Future Opponents:
BC (1-4, 0-3 ACC): Lost at Pitt (3-2, 1-1 ACC) 48-7
Where to even start with this one? After a tough 2OT loss to Michigan State, BC lost on the road to Stanford 30-20, then lost at home to Cal 28-24. It’s fair to ask, then, how will they fare against ACC teams in the Eastern Time Zone? The answer, is not good. Pitt started a new QB, Mason Heintschel, a true freshman, replacing Eli Holstein. Heintschel ripped BC’s secondary to shreds, completing 30 of 41 passes for 323 yards and 4 TDs.
The bigger story is what BC didn’t do, which was generate any offense. They were shutout for the majority of the game, getting a late TD, but starting QB Dylan Lonergan threw for just 89 yards on 9/18 xpassing. QB2 and QB3, Grayson James and Shaker Resig also came in, with James throwing for 30 yards on 2/9 passing, and Resig getting the lone score on 3/3 70 yards. Traditionally a strong running team, rushing for 166 ypg in 2024, BC is currently rushing for 85 ypg and had just 27 yards on 24 carries against Pitt. Worth noting the last time BC rushed for that few yards per game was 2022 when they went 3-9 and suffered their only loss in the UConn series.
Up next: vs Clemson (2-3, 1-2 ACC)
Rice (3-3, 1-2 AAC): Lost to FAU (2-3, 1-1 AAC) 27-21
The new option offense has largley worked so far for Rice, combined with a strong defense. FAU was able to handle both of those in a road win. FAU QB Caden Veltkmap threw for 290 yards on 23-33 passing, and WR Easton Messer caught 11 passes for 110 yards, with the team averaging 12.8 yards per catch. Rice was able to keep the run game in check, with the Owls rushing for just 103 yards on 33 carries.
Rice QB Chase Jenkins completed 12 of 17 passes for 137 yards, and Quinton Jackson rushed for 128 yards on 19 carries. The Owls rushed for 213 yards, just below their average of 219.7 yards per game, a figure that’s 18th nationally. Their defense has been stout, but have forced just six takeaways this season through their first six games. The UConn game will be big for their bowl hopes, but first, they’ll need to defeat UTSA on the road. At 3-3, they need the UConn game, UTSA game, and UAB in order to get bowl eligible, otherwise they’d need to knock off one of ranked Memphis and USF, and 5-0 North Texas.
Up next: at UTSA (2-3, 0-1 AAC)
UAB (2-3, 0-2 AAC): lost to Army (2-3, 1-2 AAC) 31-13
Another AAC foe, UAB hung with Army for the first half, until Army pulled away in the second. An 18 play 74 yard TD drive for Army opened the scoring, and after a series of punts, UAB tied it with a score before Army got a FG before the half to enter the half up 10-7. UAB was moving downfield and got deep into Army territory to open the 3rd quarter, but K Jonah Delange missed a 30 yard FG, killing their momentum. After that miss, Army quickly got another TD then intercepted QB Jalen Kitna, and before the Blazers knew it, they were facing a 24-7 deficit.
Kitna threw for 259 yards on 24-42 passing with one TD and one INT, while Jevon Jackson rushed for 89 yards on 12 carries. UAB’s defense played well against the option, all things considered, allowing just 4.0 ypc. At 2-3, UAB will face upcoming Husky opponent FAU before taking on #23 Memphis.
Up next: at FAU (2-3, 1-1 AAC)
Duke (4-2, 3-0 ACC): Beat Cal (4-2, 1-1 ACC) 45-21
Duke crossed the country and handled the Golden Bears. Cal jumped out to a 14-7 lead after one quarter, but the Blue Devils outscored Cal 24-7 in the second to take a 31-21 lead at the half. Duke shut out the Golden Bears in the second half, to take a decisive victory. Duke QB Darian Mensah threw for 265 yards on 22-30 passing, while RB Nate Sheppard rushed for 91 yards on 12 carries. Duke’s defense forced star freshman QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele to throw three picks. Duke’s defense also sacked Sagapolutele six times, and had 13 TFLs. Before heading to East Hartford, Duke takes on #13 Georgia Tech at home before heading to Clemson.
Up next: Bye week
Air Force: Lost to Navy (5-0, 3-0 AAC) 34-31
The Falcons lost their first game for the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy, a close battle in Annapolis to fall to 1-4. Offense has not been the issue this year, averaging 39.6 ppg, good for 24th nationally, but allowing 37.8 ppg, 132nd nationally. Unlike the other service academies, Air Force will chuck it more, with QB Liam Szarka threw for 212 yards on 11-19 passing while rushing for 152 yards on 25 carries.
Surprisingly, Navy QB Blake Horvath decided to open it up, throwing for 339 yards on 20-26 passing, doubling his previous season-high of attempts. He also added 130 yards on the ground. WR Eli Heidenreich was the beneficiary of Horvath’s newfound passing prowess, catching eight passes for 243 yards, a Navy single-game record.
Up next: at UNLV
FAU (2-3, 1-1 AAC): Beat Rice (3-3, 1-2 AAC) 27-21
See the Rice recap above.
Up next: vs UAB (2-3, 0-2 AAC)
Past Opponents:
Buffalo (3-3, 2-0 MAC): Beat Eastern Michigan (1-5, 0-2 MAC) 31-30 (OT)
Ta’Quan Roberson was back for the Bulls, but got off to a slow start, completing just two of his first ten passes, but ultimately finished 19-38 with 272 yards and three TDs to power the Bulls to their second MAC win. After going three-and-out on their first possession, EMU then went 99 yards on eight plays to open the scoring. QB Noah Kim threw for 168 yards on 19-31 passing. The Eagles rushed 54 times as a team for 227 yards, led by Dontae McMillan, who had 117 yards on 20 carries. Tavierre Dunlap rushed for 79 yards on 23 carries. Neither team ever led by more than a score. After getting the potential tying TD in OT, EMU went for two and had an “oh no disaster” attempted shovel pass that fell to the turf, allowing the Bulls to escape.
Ball State (2-3, 1-0 MAC): Beat Ohio (3-3, 1-1 MAC) 20-14
It was a huge win for the Cardinals, defeating the Bobcats at home, a team that also beat West Virginia, and lost to Rutgers by a FG. BSU QB Kiael Kelly finished with 185 yards on 17-33 passing, but also had 96 yards on 21 carries. He connected with Qian Magwood for a 43 yard TD with :57 for the win. Ohio led 14-0 at the half, but were shutout in the second. Ball State held QB Parker Navarro to 188 yards, his second worst performance of the season, behind his 94 yards against Ohio State. He had thrown for over 200 yards in each of their other games. It’s a solid win for the Cardinals, who take on Western Michigan this weekend and will be a good test to see where they fit in a wide open MAC.
Up next: at Western Michigan (3-3, 2-0 MAC)
Delaware (3-2, 1-1 CUSA): Lost to Western Kentucky (5-1, 3-0 CUSA) 27-24
Playing on Friday night with more eyeballs on them than usual, the Blue Hens put together a solid performance against traditional CUSA power WKU, but ultimately fell short. Delaware QB Nick Minicucci did many of the things he did against the Huskies, throwing for 314 yards on 28-47 passing, and rushing for 55 yards and three TDs, but also made a big pick six that ended up being the difference in the game. Holding the high-powered ‘Toppers offense to 338 yards, Delaware led 17-10 at the half but were outscored 17-0 in the third. Minicucci led UD to field goal position in a drive starting at their own 5 with :54 left, but unlike against UConn, Nate Reed’s FG missed wide right, and WKU escaped Newark with the victory.
Up next: at Jacksonville State (2-3, 1-0 CUSA)
Syracuse (3-3, 1-2 ACC): Lost to SMU (3-2, 1-0 ACC) 31-18
After losing starting QB Steve Angeli late in their victory at Clemson, the Orange have been struggling mightily, losing by 35 to Duke, followed by a 13 point loss to SMU in a score that looked closer than the game was. SMU jumped out to a 24-0 lead and never looked back, allowing two fourth quarter TDs for the Orange. New QB Rickie Collins, the LSU transfer, has struggled under center, and threw for 279 yards in this one, much in garbage time, with three picks, The run game isn’t faring much better, as defenses are just daring Collins to throw and focus on Yasin Willis, who rushed for just 41 yards on 15 carries. They have a bye to try and figure things out before taking on Pitt at home.
Up next: Bye week
CCSU (3-3, 1-0 NEC): Beat Sacred Heart (4-2) 42-35 (OT)
An intrastate rivalry with an unknown future, CCSU and the Pioneers battled, but ultimately it was the Blue Devils who were victorious. As Sacred Heart is entering the Coastal Conference next season (formerly the Colonial), it’s unclear if this series will continue, but if this was the last iteration, it sure was a good one. CCSU QB Brady Olson threw for a career-high 323 yards on 28-40 passing with four TDs, and rushed for another. With Sacred Heart leading 21-20 entering the fourth quarter, the teams traded scores, with SHU tying the game with :37 left on a 37 yard TD pass by QB Jack Snyder, who had 218 yards on the day. CCSU was back in the win column after two consecutive one score losses to Merrimack and Dartmouth.
Up next: at Robert Morris (1-4, 0-0 NEC)
