UConn is set to play UMass during the 2016 season at Gillette Stadium, the home of the NFL's New England Patriots, according to a blog post from the Daily Hampshire Gazette.

The UConn/UMass game is scheduled for Sept. 10, 2016 with a return game to be played at Rentschler Field. A source indicated that the two schools have been in negotiations for a home and home series.

The teams used to meet regularly during their days in the Yankee Conference. UMass leads the all-time series 36-34-2 but UConn won the most recent meeting 37-0 in the 2012 season opener.

Another interesting angle is that UMass is now coached by Mark Whipple who was very much in contention for the UConn job after Randy Edsall left for Maryland and before Paul Pasqualoni was hired by UConn.

SHELTON'S THOMPSON TO WALK ON AT UCONN
My colleague Mike Pucci has a story on Shelton's Jason Thompson, a running back who is headed to UConn as a preferred walk-on.

“It’s a great opportunity for me,” Thompson said. “To be injured my sophomore and junior year, and to still have a shot to play my dream, Division I football, is unbelievable. I can’t wait to get up there and make the most of my opportunity.”

Thompson ran for 1,142 yards and 11 touchdowns and also caught 41 passes as a senior at Shelton High. Before he gets to UConn he will get a chance to play at Rentschler Field as he is a member of Team Nutmeg playing in Saturday's Super 100 Classic. The game starts at 4:30 p.m. He is the second player I've heard of going to UConn as a preferred walk-on joining Oxford's Dan Carbonaro.