UConn Football

How did UConn Opponents Fare in Week 8?

It was a week of highs and lows for Husky opponents, capped by a big win against a ranked opponent.
October 23, 2025
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Future Opponents:

Rice (3-4, 1-3 AAC): Bye Week

  • Current ESPN FPI UConn Win Odds: 78.9%
  • Up next: UConn (5-2)

UAB (3-4, 1-3 AAC): Beat #23 Memphis (6-1, 2-1 AAC) 31-24

Arguably one of the biggest upsets last week, UAB with a new starting QB and new interim coach, Alex Mortensen, son of the late ESPN great Chris Mortensen, knocked off ranked Memphis. It was the Tigers’ first loss of the year, and ran into an interim bump buzzsaw in front a sparse crowd in Birmingham. 

Now, as you’ve heard Aman and I say often on the SC Football Show (and if you’re not listening, why aren't you?!), there are no asterisks, but there were some things that bounced UAB’s way. Any comeback would be stymied by Memphis losing their starting QB, Brendon Lewis. In relief, AJ Hill threw for 175 yards on 13-25 passing, but the Tigers did get down to the UAB one yard line twice in the final minute, but two false starts, plus a delay of game penalty sealed it for the Blazers. UAB dominated time of possession at 35-25, and outgained Memphis 470-362. 

Ryder Burton got his first start for UAB, throwing for 251 yards on 20-27 passing with three TDs and one INT, mostly in line with the production previous QB Jalen Kitna had, but Kitna hasn’t thrown for more than two TDs in a game this year. WR Iverson Hooks was the main target, catching 11 of those 20 completions for 172 yards and all three TDs, with no gain of more than 31. RB Solomon Beebe ran for an 81 yard TD, but otherwise, UAB rushed for 3.5 ypc on 40 carries. Does this game go sideways if Lewis stays in? Potentially, but he was 9-10 passing with just 68 yards when he went down, with UAB dominating possession. Ultimately doesn’t matter, and concerning for the Huskies is this newly rejujevnated team playing for their coach now have a bye week to prepare and install new concepts ahead of the UConn game. Despite the FPI odds, I am wary.

  • Current ESPN FPI UConn Win Odds: 85.3%
  • Up next: Bye Week

Duke (4-3, 3-1 ACC): Lost to #12 Georgia Tech 27-18

Duke hosted the only undefeated team in the ACC, and the Yellow Jackets left Durham with a two score win, despite losing most stats in the box score. Yards: Duke 441-376. Passing yards: Duke 373-205. Rushing yards: Georgia Tech 171-68. Time of Possession: Duke 33:29-26:31. Nevertheless, another big win for Georgia Tech.

The difference was a 95 yard fumble return for a TD, a school-record for the Jackets, as well as the dual-threat posed by QB Haynes King, who accounted for 325 yards of offense. For Duke, QB Darian Mensah tossed 373 yards on 32-44 passing, but the Blue Devils couldn’t get the run game going, rushing for just 2.1 ypc. In the red zone, the Blue Devils had the aforementioned fumble, a 4th down penalty, and a botched FG attempt. 

  • Current ESPN FPI UConn Win Odds: 30.9%
  • Up next: Bye week

Air Force (2-5, 1-4 MW): Beat Wyoming (3-4, 1-2 MW) 24-21

The Falcons finally entered the win column in conference in a tough road matchup in Laramie. Air Force entered the game averaging 38 points per game, but interestingly enough, it was their lowest offensive output that earned them a win. The Cowboys shut down the vaunted Air Force offense (shut down is relative), allowing just 363 yards against a team that was averaging 490 yards per game. Liam Szarka couldn’t get the pass game going, passing for just 33 yards on 3-8 passing, but he rushed for 141 yards and Owen Allen added 105 of his own. 

Air Force’s defense forced two INTs, none bigger than an INT in the end zone on goal-to-go from the 3. The Falcons had forced just four turnovers entering the game. A late TD made the score look closer, but Air Force made plays when they needed to in a cold, windy game. The Falcons defense entered the game allowing 40 points per game, 496.7 yards per game, 323.3 passing yards per game, the latter two the worst in the nation, so it was a vast improvement against the Cowboys. 

  • Current ESPN FPI UConn Win Odds: 81.6%
  • Up next: Bye Week

FAU (3-4, 2-2 AAC): Bye Week

  • Current ESPN FPI UConn Win Odds: 71.3%
  • Up next: Tulsa (2-5, 0-4 AAC)

 

Past Opponents:

FIU (3-4, 1-2 CUSA): Beat Western Kentucky (6-2, 4-1 CUSA) 25-6, and lost to Kennesaw State (5-2, 3-0 CUSA) 45-26

The hazard in not getting this article done in a timely manner is sometimes you miss two weekday games, and that’s exactly what happened with FIU. Let’s start with last week, where the Panthers headed to Bowling Green, KY to face the 5-1 Hilltoppers, entering with a 10 game losing streak on the road. FIU dominated from start to finish in a 25-6 win. RB Kejon Owens rushed for 195 yards, and QB Keyone Jenkins threw for 184 yards. Western Kentucky QB Maverick McIvor threw three INTs, more than he had thrown all season combined entering the game. 

FIU had taken down the top CUSA team on the road. Could they take down the new top CUSA team at home? The answer was no, as Kennesaw State put up a season-high 45 points and snapped a 13 game road losing streak of their own to stay atop the CUSA standings. Owens had another good game, rushing for 151 yards on 20 carries, and Jenkins threw 296 yards but FIU rarely truly threatened in this matchup. Amari Odom, KSU QB threw for 205 yards, and the 45 points is impressive considering KSU held possession for just 25 minutes. FIU has one more weekday CUSA matchup next week at new FBS member Missouri State.

Up next: at Missouri State (Wednesday 10/29)

Buffalo (4-3, 3-0 MAC): Beat UMass (0-7, 0-3 MAC) 28-21

A wild game in Amherst went to the Bulls, while the Minutemen suffered a heart-breaking loss that would’ve been their first of the season. UMass held a 14-10 halftime lead, and a 21-20 lead entering the 4th quarter, but couldn’t get one more score, missing a FG on an absurd 15 play, 40 yard drive that took 7:52 off the clock, and couldn’t run the clock out after getting an interception with 1:04 left that looked like it sealed the deal.

Old friend Ta’Quan Roberson threw for 399 yards on 36-56 passing, but the Bulls couldn’t get the ground game going, rushing for just 76 yards on 30 carries. Nate McMillan caught 10 passes for 115 yards, and Victor Snow caught 8 passes for 112 yards and two TDs, including the game winner. Meanwhile UMass struggled to get the pass game going, with Ahmad Hairston throwing for 119 yards on 6-15 passing. RB Brandon Hood (who nearly became a Husky if Mel Brown didn’t return), rushed for 180 yards on 25 carries, including a 90 yard TD. The Bulls are in solid position, tied with Miami (OH) and Western Michigan atop the MAC standings. They avoid Western Michigan, but will take on Miami (OH) in MACtion on 11/19. 

Up next: vs Akron (2-6, 1-3 MAC)

Ball State (3-4, 2-1 MAC): beat Akron (2-6, 1-3 MAC) 42-28

Ball State continues to overachieve initial expectations, this time taking down fellow MAC bottom-dweller Akron. Ball State is interesting; they typically get outgained each game (although they outgained the Huskies), yet they make plays when they count. QB Kiael Kelly threw for 121 yards on 10-19 passing, while Qua Ashley ran for 143 yards on 20 carries. Of Kelly’s yards, catches of 42 and 37 made up the bulk of it. 

After going up 14-8 after one quarter, the teams traded scores, with the Ball State lead never expanding past ten until the final score. That score, a kick return for a TD after Akron cut the lead to seven on a FG with 5:51 left was the final nail. 

Up next: at Northern Illinois (1-6 0-3 MAC)

Delaware (3-3, 1-2 CUSA): lost to Jacksonville State (4-3, 3-0 CUSA) 38-25

Since beating the Huskies and FIU to open CUSA play, the Blue Hens have struggled a bit, which is to be expected of a team transitioning from FCS to FBS. The Gamecocks controlled this game the whole way, leading 21-6 at the half, and held a 32:17-27:33 advantage in time of possession. Delaware outgained JSU 456-388 behind QB Nick Minicucci’s 422 yards on 32-50 passing. The Blue Hens could get nothing going on the ground, rushing for 34 yards on 22 carries, led by Viron Ellison’s 15 yards. 

Meanwhile, JSU moved the ball on the ground often, rushing 50 times for 255 yards, led by Cam Cook’s 117 yards. QB Caden Creel threw for 116 yards on 14-21 passing. No QB has come close to matching Joe Fagnano’s 346 passing yards from earlier in the season. 

Up next: Bye week

Syracuse (3-4, 1-3 ACC): lost to Pitt (5-2, 3-1 ACC) 30-13

Things are still not going well up north, and don’t appear to be getting any better with games against Georgia Tech, Miami, and Notre Dame coming up. What started as a promising season went down in flames as QB Steve Angeli tore his Achilles in the win at Clemson. Since then, three straight losses in which the Orange weren’t competitive. 

Angeli’s replacement, LSU’s Rickie Collins threw for just 126 yards on 15-31 passing, and freshman Luke Carney took over late. Collins also led the team in rushing with 46 yards, as Yasin Willis has become a non-factor as teams focus on him and try to force Collins to throw. Neither team lit up the box score; Pitt outgained the Orange 260-221, and their freshman QB Mason Heintschel threw for 143 yards. There were just 28 first downs between the two teams, and the teams combined for 25 penalties for 221 yards. Collins threw three picks, helping cement this one for the Panthers, who have now won 20 of 24 games between the two teams. 

Up next: at #7 Georgia Tech (7-0, 4-0 ACC)

CCSU (5-3, 3-0 NEC): beat Wagner 24-17 (OT)

It was a close call as the Blue Devils traveled to Staten Island to take on one of the worst teams not just in the NEC, but FCS. CCSU outgained the Seahawks 378-246, including holding Wagner to just 48 rushing yards. QB Brady Olson threw for 251 yards on 25-45 passing but also had two INTs, including one in Wagner territory to open the 4th quarter, and another late in the quarter. He would make up for it, by rushing for the game-winning TD in OT, keeping CCSU atop the NEC standings. 

Up next: Bye week

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