THE COUNTDOWN: No. 120: Massachusetts

Welcome to Amherst, Mass., once voted the nicest college town in America, and as of a year ago this Thursday, home of the newest member of the MAC. Yes, change is afoot: Kevin Morris is out, Charley Molnar is in; the C.A.A. is out, replaced by the MAC East. During non-conference play, the Minutemen will substitute teams like Central Connecticut State and Old Dominion for teams like Connecticut — the big school in the Nutmeg State — Indiana, Michigan and Vanderbilt. Isn’t simply moving up the F.B.S. hard enough? Before its bye week on Oct. 13, UMass will face a team from the Big East, two teams from the Big Ten and two reigning bowl teams from the MAC. UMass will play five home games all season. And about that: home games will be played at Gillette Stadium while the university refurbishes its own stadium. Welcome to the F.B.S., Minutemen.

http://www.presnapread.com/no-120-massachusetts/