Sports

Rutgers Spent A Small Fortune To Put On The World’s Saddest Fireworks Show After Loss To UMass

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Massachusetts Minutemen at Rutgers Scarlet Knights football in Piscataway, New Jersey on Thursday, September 3, 2026. The stands look empty towards the end of the game. A stock image of a money bag and firework have been added into the collage.

iStockphoto / Doug Hood/Asbury Park Press / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Massachusetts Minutemen at Rutgers Scarlet Knights football in Piscataway, New Jersey on Thursday, September 3, 2026. The stands look empty towards the end of the game. A stock image of a money bag and fireworks has been added to the collage.


In the right setting, shooting off fireworks can add a ton to the atmosphere of a big football game. After you just suffered one of the most embarrassing losses in the history of your program is not what we’d call the right setting.

But the Rutgers Scarlet Knights did just that after Thursday night’s embarrassing loss to the UMass Minutemen.

Not only did Rutgers get brutally clowned for the move, but a further look into the situation showed that the Scarlet Knights are seemingly more invested in fireworks than their on-field product.

Rutgers Got Absolutely Embarrassed By UMass

Entering Thursday night’s season-opener, the Minutemen had lost 16 consecutive games against FBS opponents. In fact, UMass had an 0-12 record in 2025 under first-year head coach Joe Harasymiak, who, by the way, had served as the Rutgers defensive coordinator from 2022-2024.

But the transfer portal and a new attitude can change a lot of things in modern college football.

Led by quarterback Pop Watson, who transferred into the program from Virginia Tech, and offensive coordinator Max Warner, who joined from Bowling Green, the UMass offense was electric.

The Minutemen put up 397 yards and 37 points in a 37-21 victory that wasn’t as close as the scoreboard showed. Meanwhile, the defense picked off Rutgers quarterback Dylan Lonergan twice and recovered a fumble.

It was a thorough butt kicking.

But The Scarlet Knights Still Held A Postgame Fireworks Show

After the game, the 17 or so Rutgers fans (who really should receive recompense for sitting through that) were “treated” to a postgame fireworks show that, on its own, would have been pretty entertaining.

Postgame video of the show quickly made the rounds on social media.

But somehow, things get even more embarrassing for Rutgers. As it turns out, thanks to the research of former BroBible editor David Covucci, we learned that the Scarlet Knights were among the highest spenders in the country in 2026 when it came to their fireworks budget.

Rutgers ranked second behind only Ole Miss in that department after ranking first in 2025. The Scarlet Knights spent $156,000 on fireworks last season. And one could easily assume they’ll spend at least as much in 2027.

Win or loss, it appears Rutgers is committed to giving you some kind of show.