Sep 4, 2026 · 1h 39m
UMass shocks Rutgers and reopens college football’s access fight
UMass Upsets Rutgers, Colorado Wins & College Football Is BACK | Mostly Sports EP 726 | 9.4.26
A lopsided upset becomes a test of whether Group of Five programs deserve a meaningful path into the expanded College Football Playoff.
- 1UMass turned a major underdog matchup into a 37-21 rout, exposing the volatility of early-season roster turnover.
- 2The hosts debate whether Group of Five teams should chase playoff access or pursue a separate championship with better odds.
- 3Rutgers jokes, Chicago sports talk, NBA news, and a chaotic basketball grid game broaden the episode beyond football analysis.
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The hosts finally connect with TJ and his father, grilling them about Rutgers’ loss, fireworks, roster spending, and family loyalty.
The brief
UMass’s 37-21 demolition of Rutgers supplies the episode’s central shock, with roster turnover, preseason expectations, and Rutgers’ infamous fireworks all entering the autopsy.
The upset expands into a structural argument: should Group of Five programs receive a real playoff route, or would a separate championship offer a more attainable reward?
Colorado’s win over Georgia Tech, North Carolina’s turmoil, and the LSU-Clemson preview frame a broader discussion about ugly openers, meaningful scheduling, and conference expansion.
The hosts finally reach TJ and his father, Tim Hitchings, turning Rutgers’ loss, roster spending, and family allegiance into an extended phone-call comedy routine.
Football eventually gives way to Chicago sports, Kanye concert talk, Ben Simmons, volleyball failures, Luke Bryan criticism, and a basketball grid game built on increasingly shaky guesses.