Logan Inagawa starts at QB for UMass at Buffalo

UMass already knew Watson was likely to miss a 2nd straight week. Then the backup went down too, and Nakos and McMurphy confirmed what everyone in Amherst had been bracing for.

Pete Nakos

@PeteNakos

UMass will be without starting QB Pop Watson again this week, sources tell @Brett_McMurphy and me for @On3. Backup QB Aedan McCarthy is also out, meaning Logan Inagawa is in line to get the start at Buffalo. t.co/C2Yivwkssz

On3@On3

Week 7 College Football injury report📋 Latest on Aaron Philo, Kamario Taylor, Alabama, Oregon, Michael Fasusi, Missouri & more. View: t.co/T3I2rNVha2 t.co/z8htMITMoz

Here's how they got here. Watson, the senior starter, hurt his ankle and sat out last week's game against Miami (Ohio). He was seen in a walking boot, and coach Joe Harasymiak called him 'probably unlikely' for Buffalo. True freshman Aedan McCarthy got the start against the RedHawks and then got hurt himself in the 4th quarter.

That's when Inagawa came in, and he made the most of it. The sophomore went 6-for-6 for 83 yards and threw a touchdown on the final play to pull UMass within 1. Harasymiak went for 2 and the win, the conversion got stopped, and the Minutemen lost 20-19. He said afterward he'd make the same call again, which is the right answer when your 3rd-string QB just went perfect on the drive.

Inagawa isn't some walk-on pulled out of the student section, either. He started at Drake last season and threw for 1,393 yards before transferring to UMass. Saturday is expected to be his first FBS start, and it's on the road in a MAC game. That's a big jump, but it's not a kid who's never taken a snap that matters.

There's a lot riding on it. UMass is 4-2 overall but just 1-2 in the MAC and has lost 2 straight. Buffalo comes in at 3-3, 1-1 in conference, and Harasymiak says they're 'playing really, really well.' Kickoff is Saturday at 1 p.m. in Amherst, New York, with the Flagship Cup on the line.

What to watch: whether the offence trusts Inagawa to push the ball the way he did on that last drive, or tightens up around a guy with 6 career FBS completions. Also keep an eye on the injury reports. If Watson's ankle stays in the boot, this could be Inagawa's job for longer than 1 week, and a 4-2 start can turn into a lost season fast in the MAC.