Rutgers makes major QB change following stunning UMass upset

Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback AJ Surace. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

Rutgers makes major QB change following stunning UMass upset

By Matt Wadleigh | Last updated Sep 8, 2026 1:13 PM ET

Perhaps the most shocking upset in college football was Rutgers losing to UMass in Week 1.

Rutgers went in as a heavy favorite, and UMass hadn't won a game since October 2024, yet the Minutemen stunned the Scarlet Knights in New Jersey.

To make things worse, Rutgers paid over $1 million to UMass for the game, and now Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano's seat is scorching hot after one week.

On Tuesday, Rutgers announced a change at QB for Week 2, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.

NEWS: Rutgers is making a quarterback change for the game at Boston College on Friday night, per coach Greg Schiano, as AJ Surace will make his first career start. Game one starter Dylan Lonergan left the game in the second half with an injury, which has led to the switch. pic.twitter.com/taGhBgUzaR
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 8, 2026

Revenge game is over for Dylan Lonergan

Dylan Lonergan, who started Week 1 for Rutgers before suffering the injury, transferred from Boston College after throwing for 2,025 yards and 12 touchdowns last season.

In Week 2, Rutgers takes on Boston College, so this is a game Lonergan had circled on his calendar.

AJ Surace went 6-of-9 for 77 yards and a score after replacing Lonergan in the loss to UMass.

Unfortunately, the status for Lonergan is unclear. Schiano mentioned that he Lonergan hansn't practiced since the game, although he is hoping the quarterback is available in an emergency role, according to Brian Fanseca.

Rutgers takes on Boston College on the road on Friday night before traveling back home to battle the USC Trojans.

Matt Wadleigh

Matt Wadleigh is based in California and born and raised in the San Diego area. He studied print journalism at Fresno State for college and got to watch Paul George, Derek Carr and Davante Adams play in a Bulldogs uniform. His work has been featured at ClutchPoints, Sportscasting, Sporting News, and various USA Today sites, including UCLA Wire, where he was the first managing editor

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