PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football had a bad enough Thursday night before New Jersey Republicans got involved.
After Rutgers suffered a stunning 37-21 home loss to UMass — a program that went 0-12 last season and arrived at SHI Stadium riding a 16-game losing streak — the NJ Assembly GOP took to social media Friday to turn the defeat into a criticism of state spending.
- Rutgers entered the game as a 29.5-point favorite but lost 37-21 to a UMass team that had lost 16 straight games.
- Rutgers paid UMass $1.55 million to travel to Piscataway for the season opener.
- Assembly Republicans highlighted a separate $5 million Rutgers appropriation in New Jersey’s state budget while mocking the loss.
The Republican caucus summed up its argument with three numbers: $5 million in state money, $1.55 million paid to UMass and one massive upset.
NJ Assembly GOP Pounces on Rutgers Loss
The Assembly Republican caucus wasted little time connecting Rutgers’ performance to a $5 million appropriation in the New Jersey state budget for Rutgers under “Events Attraction and Marketing.”
“New Jersey taxpayers gave Rutgers $5 million in the state budget for ‘Events Attraction and Marketing,’ reportedly to help compete in the NIL arms race,” the caucus wrote.
Then came the football.
“Last night Rutgers lost to UMass 37-21. A team that went 0-12 last year. On a 16-game losing streak. A 28.5-point underdog.”
The betting line varied slightly depending on the sportsbook, with UMass widely listed as roughly a 29-point underdog before kickoff.
Rutgers’ loss was ugly regardless of the number.
The Scarlet Knights scored on their opening possession before UMass ripped off 30 unanswered points and built a 30-7 lead. UMass finished with 397 yards of offense and walked out of SHI Stadium with its first victory after 16 consecutive losses.
Rutgers Paid UMass $1.55 Million to Play the Game
The detail that gave Republicans even more material was the guarantee Rutgers paid its opponent.
Rutgers agreed to pay UMass $1.55 million to come to Piscataway for the nonconference matchup.
Guarantee games are common in college football. Larger programs routinely pay visiting schools to fill out their nonconference schedules, often in games where the home team is expected to be a substantial favorite.
Rutgers was certainly expected to win this one.
Instead, the Scarlet Knights handed UMass a $1.55 million payday and its first victory since October 2024.
The Assembly GOP seized on the combination.
“Let’s recap,” Republicans wrote. “$5M in taxpayer money. $1.55M paid to the opponent. One historic upset.”
The post ended with the jab: “Your tax dollars at work.”
The $1.55 million guarantee and the $5 million state appropriation are separate expenditures. The state budget also does not describe the entire $5 million appropriation as money specifically for the Rutgers football program.
Greg Schiano Takes Blame for Stunning Defeat
Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano didn’t offer many excuses after the game.
“They out-coached us, they out-coached me, they out-played our players,” Schiano said after the loss. “We got licked tonight. There’s no other thing to say about it.”
Rutgers quarterback Dylan Lonergan threw three interceptions and lost a fumble, while the Scarlet Knights struggled to establish a running game.
Wide receiver KJ Duff was one of Rutgers’ few bright spots, catching nine passes for 196 yards and three touchdowns.
UMass, meanwhile, turned a game it was expected to lose comfortably into one of the biggest surprises of college football’s opening week.
For Assembly Republicans, that made Rutgers an easy target in a broader argument about taxpayer support for the state university.
The caucus’ post does not establish that the $5 million appropriation was spent on football or caused the loss. Instead, Republicans used the timing of the appropriation and Rutgers’ disastrous opener to make a political point about state spending.
For Rutgers, the immediate problem is on the field. The Scarlet Knights now have to regroup before facing Boston College on Sept. 11.
Rutgers really did lose 37-21 to a UMass team coming off an 0-12 season.
UMass entered the game on a 16-game losing streak and as roughly a 29-point underdog before scoring 30 unanswered points against Rutgers.
Rutgers paid UMass $1.55 million to come to Piscataway.
The guarantee was part of the schools’ agreement for the nonconference game and is separate from the $5 million state appropriation highlighted by Republicans.
The Assembly GOP is using the loss to criticize state spending on Rutgers.
Republicans pointed to the $5 million “Events Attraction and Marketing” appropriation, but the budget does not identify the entire amount as funding specifically for football.
Sources: NJ Assembly GOP statement on X; Rutgers Athletics; New Jersey FY2027 state budget; Rutgers-UMass postgame statements and game records.
