The 2026 college football season is underway, and we already have an improbable upset on our hands.
On Thursday night, the UMass Minutemen defeated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in stunning fashion. Rutgers entered as a 29.5-point favorite, but ended up losing the game outright by a score of 37-21. To make matters even worse, Rutgers reportedly paid UMass $1.55 million to play the game. It was an embarrassing showing for Greg Schiano and company, and now there is legitimate wonder if Schiano will be fired before Week 2.
UMass has been among the worst programs in all of football over the past several years. The program entered 2026 averaging just one win per season since 2019, and went 0-12 last year. Their victory in Piscataway marks UMass' first win against a current power conference opponent since November 1978.
Curt Cignetti was aware of what was going on, and made sure to make note of the developments. "I hope our guys are watching this game," Cignetti said during his radio show on Thursday evening. At that time, Rutgers was trailing by 17 at halftime. It only got worse from there, as the Scarlet Knights were out-rushed 200-30 and committed four turnovers without forcing any.
Ranking every Indiana Football position group from strongest to weakest
There are many valuable lessons to take away from Rutgers' humiliating loss. For starters, Indiana's Week 5 contest in Piscataway doesn't look all that daunting. But perhaps more importantly, Rutgers' loss to UMass serves as a cautionary tale about overlooking your opponent.
Indiana can't overlook any opponents in 2026
Cignetti's comments during his radio show signal that he doesn't want his team being too overly-confident heading into Week 1 against North Texas. Indiana is favored by 40 points, but that doesn't automatically guarantee anything. No opponent can be overlooked. There's nothing wrong with confidence, but underestimating an opponent can come back to bite.
For the most part, Indiana's schedule is manageable. With the talent and experience all throughout Indiana's depth chart, the Hoosiers are likely to be favored in 10+ games in the regular season. But again, that doesn't guarantee anything. You still have to play the games and you still have to perform. That rings especially true when Indiana faces teams it is expected to beat. The Hoosiers can’t afford to let their guard down simply because they have more talent on paper. They still have to execute.
The Hoosiers enter the 2026 season at the top of the college football world. As the defending National Champions, everyone will be gunning to take them down this season. All 12 regular season opponents will treat their respective matchups against Indiana as their Super Bowl, and the Hoosiers are sure to get everyone's best effort.
Cignetti's team has high expectations, and are even listed among the preseason favorites to win the National Championship. With a solid mix of returning production, strong additions via the transfer portal, and experienced roster, and a fully-retained coaching staff, all the pieces are in place for another CFP run. But now it's time to play the games, and Indiana can't be taking anybody lightly.
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