Eastern Michigan will get its second taste of Mid-American Conference play Saturday when the Eagles travel to Amherst, Massachusetts, to take on an undefeated UMass team at 3:30 p.m.
The matchup will be just the seventh meeting between the programs, with Eastern Michigan holding a 4-2 advantage in the all-time series. The Eagles won the most recent meeting in 2024, defeating UMass 28-14 on the road.
This year's matchup presents a much different challenge.
UMass enters Saturday at 4-0 after going winless in 2025. The Minutemen opened the season by ending a 16-game losing streak with a 37-21 upset of Rutgers before following the victory with wins over Sacred Heart, Stonehill and Sacramento State.
Eastern Michigan, meanwhile, enters the matchup at 2-3 after dominating Lindenwood 29-3 on Sept. 26. A victory over UMass would give the Eagles a 2-0 start to conference play for the first time since 2005, when Eastern defeated Central Michigan and Kent State in consecutive weeks.
The Minutemen have been one of the MAC's most productive offenses through the first four games of the season. UMass is averaging more than 36 points and 350 yards per game while maintaining a relatively balanced attack.
The Eagles will have to contend with quarterback William Watson III, who has completed more than 70% of his passes and has committed just one turnover this season. Watson has thrown six touchdown passes while adding four rushing touchdowns.
His ability to extend plays outside the pocket adds another element for an Eastern Michigan defense that will need to prevent UMass from creating explosive plays.
Eastern's defensive line and linebackers Zach Mowchan and Elgin McDuffy will be particularly important in controlling the middle of the field and putting pressure on Watson.
If the Eagles can consistently collapse the pocket, the secondary will have opportunities to make plays against the UMass passing attack. Bryce Llewellyn, Jason Marshall, Juan Salas and Rayquan Adkins will be among the players responsible for limiting Watson's options downfield.
UMass has outscored its opponents 145-51 this season, giving the Minutemen a plus-94 scoring margin entering Saturday.
While UMass has been effective offensively, its defense has shown a vulnerability through the air. The Minutemen are allowing more than 233 passing yards per game, an area Eastern Michigan could attempt to exploit. The Eagles have had considerably more success throwing the football than running it this season, and quarterback Noah Kim showed that potential in the victory over Lindenwood, throwing for 257 yards.
Eastern's rushing attack has yet to consistently establish itself, while UMass has been particularly effective against the run. That could put additional pressure on Kim to move the Eagles down the field through the air.
The challenge will be doing so against one of the MAC's most aggressive defenses.
UMass has recorded 11 sacks and forced 11 turnovers through four games. The Minutemen's takeaways include six interceptions and five fumble recoveries, with the team leading the MAC in sacks, turnovers gained and interceptions.
Senior safety Jahmad Harmon has accounted for half of the team's interceptions. Harmon has three picks this season, including one he returned for a touchdown, making him a player Kim will have to locate before every snap.
Benson Prosper could once again become a major factor in the Eagles' passing attack.
Prosper turned in the best statistical performance of his career against Lindenwood, catching 10 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown. With Nick Devereaux and Kozy Issac out and Harold Mack listed as questionable, Prosper could be asked to shoulder an even larger portion of the receiving workload.
Getting the ball out quickly could be particularly important against a UMass defense that has consistently generated pressure.
If the two defenses manage to limit the opposing offenses, special teams could become an important part of Saturday's matchup
Eastern Michigan punter Daniel Hull has improved his production throughout the season, going from an average of 36 yards per punt in the season opener to 45 yards per punt in the Eagles' fifth game.
If Eastern is forced to punt, Hull's ability to flip the field could help keep UMass from consistently starting possessions in favorable territory.
Kicker Rudy Kessinger could also become an important factor. Kessinger connected on a 51-yard field goal against Lindenwood and could give the Eagles another way to capitalize on possessions that stall inside UMass territory.
Saturday's game represents another significant test for an Eastern Michigan team trying to establish itself in the MAC.
The Eagles already have one conference victory after defeating Lindenwood and can move to 2-0 in MAC play with a win over UMass. Doing so would mark the program's first 2-0 conference start since 2005.
To accomplish that, Eastern Michigan will need to protect the football against a UMass defense that has consistently created turnovers, while giving Kim enough time to attack a Minutemen secondary that has been more vulnerable through the air.
The Eagles will also need to prevent Watson and the UMass offense from controlling the game on the ground.
For Eastern Michigan, the formula is relatively straightforward: protect the football, create opportunities through the passing game and keep UMass from establishing control offensively.
If the Eagles can accomplish those things, they will have an opportunity to leave Amherst with their second conference victory of the season.
