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2021 UMass Minutemen football team

{{short description|American college football season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year= 2021

| team= UMass Minutemen

| sport = football

| image = UMass Amherst Athletics logo.svg

| image_size = 150

| conference = Independent

| record= 1–11

| head_coach = Walt Bell

| hc_year = 3rd

| hc_games = first 9 games

| head_coach2 = Alex Miller

| hc_games2 = interim; final 3 games

| off_scheme = Spread

| def_coach = Tommy Restivo (3rd season; first 9 games)

| dc_year =

| def_scheme = 4–3

| captain =

| stadium = Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium

}}

{{2021 NCAA Division I FBS independents football records}}

The 2021 UMass Minutemen football team represented the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Minutemen played their home games at Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium and competed as an independent. They were led by third-year head coach Walt Bell; UMass fired Bell after nine games and offensive line coach Alex Miller took over as interim head coach.{{Cite news |last=Grabowski |first=Kyle |date=November 7, 2021 |title=Walt Bell fired as UMass head football coach |work=Daily Hampshire Gazette |url=https://www.gazettenet.com/UMass-fires-football-coach-Walt-Bell-after-loss-to-FCS-Rhode-Island-43422390 |access-date=November 7, 2021}}

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| time = y

| tv = y

| attend = y

| opprank = y

| rankyear = 2021

| rankdivision = NCAA Division I FBS

| poll = AP

| timezone = Eastern

| September 4 | 4:00 p.m. | at | Pittsburgh | Heinz Field | Pittsburgh, PA | ACCN | L 7–51 | 41,486

| September 11 | 3:30 p.m. | | Boston College | Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium | Hadley, MA (rivalry) | NESN+ | L 28–45 | 12,118

| September 18 | 3:30 p.m. | | Eastern Michigan | Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium | Hadley, MA | NESN+ | L 28–42 | 7,012

| September 25 | 1:00 p.m. | at | No. 17 Coastal Carolina | Brooks Stadium | Conway, SC | ESPN+ | L 3–53 | 15,261

| October 2 | 12:00 p.m. | | Toledo | Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium | Hadley, MA | NESN | L 7–45 | 9,456

| October 9 | 3:30 p.m. | | UConn | Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium | Hadley, MA (rivalry) | NESN | W 27–13 | 12,765

| October 23 | 12:00 p.m. | at | Florida State | Doak Campbell Stadium | Tallahassee, FL | ACCN | L 3–59 | 51,915

| October 30 | 12:00 p.m. | at | Liberty | Williams Stadium | Lynchburg, VA | ESPN3 | L 17–62 | 16,577

| November 6 | 3:30 p.m. | | Rhode Island | Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium | Hadley, MA | NESN/NESN+ | L 22–35 | 7,284

| November 13 | 12:00 p.m. | | Maine | Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium | Hadley, MA | NESN/NESN+ | L 10–35 | 5,331

| November 20 | 12:00 p.m. | at | Army | Michie Stadium | West Point, NY |CBSSN | L 17–33 | 23,610

| November 27 | 3:00 p.m. | at | New Mexico State | Aggie Memorial Stadium | Las Cruces, NM | AggieVision | L 27–44 | 6,632

}}

{{cite web |title=2021 UMass Football Schedule |url=https://fbschedules.com/umass-football-schedule/ |website=FBSchedules.com |access-date=January 31, 2021}}

Game summaries

=At Pittsburgh=

{{see also|2021 Pittsburgh Panthers football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Minutemen

|R1=0

|R2=0

|R3=0

|R4=7

|Home=Panthers

|H1=13

|H2=10

|H3=14

|H4=14

}}

class="wikitable"

! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|UMass Minutemen|color=white}}"|MASS !!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Panthers}}"|PITT

First downs1135
Total yards209598
Rushing yards42223
Passing yards167375
Turnovers12
Time of possession29:1230:48

class="wikitable" style="float: left;"

! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics

rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|UMass Minutemen|color=white}}; text-align:center;"|UMassPassingTyler Lytle14/31, 167 yards
RushingKayron Lynch-Adams11 rushes, 32 yards
ReceivingJermaine Johnson3 receptions, 52 yards
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Pittsburgh Panthers}}; text-align:center;"|PittsburghPassingKenny Pickett27/37, 272 yards, 2 TD
RushingRodney Hammond Jr.8 rushes, 45 yards
ReceivingLucas Krull5 receptions, 58 yards, TD

{{clear}}

=Boston College=

{{see also|2021 Boston College Eagles football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Eagles

|R1=14

|R2=0

|R3=21

|R4=10

|Home=Minutemen

|H1=0

|H2=0

|H3=21

|H4=7

}}

class="wikitable"

! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Boston College Eagles}}"|BC !!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|UMass Minutemen|color=white}}"|MASS

First downs2420
Total yards475335
Rushing yards254121
Passing yards221214
Turnovers23
Time of possession32:2427:36

class="wikitable" style="float: left;"

! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics

rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Boston College Eagles}}; text-align:center;"|Boston CollegePassingDennis Grosel11/14, 199 yards, TD
RushingPatrick Garwo III15 rushes, 160 yards
ReceivingTrae Berry5 receptions, 98 yards, TD
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|UMass Minutemen|color=white}}; text-align:center;"|UMassPassingBrady Olson14/29, 214 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
RushingEllis Merriweather11 rushes, 56 yards
ReceivingRico Arnold2 receptions, 85 yards, TD

{{Clear}}

=Eastern Michigan=

{{see also|2021 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Eagles

|R1=14

|R2=7

|R3=7

|R4=14

|Home=Minutemen

|H1=0

|H2=7

|H3=7

|H4=14

}}

class="wikitable"

! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Eastern Michigan Eagles}}"|EMU !!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|UMass Minutemen|color=white}}"|MASS

First downs2630
Total yards507519
Rushing yards184209
Passing yards323310
Turnovers12
Time of possession29:2930:31

class="wikitable" style="float: left;"

! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics

rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Eastern Michigan Eagles}}; text-align:center;"|Eastern MichiganPassingBen Bryant14/21, 298 yards, TD
RushingJawon Hamilton16 rushes, 122 yards, TD
ReceivingHassan Beydoun6 receptions, 101 yards
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|UMass Minutemen|color=white}}; text-align:center;"|UMassPassingBrady Olson22/38, 285 yards, 2 TD, INT
RushingEllis Merriweather23 rushes, 144 yards
ReceivingMelvin Hill4 receptions, 82 yards, TD

{{clear}}

=At No. 17 Coastal Carolina=

{{See also|2021 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Minutemen

|R1=0

|R2=0

|R3=0

|R4=3

|Home=No. 17 Chanticleers

|H1=13

|H2=23

|H3=14

|H4=3

}}

class="wikitable"

! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|UMass Minutemen|color=white}}"|MASS !!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Coastal Carolina Chanticleers|color=white}}"|CCU

First downs1330
Total yards153558
Rushing yards28312
Passing yards125246
Turnovers00
Time of possession26:0633:54

class="wikitable" style="float: left;"

! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics

rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|UMass Minutemen|color=white}}; text-align:center;"|UMassPassingBrady Olson14/23, 81 yards
RushingEllis Merriweather6 rushes, 30 yards
ReceivingRico Arnold4 receptions, 38 yards
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Coastal Carolina Chanticleers|color=white}}; text-align:center;"|Coastal CarolinaPassingGrayson McCall10/14, 162 yards, 2 TD
RushingBraydon Bennett8 rushes, 83 yards, TD
ReceivingJaivon Heiligh5 receptions, 118 yards, TD

{{clear}}

=Toledo=

{{see also|2021 Toledo Rockets football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Rockets

|R1=7

|R2=24

|R3=7

|R4=7

|Home=Minutemen

|H1=0

|H2=0

|H3=0

|H4=7

}}

class="wikitable"

! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Toledo Rockets}}"|TOL !!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|UMass Minutemen|color=white}}"|MASS

First downs228
Total yards455134
Rushing yards22323
Passing yards232111
Turnovers04
Time of possession34:5525:05

class="wikitable" style="float: left;"

! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics

rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Toledo Rockets}}; text-align:center;"|ToledoPassingCarter Bradley11/18, 110 yards, TD
RushingBryant Koback11 rushes, 82 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingIsaiah Winstead4 receptions, 75 yards
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|UMass Minutemen|color=white}}; text-align:center;"|UMassPassingBrady Olson9/22, 106 yards, TD, INT
RushingKayron Lynch-Adams12 rushes, 23 yards
ReceivingRico Arnold3 receptions, 44 yards

{{clear}}

=UConn=

{{see also|2021 UConn Huskies football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Huskies

|R1=10

|R2=0

|R3=0

|R4=3

|Home=Minutemen

|H1=7

|H2=0

|H3=3

|H4=17

}}

class="wikitable"

! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|UConn Huskies|color=white}}"|CONN !!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|UMass Minutemen|color=white}}"|MASS

First downs1421
Total yards291407
Rushing yards163247
Passing yards128160
Turnovers30
Time of possession20:4939:11

class="wikitable" style="float: left;"

! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics

rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|UConn Huskies|color=white}}; text-align:center;"|UConnPassingSteven Krajewski13/24, 128 yards, TD, 2 INT
RushingNathan Carter20 rushes, 136 yards
ReceivingKeelan Marion4 receptions, 80 yards, TD
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|UMass Minutemen|color=white}}; text-align:center;"|UMassPassingBrady Olson10/22, 162 yards
RushingEllis Merriweather39 rushes, 171 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingEric Collins3 receptions, 66 yards

{{clear}}

=At Florida State=

{{see also|2021 Florida State Seminoles football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Minutemen

|R1=3

|R2=0

|R3=0

|R4=0

|Home=Seminoles

|H1=10

|H2=28

|H3=14

|H4=7

}}

class="wikitable"

! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|UMass Minutemen|color=white}}"|MASS !!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Florida State Seminoles}}"|FSU

First downs1425
Total yards241586
Rushing yards112365
Passing yards129221
Turnovers31
Time of possession30:1729:43

class="wikitable" style="float: left;"

! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics

rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|UMass Minutemen|color=white}}; text-align:center;"|UMassPassingBrady Olson12/27, 110 yards, 2 INT
RushingZamar Wise12 rushes, 60 yards
ReceivingEllis Merriweather4 receptions, 65 yards
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Florida State Seminoles}}; text-align:center;"|Florida StatePassingJordan Travis5/10, 123 yards
RushingJashaun Corbin11 rushes, 127 yards, TD
ReceivingAndrew Parchment2 receptions, 65 yards

{{clear}}

=At Liberty=

{{see also|2021 Liberty Flames football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Minutemen

|R1=3

|R2=0

|R3=7

|R4=7

|Home=Flames

|H1=21

|H2=20

|H3=7

|H4=14

}}

class="wikitable"

! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|UMass Minutemen|color=white}}"|MASS !!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Liberty Flames|color=white}}"|LIB

First downs1526
Total yards284604
Rushing yards210195
Passing yards74409
Turnovers21
Time of possession36:3523:25

class="wikitable" style="float: left;"

! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics

rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|UMass Minutemen|color=white}}; text-align:center;"|UMassPassingBrady Olson9/25, 74 yards, TD, INT
RushingEllis Merriweather24 rushes, 149 yards
ReceivingRico Arnold1 reception, 30 yards, TD
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Liberty Flames|color=white}}; text-align:center;"|LibertyPassingMalik Willis19/27, 307 yards, 4 TD
RushingT. J. Green5 rushes, 60 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingD. J. Stubbs2 receptions, 72 yards, TD

{{clear}}

=Rhode Island=

{{see also|2021 Rhode Island Rams football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Rams

|R1=7

|R2=14

|R3=14

|R4=0

|Home=Minutemen

|H1=6

|H2=10

|H3=0

|H4=6

}}

class="wikitable"

! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Rhode Island Rams}}"|URI !!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|UMass Minutemen|color=white}}"|MASS

First downs1621
Total yards337335
Rushing yards168108
Passing yards169227
Turnovers01
Time of possession30:3829:22

class="wikitable" style="float: left;"

! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics

rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Rhode Island Rams}}; text-align:center;"|Rhode IslandPassingKasim Hill11/20, 169 yards, 2 TD
RushingJaylen Smith16 rushes, 111 yards, TD
ReceivingPaul Woods3 receptions, 55 yards
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|UMass Minutemen|color=white}}; text-align:center;"|UMassPassingTyler Lytle15/28, 227 yards, TD, INT
RushingEllis Merriweather30 rushes, 118 yards, TD
ReceivingRico Arnold6 receptions, 99 yards

{{clear}}

=Maine=

{{see also|2021 Maine Black Bears football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Black Bears

|R1=0

|R2=14

|R3=7

|R4=14

|Home=Minutemen

|H1=10

|H2=0

|H3=0

|H4=0

}}

class="wikitable"

! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Maine Black Bears}}"|ME !!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|UMass Minutemen|color=white}}"|MASS

First downs1815
Total yards366297
Rushing yards157184
Passing yards209113
Turnovers00
Time of possession31:2328:37

class="wikitable" style="float: left;"

! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics

rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Maine Black Bears}}; text-align:center;"|MainePassingJoe Fagnano16/27, 209 yards, 2 TD
RushingElijah Barnwell16 rushes, 84 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingDevin Young8 receptions, 78 yards, TD
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|UMass Minutemen|color=white}}; text-align:center;"|UMassPassingBrady Olson14/29, 113 yards, TD
RushingEllis Merriweather27 rushes, 177 yards
ReceivingTray Pettway2 receptions, 48 yards

{{clear}}

=At Army=

{{see also|2021 Army Black Knights football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Minutemen

|R1=3

|R2=7

|R3=0

|R4=7

|Home=Black Knights

|H1=8

|H2=11

|H3=0

|H4=14

}}

class="wikitable"

! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|UMass Minutemen|color=white}}"|MASS !!style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Army Black Knights}}"|ARMY

First downs1220
Total yards277419
Rushing yards199377
Passing yards7842
Turnovers41
Time of possession27:0432:56

class="wikitable" style="float: left;"

! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics

rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|UMass Minutemen|color=white}}; text-align:center;"|UMassPassingGarrett Dzuro7/13, 78 yards, TD, 2 INT
RushingEllis Merriweather17 rushes, 110 yards
ReceivingTray Pettway1 reception, 38 yards
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Army Black Knights}}; text-align:center;"|ArmyPassingChristian Anderson2/12, 42 yards
RushingTyrell Robinson9 rushes, 137 yards, TD
ReceivingIsaiah Alston2 receptions, 42 yards

{{clear}}

=At New Mexico State=

{{see also|2021 New Mexico State Aggies football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Minutemen

|R1=0

|R2=13

|R3=14

|R4=0

|Home=Aggies

|H1=7

|H2=20

|H3=7

|H4=10

}}

class="wikitable"

! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|UMass Minutemen|color=white}}"|MASS !!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|New Mexico State Aggies|color=white}}"|NMSU

First downs1630
Total yards405623
Rushing yards281203
Passing yards124420
Turnovers00
Time of possession27:3032:30

class="wikitable" style="float: left;"

! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics

rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|UMass Minutemen|color=white}}; text-align:center;"|UMassPassingGarrett Dzuro12/23, 124 yards, TD
RushingEllis Merriweather23 rushes, 168 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingRico Arnold2 receptions, 77 yards, TD
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|New Mexico State Aggies|color=white}}; text-align:center;"|New Mexico StatePassingJonah Johnson26/32, 420 yards, 2 TD
RushingJuwaun Price24 rushes, 156 yards, 4 TD
ReceivingJared Wyatt6 receptions, 126 yards, TD

{{clear}}

Notable players

RB Ellis Merriweather

QB Brady Olson

WR Rico Arnold

References

{{Reflist}}

{{UMass Minutemen football navbox}}

UMass

Category:UMass Minutemen football seasons

UMass Minutemen football

Category:Long stubs with short prose

{{collegefootball-2020s-season-stub}}