Orono, Maine -- Maine steps out of conference play and hits the road to take on its second Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent of the season with a trip to UMass. Saturday's contest, the 60th meeting between the former conference rivals, is set to begin at noon. Maine is in search of its fourth victory over an FBS opponent in school history.
Saturday's game will be broadcast live on NESN+ and also streamed live via the
FloFootball platform. The game can also be heard worldwide on the
Black Bear Sports Network and locally in Maine on
103.9 FM, 101.3 FM, 95.1 FM, 100.5 FM, 1450 AM, 1310 AM.
- Maine and UMass, who have a storied past as members of the Yankee Conference, Atlantic 10 and Colonial Athletic Association, will be meeting for the 60th time. The Minutemen hold a 42-16-1 advantage in the all-time series. However, the Black Bears have won three of the last five meetings, including a 24-14 decision in 2013 at Gillette Stadium. The victory marked Maine's third-ever FBS victory. The Black Bears are 5-24 all-time on the road against UMass but 2-2 against the Minutemen in the last four road games with UMass. The two teams last met in 2017, a 44-31 UMass victory in a shootout at Fenway Park. Overall, Maine has won three of the last five meetings between the two programs.
- Maine will be looking for its fourth win against a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent in school history. This will be Maine's 27th time in which it has matched up against an FBS program. The Black Bears have three wins against FBS opponents; a 31-28 win against Western Kentucky in 2018, a 24-14 win over UMass in 2013, and a 9-7 triumph at Mississippi State in 2004. Maine is 3-23 all-time against FBS level programs.
- Maine had strung together three-straight wins to even up its record at 4-4 before suffering a 22-17 setback on Senior Day in Orono last Saturday. Maine, which fell behind 16-0, battled back to cut the lead to 16-10 but could not close the gap any further. Maine's defense was led by Ray Miller who matched a career-high with 12 stops, his fourth time this season registering 10+ stops. Maine went over 100 yards rushing for the fifth time this season, led by Freddie Brock's 82 yards. Brock also added a receiving touchdown in the loss, his fourth-straight game with a score.
- UMass, which dismissed head coach Walt Bell and defensive coordinator Tommy Restivo on Sunday, will be playing for interim head coach Alex Miller. The Minutemen have lost three in a row after falling to FCS member Rhode Island, 35-22. UMass has struggled defensively this season as they enter play allowing 45.0 points per game and 490.2 yards. The Minutemen are also only averaging 15.8 points per game on the offensive end and enter the game with a -7 turnover margin.
- After starting slow, the Black Bears have excelled in the pass game as they rank fourth in the CAA in passing yards (205.2) and third in passing yards per completion (12.3). Maine's quarterbacks have had the time to throw as the offensive line checks in third in the CAA and 15th nationally in sacks allowed (1.22). Maine also features the CAA's second-ranked team in turnovers lost, 11th nationally, with just nine giveaways this season.
Tale of the Tape
| Maine (CAA rank) |
Category |
UMass |
| 29.7 (12) |
Points |
15.8 |
| 326.1 (8) |
Total Offense |
290.8 |
| 120.9 (8) |
Rushing Yards |
122.2 |
| 205.2 (4) |
Passing Yards |
168.6 |
| 9/14 |
Rushing TDs/Passing TDs |
10/8 |
| 28:31 (10) |
Offensive Time of Possession |
30:16 |
| 29.7 (12) |
Points Allowed |
45.0 |
| 391.1 (11) |
Total Defense |
490.1 |
| 150.3 (9) |
Rushing Yards Allowed |
231.9 |
| 245.8 (10) |
Passing Yards Allowed |
258.2 |
| 14/18 |
Rushing/Passing TDs Allowed |
32/20 |
| 31:29 |
Defensive Time of Possession |
29:44 |
| +2 (7) |
Turnover Margin |
-7 |
A Maine Win Would...
...Be Maine's 17th win over UMass.
...Be Maine's second win over UMass since the program moved to FBS.
...Be Maine's fourth win over an FBS opponent.
...Be Maine's first win over an FBS opponent since 2018 (31-28 at Western Kentucky).
...Be Maine's sixth road victory at UMass (5-24).
...Be Maine's fourth victory over UMass in the last six meetings.
...Be Maine's third road victory over UMass in its last five trips.
...Be Maine's third-straight road win.
...Move Coach Charlton's first FBS win as head coach.
-UMaine-
