference play, while UMass has consistently created opportunities with its defense. If the Minutemen can force Wright into difficult passing situations and capitalize on Buffalo’s offensive-line vulnerabilities, they could disrupt the Bulls’ recent offensive improvement.

Three Keys For UMass

1. Contain Messiah Burch

Buffalo has increasingly leaned on its running game, and preventing Burch from extending his streak of 100-yard performances would put more responsibility on Wright.

2. Find Success Through The Air

Buffalo’s run defense is formidable, but the individual coverage grades suggest UMass could have opportunities in the passing game. Protecting the quarterback and identifying favorable matchups will be essential.

3. Win The Pressure & Turnover Battles

Buffalo’s offensive line has struggled in pass protection at certain positions, while UMass has excelled at creating takeaways. Forcing Wright into obvious passing situations could give the Minutemen their best opportunities to change the game.

Saturday’s matchup presents a test of whether UMass can maintain its defensive success against the run while finding enough offensive production to overcome its injury problems.

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A Quick Primer, Since This Is New Here

Pro Football Focus is a sports analytics company that provides detailed analysis of the NFL and NCAA Football. PFF grades every player on every snap on a 0-100 scale. The rough tiers: 90 and above is elite, 80s are good, 70s are above average, 60s are average, and anything under 60 is below average or worse.

A couple things to know before the numbers.

First, PFF grades process, not results. An offensive lineman can grade well on a play that goes nowhere and poorly on a touchdown, because the grade asks whether he did his job, not whether the play worked. In that sense, it is much different than another popular analytics stat, EPA (Expected Points Added), which focuses solely on whether the team is in better or worse shape after every play.

Second, the graders don’t know the play call, so there’s judgment in every number, and small samples are noisy. I’ll flag those when they come up.

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And one more, because it matters this week: sometimes the process grade and the result genuinely diverge, and you should decide for yourself what matters most.

All grades below are from PFF’s 2026 season data through Week 6.

UMass Defense Has Dipped

Here are UMass’s overall defensive grades by game: Rutgers: 80.0, Sacred Heart: 81.6, Stonehill: 87.8, Sacramento St.: 76.6, and then Eastern Michigan: 58.1 and Miami-Ohio: 63.1. The average across the 4-0 start was 81.5. Across the two losses it’s 60.6.

The Eastern Michigan game was as bad as the number says. A 58.1 team grade with 38 points allowed doesn’t need much further translation. Run defense, tackling, and coverage all graded in the 50s, and the scoreboard agreed.

The Miami game is where you have to watch the tape along with the spreadsheet. PFF graded the defense 63.1. The defense held Miami to 20 points and allowed just six after the first quarter, forcing punts on five consecutive true possessions and making a goal-line stand to force a field goal late in the third quarter. Anyone in the stadium would tell you that unit played winning football.

Both things are true, and the gap is instructive about what the grades do and don’t capture.

The 63.1 reflects a defense that was sloppy between the 20s: a 59.9 tackling grade, a 53.8 run-defense grade dragged down by the reverse touchdown and Miami quarterback Caleb Heavner’s read-option runs in the first quarter.

But PFF grades every snap equally, and doesn’t give bonus points for the snaps that matter most. The red-zone stand, the fourth-quarter stops, the five straight forced punts: those were high-leverage execution, but the grade treats them like any other series.

So the refined version of the story: the defense collapsed at Eastern Michigan, then played a bend-don’t-break game against Miami that the grade undersells. The two-week trend is still down, but Saturday was a step back toward respectability, not a second collapse.

Pop Watson Matters

The 4-0 start averaged 72.0 and the offense graded at 71.4 in the loss to Eastern Michigan, actually better than the Minutemen’s performance in the opening win over Rutgers.

Pop Watson’s individual game grades were 86.2, 92.7, 54.1, 83.1, 72.5.

Not surprisingly, the offense fell all of the way to 58.8 in Watson’s absence against Miami. Freshman quarterback Aedan McCarthy’s first start graded 50.0. The offense around the quarterback graded about the same as it had all year. The quarterback did not.

That’s actually encouraging for the second half, depending on health. There’s no reason to believe the offense won’t return to a productive level when Watson returns.

RBs Have Covered Up Run Game Issues

UMass ran for just 65 yards against Miami and never seemed to be able to dominate up front. PFF says UMass hasn’t dominated up front much this year outside of the Stonehill game.

The offensive line’s run-blocking grades by game: Rutgers: 48.6, Sacred Heart: 61.0, Stonehill: 83.2, Sacramento St.: 56.4, Eastern Michigan: 49.3, Miami: 39.2.

So how has UMass had any success in the running game? Largely because Curtis Kimmons and Elijah Faulkner kept producing anyway.

Kimmons’ rushing grades by game have been 71.5, 62.5, 72.4, 78.1, 73.9, 72.4 while Faulkner’s are 69.8, 70.2, 74.8, 67.1, 46.9 and 63.1.

That is remarkable consistency (outside of Faulkner’s game against Eastern Michigan) behind consistently poor blocking. The backs weren’t the problem in September and they aren’t the problem now. The problem is the same as it was in Week 1, except the backs haven’t been able to overcome it the last two weeks.

Beware Of The Small Sample

It took barely six minutes of gametime against Miami for third-string quarterback Logan Inagawa to become a fan favorite.

Inagawa’s 89.3 overall against Miami and 92.0 passing grade are eye-popping, but not nearly as impressive as his near-heroics in the final minutes last Saturday.

But small samples should be taken with caution. 13 good snaps don’t make a quarterback, and eight bad ones didn’t unmake him either. If he plays against Buffalo, the number to watch isn’t whether he’s above 87 again. It’s whether the grade stays above 80 once he has real volume. That’s when it starts meaning something.

Quick Look Ahead To Buffalo

Inagawa’s ability to throw could be critical this weekend.

Buffalo’s run defense is legit. Linebackers Zach Bergmann (86.1) and Stevie Bracey (85.6) grade among the best run defenders UMass has faced, which matches the tape.

But Buffalo’s coverage has specific holes. Safety John Keough has allowed three touchdowns and a 152.9 passer rating in coverage, and nickel SaVeon Brown is allowing 81.3 percent completions. Whoever plays quarterback for UMass should be throwing at those two. If the Minutemen have a full arsenal of receivers, Joe Griffin Jr., T.Y. Harding and Jabari Lewis could have huge impacts.

But again, that’s IF they are available and IF the Minutemen can get them the ball.

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For the third time in three weeks, UMass offensive coordinator Max Warner is designing an offense around a different quarterback.

For the first five weeks of the season, it was Pop Watson, the veteran dual-threat who opened the season completing 74 percent of his passes, led UMass to a 4-0 start and placed a MAC Offensive Player of the Week award on the shelf along the way.

Last week, it was 6-foot-5 freshman Aedan McCarthy, and the plan tilted vertically - double moves and deep concepts designed to stress Miami’s defense over the top.

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“We had a lot of plays that we want back over the top,” Joe Harasymiak said during his Monday press conference. “We were very, very close to hitting.”

Now, with Watson unlikely to play and McCarthy likely out, Warner is building around some combination of Logan Inagawa and Ty McCutcheon, two quarterbacks with contrasting skill sets and one half of meaningful FBS football experience between them. But Harasymiak isn’t discounting actual playing experience regardless of the level.

Inagawa is a transfer from Drake who brings mobility. He rushed for nine touchdowns as a backup last season, and his 6-for-6, 83-yard relief stint Saturday - capped by the 91-yard touchdown drive - showed poise when the plan broke down.

“Logan has played college football,” Harasymiak said. “He’s got games under his belt, and what he did to be able to come in there and do what he did was great.”

The 6-foot-3 McCutcheon is a junior college transfer from Southwestern College who is a traditional pocket passer who has yet to take a snap for the Minutemen. If he plays, the offense almost certainly has to live on timing and structure rather than broken-play creation or designed QB runs.

“We have to make in-game adjust always, but putting together a plan that not only schematically fits what you’re seeing, but also plays to the strength of your players, I think is very important,” said Harasymiak.

Warner has a recent model for exactly that kind of tailoring on the other sideline.

Buffalo has spent the last month reshaping its offense around a backup quarterback.

“They’re on their backup quarterback,” said Harasymiak. “He’s started a bunch of games. I’ve watched his last three games, Robert Morris, Western and Toledo, and he’s gotten better.

“Their offensive staff has done a great job getting him in position to play to his strengths.”

Warner faces the same assignment as the Minutemen try to snap back-to-back conference losses.

And what he’s seeing is a Buffalo defense that has transformed over the last two weeks.

The season numbers are still rough, 389 yards and 26.8 points allowed per game, but the Bulls just held a Toledo offense averaging 485 yards to 308 yards and 8 points, stuffing the run for 105 yards. A week earlier they limited Western Michigan’s ground game to 115 yards on 37 carries. Linebacker SaVeon Brown leads the MAC with 26 solo tackles.

That’s got to be a concern for a UMass squad that ran for just 65 yards against Miami. If Buffalo’s front does the same to UMass’s ground game Saturday, it’ll be a long day for whoever is behind center for the Minutemen.

Quarterbacks who get the ball out on time and don’t give it away can move it against a Bulls’ defense allowing 240 passing yards per game.

Watson is still listed atop the UMass depth chart McCarthy, Inagawa and McCutcheon all separated by ORs behind him. We’d expect Inagawa to get the first crack if neither Watson nor McCarthy can go based on what he did in the final few minutes last week.

“We got the two-headed monster right now of Logan and Ty that got to go in there,” Harasymiak said.

“It’s going to be all hands-on-deck operation in that position room.”

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The losses have started piling up for UMass, and not all of them have come on the scoreboard.

After dropping consecutive MAC games, the Minutemen are dealing with an increasingly difficult injury situation heading into Saturday’s trip to Buffalo.

UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak provided an extensive update Monday following his team’s 20-19 loss to Miami (Ohio), a game the Minutemen entered without several key contributors before losing more during.

The most pressing concerns are at quarterback, where UMass could be without its top two options.

Starter Pop Watson missed Saturday’s game and is “unlikely” to return against Buffalo, while true freshman Aedan McCarthy, who made his first career start against Miami, suffered an injury that is expected to keep him sidelined as well.

“We’ll see if Pop can go,” Harasymiak said. “I don’t know that. It’ll depend on later in the week, his body and how it responds to everything we’re doing. Probably unlikely for the most part.”

Harasymiak was similarly pessimistic about McCarthy’s availability.

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“Aedan is more than likely out with his injury,” he said. “So we got the two-headed monster right now of Logan (Inagawa) and Ty (McCutcheon) that got to go in there.”

Inagawa completed all six of his passes for 83 yards after replacing McCarthy against Miami, including a 21-yard touchdown to Max Dowling with one second remaining that brought UMass within a point. The Minutemen attempted a two-point conversion for the win, but a breakdown in protection prevented the play from developing.

McCutcheon has yet to see any action for the Minutemen since transferring to Amherst during the offseason.

The injuries extend well beyond quarterback.

Wide receiver Joe Griffin Jr. missed the Miami game after playing sparingly against Eastern Michigan, but Harasymiak expressed some optimism about his potential return.

“Joe, I’m feeling better about,” he said. “We’ll just see. We just got to see him go full speed and do the things he’s got to do.”

Running back Curtis Kimmons IV, who scored UMass’ first touchdown against Miami on a 23-yard run, was unable to finish the game at full strength.

“Curtis left the game after he hurdled the guy,” Harasymiak said. “He was kind of in and out, but just wasn’t himself. So that’s going to be close.”

Wide receiver Dallas Elliott, who was also unavailable against Miami, will remain sidelined. The Minutemen are monitoring wide receiver Jabari Lewis as well after he was shaken up late Saturday.

“Jabari got a little nicked up there at the end,” Harasymiak said. “He went in for the last play, but that’s kind of him wanting to be in there on the last play.”

Lewis finished with five catches for 89 yards against Miami, while T.Y. Harding caught nine passes for 91 yards.

Defensively, UMass entered Saturday without defensive lineman William DePaepe, and his status remains doubtful.

“Will will be kind of like same situation as Pop,” Harasymiak said. “We’ll see toward the end of the week when we start to ramp him up, if he can do it.”

Defensive end Joshua Nobles was listed as Questionable entering the Miami game but ultimately did not play. Harasymiak is hopeful the issue that kept Nobles sidelined won’t linger.

“I’m hoping that was just an end of the week kind of thing that was going on and just tried to go and just ultimately couldn’t,” he said.

The injuries have already forced younger players into more significant roles.

True freshman defensive lineman CJ Amobi recorded a sack against Miami and is expected to see additional playing time against Buffalo.

“CJ’s extremely talented, especially in the pass rush department,” Harasymiak said. “CJ’s going to have to step up. He’s going to play a bigger role this week.”

The coaching staff has also moved Andrew DePaepe between defensive end positions to compensate for the absences. Harasymiak pointed to Amobi, Tavian Dashiell and Justin Lewis as examples of freshmen who could be needed as the season progresses.

“We’ll have some guys that have been doing some scout team stuff,” he said. “They got to come over this week and really step up.”

Managing the workload of an increasingly depleted roster is another challenge, but Harasymiak emphasized that his team cannot allow them to become an excuse.

“It’s Next Man Up mentality,” he said. “It’s everybody’s got to be ready. We talk about everything and everybody matters.

“I think the group and the staff and the players that come together, they don’t view that as a distraction or an excuse and they can move forward. And I think we just got to put a really good plan together.”

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UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak has emphasized a next-man-up mentality throughout his second season.

That philosophy faced one of its biggest tests on Saturday against Miami-Ohio and could face an even bigger test this coming weekend against Buffalo.

The Minutemen entered Saturday’s game without starting quarterback Pop Watson, turning to true freshman Aedan McCarthy and eventually needing third-stringer Logan Inagawa to finish the game after McCarthy suffered a fourth-quarter ankle injury.

Now, with another MAC game approaching and having lost two straight, UMass faces uncertainty about who will be available at the position.

There is cautious optimism within the program that Watson will be able to return against Buffalo, but the outlook for McCarthy seems less encouraging, although imaging results on McCarthy’s injured right ankle had not yet been returned as of Sunday afternoon.

That could leave Inagawa and junior college transfer Ty McCutcheon as the team’s primary options if Watson is unable to play.

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Watson’s injury dates back to UMass’ game against Sacramento State, when he initially hurt himself before aggravating the issue against Eastern Michigan.

Harasymiak said the decision to hold him out against Miami came after extensive consultation with Watson, his family and the medical staff.

“The decision came down to we have to get him healthy,” Harasymiak said. “I just don’t think he was in a position to play to his strength.

“The young man did literally everything possible to try and go. Him, his family, the medical team, we evaluated the situation and made the best decision for him ultimately and our program.”

Harasymiak was hopeful Watson would be able to return but acknowledged the decision could come down to game day.

“I probably won’t know until we get off the plane in Buffalo, probably Saturday, if he can go,” he said. “But he’ll be back. He’ll definitely be back.”

With Watson unavailable, McCarthy made his first collegiate start against Miami and experienced some of the growing pains expected of a true freshman.

The Minutemen designed their offensive approach to take advantage of his arm strength and incorporate quarterback runs, but McCarthy missed several opportunities through the air, particularly on deeper throws.

“We trust Aedan,” Harasymiak said. “He’s got a big-time arm, so we wanted to play to his skill set and I think we did that. We’ve got to execute a little bit better, but again, we’re going to be aggressive. We’ve got to do that. I thought he did a good job pretty much the whole day.”

The uncertainty surrounding McCarthy places greater importance on Inagawa, who entered Saturday’s game with little warning and nearly delivered one of the season’s most dramatic victories.

Trailing 20-10, Inagawa helped secure a field goal in the final minutes to make it a one score game before the real excitement began. Starting at his own 9-yard line with two minutes to play and no timeouts, Inagawa directed a 91-yard touchdown drive, finding Max Dowling for a 21-yard score with one second remaining.

UMass elected to attempt a two-point conversion for the victory, but the play broke down before Inagawa could receive a pass on a trick play. The Minutemen fell 20-19, but Inagawa’s performance offered encouragement about their quarterback depth.

“Incredible,” Harasymiak said. “We get down to essentially QB3. Had to get loose very quickly.

“It’s what this program and this team want to be about. Next-man-up mentality. Keep going. Just really proud of him. Really, really a great job by him.”

Inagawa transferred to UMass after spending last season at Drake, where he rushed for nine touchdowns while serving as a backup. His mobility provides a different dimension to the offense, particularly when plays break down.

McCutcheon, meanwhile, arrived after spending last season at Southwestern College in California. The junior college transfer is more of a traditional pocket passer, giving the Minutemen another option if they need it.

After watching Inagawa nearly lead a remarkable comeback Saturday, Harasymiak has reason to believe his next-man-up message is resonating, but he’d rather not find out just yet.

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My immediate reaction to UMass’ failed two-point conversion and ensuing loss to Miami-Ohio on Saturday was probably the same as most of the fans: The Minutemen had gone to the most predictable two-point play in football, and Miami was ready for it.

After taking a deeper look, I’m convinced neither the decision to go for two nor the play call itself was the problem.

UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak made the decision to go for the win after Logan Inagawa’s 21-yard touchdown pass to Max Dowling pulled the Minutemen within 20-19 with one second remaining Saturday at McGuirk Alumni Stadium.

Offensive coordinator Max Warner was responsible for selecting the play that would determine the outcome.

Those are two separate decisions and both deserve to be examined and reasonable people can come to different opinions on each, even without the benefit of hindsight.

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GOING FOR IT

I had no problem with Harasymiak’s decision to go for the win.

The analytics generally support going for two in that situation, and the reasoning isn’t especially complicated.

You figure winning in overtime is approximately a 50/50 proposition. Most coaches believe they have at least one two-point play in their arsenal that gives them a better than 50/50 chance of converting, especially when it’s their best play and one they’ve spent the week practicing.

So the choice essentially comes down to whether you like your chances of gaining three yards on one play more than your chances of winning in overtime.

For UMass, there were additional reasons to avoid extending the game.

The Minutemen were down to their third quarterback after injuries to Pop Watson and Aedan McCarthy. They had entered the game dealing with injuries at several key positions, and receivers T.Y. Harding and Jabari Lewis were dealing with injuries or cramps during the final drive.

Inagawa had just directed a remarkable 91-yard touchdown drive, but there was no guarantee UMass could sustain that offensive production through overtime devoid of much of the firepower they’ve had all season.

And there’s another factor that goes beyond the numbers.

Whatever philosophy a coach preaches should show up when the stakes are highest.

Harasymiak consistently encourages his players to be aggressive, and to his credit, he generally coaches that way when opportunities present themselves. It’s easier to ask players to compete aggressively when that mentality extends throughout the program, beginning with the head coach.

“Listen, I’m here to be aggressive,” Harasymiak reiterated immediately after the game. “I’m here to win games. I’m not going to play scared…I trust our guys.”

Harasymiak also revealed that the coaching staff had spent the week anticipating a low-scoring game.

“It’s funny because all week as a staff, this is true, we said it’s a race to 21,” he said. “And that would have been 21.”

He was willing to put the outcome in his players’ hands. I have no issue with that.

THE CALL

This is where my opinion changed after reviewing the play.

From the press box, I recognized the Philly Special a fraction of a second after the ball was snapped. So, probably, did you.

It’s probably the most recognizable two-point play in football. When it failed, my immediate reaction was that Warner had gone to a play everybody could see coming.

But there’s a reason why the play is so popular in these situations.

Recognizing the Philly Special from the stands, on TV or in a coaches’ booth is entirely different from recognizing it as a defender on the field at the snap.

The offense doesn’t need to fool everyone watching. It needs the defense to react a certain way at the snap. Miami reacted exactly the way the Minutemen needed them to.

Even with a third-string quarterback and freshman walk-on receiver Drew Alsup involved, UMass was in control of the pre-snap operation. What initially appeared to me to be some communication issues weren’t issues at all. It was simply more of Warner’s pre-snap eye candy.

Alsup handled the initial exchange from Inagawa and flipped the ball to running back Reece Adkins with no problem. Lewis did an excellent job taking the playside cornerback out of the play by running a slant and maintaining contact making it more difficult for the corner to just bail.

Meanwhile, Inagawa showed an enormous amount of patience.

He must have been dying to get out to the flats, but he waited - waited for what must have seemed like far longer than the second or so it was - until Miami defensive lineman Zhaiylen Scott committed to chasing Alsup.

The instant Scott took himself out of the play, Inagawa made his move. And he was wide open.

At the 6-yard line, Inagawa had nobody between himself and the end zone.

The only Miami defender who recognized what was happening was the one defender who never had a chance to do anything about it, backside cornerback Amariyun Knighten.

Knighten can be seen sprinting across the formation toward Inagawa, but he wasn’t going to get there in time.

UMass had the look it wanted. The defense had reacted exactly as the Minutemen needed it to react. The intended receiver was uncovered.

The play was there.

Except one thing went wrong.

A blitzing RedHawk linebacker came through without being picked up and tackled Adkins before he had an opportunity to throw the ball.

That single breakdown erased everything else UMass had done correctly.

“We practice that play a lot,” he said. “I believe what I was told is there was a backside run-through in the A gap or B gap that got penetration.

“It’s hard, man. I love these guys and I’m here to win and I trust them. We’ve just got to keep going.”

It’s an almost perfect illustration of the 9.09 concept Harasymiak and his staff have emphasized throughout the season.

All 11 players have responsibilities. When one player doesn’t execute his assignment, the other 10 can do everything right and still come away with nothing. That’s what happened here.

Of course, the ability to execute a play has to be part of the decision to call it.

Maybe Harasymiak and Warner overestimated their players’ ability to execute that particular play in that particular moment. That’s a fair question, but that wasn’t my take in the moment.

UMass had a chance to win the game. Harasymiak chose to take it. Warner called a play that got the intended receiver open. The Minutemen simply couldn’t finish it.

Harasymiak will undoubtedly revisit the decision, as will Warner and the players involved. But at some point, coaches have to trust their preparation and their players.

“I’ve got to live with it, but I would do it again and I trust our guys to go do it,” he said.

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Harasymiak discussed his decision to go for the game-winning two-point conversion, Logan Inagawa’s impressive 91-yard touchdown drive after replacing the injured Aedan McCarthy and the defensive effort that kept UMass in the game.

He also provided injury updates on Pop Watson, McCarthy and other key players, explained the offensive game plan and discussed how the Minutemen can respond to consecutive MAC losses heading into next week’s trip to Buffalo.

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For most of Saturday afternoon, UMass struggled to find the offense it needed against Miami (Ohio).

Then Logan Inagawa came off the bench and nearly stole the game.

The backup quarterback engineered a 91-yard touchdown drive in the final minutes, but a failed two-point conversion left the Minutemen on the wrong end of a 20-19 decision at McGuirk Alumni Stadium.

“I’m here to be aggressive,” UMass head ocach Joe Harasymiak said of the decision to go for the win. “I trust our guys. We practice that play a lot.

“I believe what I was told is there was a backside run-through in the A gap or B gap that got penetration. So I got to live with it, but I would do it again and I trust our guys to go do it.”

UMass dropped to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the MAC while Miami improved to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the conference.

Pressed into action after freshman starting quarterback Aedan McCarthy suffered an ankle injury in the fourth quarter, Inagawa completed all six of his passes for 83 yards and a touchdown on the Minutemen’s final possession.

His 21-yard touchdown pass to Max Dowling with one second remaining brought UMass within a point, but the Minutemen’s two-point conversion failed.

It was a dramatic finish to an afternoon in which UMass struggled to sustain drives despite a defensive effort that repeatedly gave the Minutemen opportunities to get back in the game.

Making his first career start in place of the injured Pop Watson, McCarthy displayed his arm strength and mobility, but struggled to connect on downfield throws as the Minutemen repeatedly failed to move the chains. McCarthy was also without receivers Joe Griffin and Dallas Elliott.

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McCarthy finished 15 of 29 for 171 yards without a touchdown or interception before leaving the game with approximately six minutes remaining.

UMass finished with 319 yards of offense, including 254 through the air, but managed just 65 rushing yards on 30 attempts and converted only four of 15 third downs.

T.Y. Harding led the Minutemen with nine receptions for 91 yards, while Jabari Lewis added five catches for 89 yards. Curtis Kimmons IV rushed for 35 yards and a touchdown.

The UMass defense forced Miami to punt on five consecutive possessions after allowing touchdowns on back-to-back first-quarter drives, holding the RedHawks to 260 total yards.

But the Minutemen offense couldn’t take advantage of those opportunities for much of the afternoon.

Trailing 14-10 at the half, UMass went three-and-out on its first two possessions of the second half.

The first ended with a partially blocked punt, although Miami was unable to capitalize. The second began at the UMass 8 and ended with McCarthy taking a nine-yard sack on third-and-three, forcing another punt.

Miami took over at the UMass 48 following that possession, but the Minutemen’s defense responded again. Timmy Hinspeter and Romando Johnson combined for a 10-yard sack on first down, helping force another RedHawks punt.

The next UMass possession ended in the game’s first turnover.

After Elijah Faulkner gained nine yards on first down, a second-and-one option pitch from McCarthy to Faulkner resulted in a fumble recovered by Miami’s Grant Lyons at the UMass 21.

The RedHawks moved inside the UMass 10, but the Minutemen’s defense limited the damage.

Michael Robinson II and Tyler Martin combined to stop D’Shawntae Jones for a two-yard loss before Kendall Bournes and Zakar Morris held Rodney Nelson to no gain. Caleb Heavner then threw incomplete on third down, forcing Miami to settle for a 27-yard field goal from Kellan McLaughlin with 41 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

That extended Miami’s lead to 17-10.

UMass went three-and-out again on its next possession, with McCarthy missing on two more deep attempts intended for Harding.

Miami took advantage of the resulting field position, moving from its own 49 to the UMass 28.

Heavner converted a third-and-six with a 13-yard completion to Maleek Huggins, but the Minutemen’s defense prevented another first down.

McLaughlin connected on a 47-yard field goal with 11:36 remaining, stretching Miami’s lead to 20-10, which felt like more given UMass’ offensive inefficiency to that point.

But UMass finally managed to sustain a possession on its next series, with McCarthy connecting with Lewis for 24 yards on third-and-nine to move the Minutemen to midfield.

Faulkner kept the drive alive with a four-yard run on fourth-and-one at the Miami 41 before McCarthy found Harding for 17 yards on first-and-15, advancing UMass to the Miami 25.

But the possession took a concerning turn when McCarthy went down following an incomplete pass under pressure. The freshman attempted to get up multiple times before being helped off the field, appearing reluctant to put weight on his right leg.

Inagawa entered and gained nine yards on his first play, an option keeper that set up third-and-one at the Miami 16, but was stopped for no gain on the next play, and UMass elected to attempt a field goal on fourth-and-one.

Derek Morris converted from 34 yards with 4:55 remaining, cutting Miami’s lead to 20-13 and bringing the Minutemen back within one possession.

Miami picked up a first down on its ensuing possession, but the UMass defense eventually forced another punt after a botched snap resulted in a 10-yard loss on third down.

That gave Inagawa and the Minutemen one final opportunity.

Taking over at his own 9 with 2:22 remaining, Inagawa was sacked for a six-yard loss on first down, immediately putting UMass in a difficult position.

But the backup quarterback responded with a 30-yard completion to Harding on second-and-16, moving the ball to the UMass 33 at the two-minute timeout.

Inagawa found Lewis for six yards on the next play, but a three-yard loss on a keeper and a one-yard completion to Harding left the Minutemen facing fourth-and-six at their own 37.

With the game on the line, Inagawa connected with Lewis for 16 yards to the Miami 47, keeping the drive alive.

A nine-yard completion to Drew Alsup moved UMass to the Miami 38 before a pass interference penalty against Miami gave the Minutemen a first down at the 23.

Inagawa gained two yards on a keeper before finding Dowling over the middle for a 21-yard touchdown with one second remaining.

The score brought UMass within 20-19, and the Minutemen elected to go for two and the lead.

In the first half, McCarthy completed 12 of 20 passes for 126 yards without a touchdown or interception. Harding led UMass with five receptions for 39 yards in the first 30 minutes, while Lewis had two catches for 43 yards. The Minutemen managed just 42 rushing yards and were outgained 176-168 overall, with Heavner accounting for 117 yards of Miami’s offense through the air and on the ground in the first two quarters.

Both teams went three-and-out to begin the game before UMass got the scoring started on its second possession.

Starting at their own 17-yard line, the Minutemen put together an 11-play, 83-yard touchdown drive. McCarthy connected with Kezion Dia-Johnson for 18 yards on second-and-16 and picked up another first down with a seven-yard keeper.

Kimmons finished the possession with consecutive runs of six and 23 yards, scoring on the latter to give UMass a 7-0 lead with 6:36 remaining in the first quarter.

Miami answered with 14 consecutive points, relying heavily on Heavner’s running ability.

Heavner gained 47 yards on three carries during the RedHawks’ first scoring possession, including runs of 29 and 14 yards. Scoop Smith capped the five-play, 73-yard drive with a 20-yard touchdown on a reverse, tying the game 7-7 with 3:51 remaining in the opening quarter.

UMass’ next possession ended with a gamble that quickly proved costly.

Facing fourth-and-one at their own 34-yard line, the Minutemen elected to go for the first down, but Faulkner was stopped for no gain.

Miami took advantage of the short field, getting a 15-yard run from Nelson before a defensive holding penalty moved the RedHawks inside the 10. Heavner scored on a nine-yard keeper to put Miami ahead 14-7 with 1:11 remaining in the first quarter.

McCarthy responded with his longest completion of the half, finding Lewis for 34 yards down the left sideline on the first play of UMass’ ensuing possession.

The drive stalled after McCarthy lost five yards on a keeper and failed to connect on another deep attempt, but Morris converted a 56-yard field goal with 14:11 remaining in the second quarter. The kick broke his own UMass record and trimmed Miami’s lead to 14-10.

From there, the Minutemen’s defense tightened a bit.

Miami converted a fourth-and-one near midfield on its next series, but UMass forced a punt when linebacker Josh Iseah broke up Heavner’s third-down pass intended for Braylon Isom.

The RedHawks threatened again on their following possession, with Heavner finding Smith for 33 yards on play-action and Huggins for 25 yards on third-and-seven.

UMass’ pass rush responded. Justin Krueger pressured Heavner into an incompletion before CJ Amobi recorded a nine-yard sack on third down, pushing Miami back to the UMass 37 and forcing another punt.

The Minutemen were unable to take advantage offensively.

UMass will travel to Buffalo for another MAC contest next Saturday.

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UMass’ attempt to bounce back from its first loss of the season will come without Pop Watson.

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the quarterback will miss Saturday’s game against Miami-Ohio with an ankle injury, a significant setback for a team he has helped transform through its first five games.

The extent of Watson’s injury and his potential recovery timeline remain unclear. While speculation on social media has suggested the injury could be a lengthy one, there has been no confirmation supporting that prognosis and our guess is those reports are extremely premature.

For now, the only certainty is that Watson will not play against the RedHawks. UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak will surely address his quarterback’s status following today’s Saturday’s game, which kicks off at 2 p.m. at McGuirk Alumni Stadium.

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Watson’s absence is a significant blow to a UMass team looking to rebound from its first loss of the season, a 38-14 defeat to Eastern Michigan last weekend.

The Springfield, Mass., native has been instrumental in the Minutemen’s early success, completing 74 percent of his passes for 820 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s added 167 rushing yards and four touchdowns, accounting for 11 of UMass’ offensive scores through five games.

But Watson’s importance to the program extends beyond his production.

UMass opened the season with four consecutive victories, including a 37-21 win at Rutgers and a 35-6 victory at Sacramento State in its MAC opener. Watson was recognized as the MAC Offensive Player of the Week following the Rutgers victory and earned additional national recognition for his performance.

Beyond his statistical contributions, Watson has provided experience, leadership and a connection to the local community that have made him an important figure in the program’s early momentum under Harasymiak.

Now, the Minutemen must find a way to maintain that momentum without him.

UMass has listed three quarterbacks as co-backups throughout the season: sophomore transfers Logan Inagawa and Ty McCutcheon, along with true freshman Aedan McCarthy.

Inagawa and McCarthy have each operated as the No. 2 quarterback during different games, although neither has been asked to take on a significant role.

McCarthy has seen the most passing action of the three, completing two of four attempts for 11 yards during UMass’ 37-10 victory over Sacred Heart on Sept. 12.

Inagawa appeared in the Minutemen’s victory at Sacramento State, recording a seven-yard run on his lone carry. McCutcheon has yet to record a passing attempt this season.

The options present different levels of experience, but McCarthy may be the most intriguing of the group and is expected to get the start.

The 6-foot-5, 230-pound freshman from Bluffton, S.C., arrived at UMass with considerable physical tools and a productive high school career. He threw for 6,643 yards and 69 touchdowns during his career at Bluffton High School, adding 1,398 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns.

As a senior, he passed for 3,543 yards and 31 touchdowns while rushing for another 629 yards and 10 scores, earning conference Offensive Player of the Year honors.

His arm talent offers the kind of upside that should excite UMass fans about the future of the position.

The immediate question, though, is how quickly that physical ability could translate to meaningful college action.

McCarthy’s only game experience has come in limited duty against Sacred Heart. Being thrust into an important role against a MAC opponent would present an entirely different challenge, particularly for a true freshman still learning to manage the speed, complexity and emotional demands of college football.

McCarthy could offer a glimpse of what the future might hold for the Minutemen. But there would also be a significant learning curve for a young quarterback making his first meaningful contributions.

The ability to process defensive looks, handle pressure, respond to mistakes and maintain composure would be just as important as his ability to make difficult throws.

McCarthy will inherit an offense that has averaged 31.8 points and 343.2 yards per game.

UMass has been particularly productive on the ground, averaging 177 rushing yards per contest behind Curtis Kimmons IV and Elijah Faulkner. The Minutemen have also allowed just three sacks through five games, providing a foundation that could help ease the transition at quarterback.

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