UMass defeated Rutgers 37-21 on Thursday night, snapping a 16-game losing streak that stretched back over more than a calendar year. Pop Watson III led the Minutemen offense with 197 passing yards and three touchdowns in the season-opening victory on the road in New Jersey.

The upset carried particular weight given UMass's recent struggles. The Minutemen went 0-12 last season and entered Thursday's game as 29.5-point underdogs, per ESPN's reporting. ESPN described the win as a "statement" victory, with UMass dominating Rutgers in Week 1.

The result also caught the attention of sports bettors. Per Awful Announcing, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy had publicly selected Rutgers as his "strongest play of the year" ahead of the game, leading to what the outlet characterized as one of the most embarrassing gambling losses of the year.