Going it alone: UMass trying to survive as FBS independent

UMass trying to survive as FBS independent

Since Massachusetts moved to the Bowl Subdivision five years ago, the Minutemen have eight victories and 40 losses, have averaged less than the NCAA minimum attendance of 15,000 for their homes games and were essentially kicked out of a conference.

Instead of giving up its major college football aspirations — as some on the Amherst campus would prefer — UMass is sticking it out and going it alone, becoming an FBS independent this season at a time when that has never been more challenging.

UMass athletic director Ryan Bamford knows having an independent football program is not a long-term solution.

[...] Bamford believes the lonely road is worth traveling to stay in college football's top tier.

[...] being in the FCS would have put New Mexico State at a disadvantage against its rival state school in other areas, athletic director Mario Moccia said.

[...] New Mexico State needs the millions it makes playing a couple of road games a year against Power Five teams to pay off debt and fund the athletic department.

When Notre Dame moved all its sports but football and hockey into the ACC, the deal also called for Notre Dame to play five games per season against ACC teams.

The FBS transition has gone so poorly that members of the UMass faculty senate in April pushed for a vote on a nonbinding motion to urge the university to return to the FCS or drop football altogether.

UMass also has a home game against Mississippi State to be played at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, home of the NFL's Patriots.