The UMass Minutemen have added the Sacred Heart Pioneers to their 2026 football schedule, FBSchedules.com has confirmed.
UMass will host Sacred Heart at McGuirk Alumni Stadium on a date to be determined during the 2026 season (Sept. 12? See below). The Minutemen will pay the Pioneers a $250,000 guarantee for the contest, according to a copy of the contract obtained from the University of Massachusetts via a state public records request.
The contract between the two schools was dated Feb. 9, 2021, signed a little over two months later, but was not provided in our previous requests to the school.
In December, UMass Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford sent an email to season ticket holders outlining their future football schedule plans moving forward following their return to the Mid-American Conference (MAC) this summer. In that email, the Sacred Heart contest was listed as Sept. 12, 2026.
The email also indicated that UMass was in discussions with Hawaii to cancel their home-and-home series in 2026 and 2027. That cancellation would be needed to fit the Sacred Heart game into the 2026 schedule unless the Minutemen decide to keep the 13th game under the Hawaii Exemption.
Other future football games listed in the email, but not officially contracted as of today, include Stony Brook in 2027 and Bryant in 2029.
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— Sidelines – UMass (@SSN_UMass) December 18, 2024
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— Sidelines – UMass (@SSN_UMass) December 18, 2024
UMass’ 2026 non-conference schedule is slated to begin with a Sept. 5 contest on the road against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. The Minutemen are also slated to visit the UCF Knights on Sept. 19 and the UConn Huskies on Oct. 24, 2026. All future schedules should be considered tentative, however, until officially announced by the school.
FOOTBALL SCHEDULES
UMass should move the 2026 @ Hawaii game to 2029, which would be a no-brainer for Hawaii. Hawaii can replace the 2026 game with an FCS opponent (they don’t have an FCS game for 2026 yet). It also gives Hawaii a second home OOC game for 2029. UMass already has 3 spots to fill in 2029 and already has a home game.
I think they should cancel it. No sense in forcing ALL that travel on players.
I fully support your Comments BYUfan.
BYUfan, it sounds like you’re still holding a grudge from Timmy Chang breaking the speed limit on your Cougars back in 2001. I think it finished something like 72-45. Wait, whoops, did the ‘Bows just score yet again?
I wasn´t alive in 2001, so no, and I never even think about Hawai´i at all. If there´s anyone I have a grudge against it´s Grayson McCall for ruining what would´ve otherwise have been a perfect season. Also that stupid moron called Mark Harlan that is the AD of a certain school up north for saying some interesting things.
Interesting history Jesper.