The Mid-American Conference is the new home for (almost) all UMass sports. The switch to the MAC gives the Minutemen’s football program its first full-time conference home in the FBS era, while several other UMass teams will look to see where they stand against new opponents after departing the Atlantic 10.
UMass won’t face any MAC opponents on the gridiron until Oct. 4 when the Western Michigan Broncos come to town. In November, the Minutemen will play four weeknight games, a recent trend by the conference to help their teams get more television exposure, to finish up their 2025 schedule.
Nevertheless, a few players within this season’s Minutemen squad have previous experience in the MAC as transfer additions.
D.D. Snyder suited up for Ball State the previous two seasons, while Joshua Nobles and Tim Grant-Randall starred for MAC teams prior to the 2024 season.
Snyder, a 6-foot, 186-pound safety, competed in 17 games for the Cardinals from 2023-24 and recorded 60 tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception.
Nobles arrived to Amherst after a season at Jackson State in 2024. Beforehand, Nobles played for Western Michigan from 2021-23 on its defensive line.
In three seasons with the Broncos, Nobles — who hails from Camden, New Jersey —managed 22 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
Grant-Randall is set to begin his second season with the Minutemen this fall, but once called Ypsilanti, Michigan home as a member of the Eastern Michigan football team from 2021-23
A defensive lineman, Grant-Randall put up 48 tackles, 2.5 sacks and an interception in 24 games with the Eagles. In fact, one of Grant-Randall’s best games with the Green-and-White came against UMass in 2022, when he recorded a pair of tackles-for-losses.
UMass has a trio of coaches will past experience in the MAC as well in cornerbacks coach Donald Celiscar, defensive line coach Nyeem Wartman and assistant running backs coach Jeff Beckles.
Celiscar joined the Minutemen staff following three seasons at Western Michigan, while Wartman left Akron after three years and Beckles departed from Ball State after one season with the Cardinals.
Despite being the newest members of the MAC, UMass boasts numerous voices that can help guide the players and coaching staff into unchartered territory.
