How Did UConn's Opponents Fare in Week 1?
The title is pretty self-explanatory, see below for how UConn opponents fared in their opening games.
Merrimack: Lost to Air Force 21-6
A score that looks pretty good for an FCS-FBS matchup, but Air Force lost a ton of production from last year’s team. It showed, but the Warriors also put forth a solid effort, holding the Falcons to just 237 yards, 166 on the ground, which against a service academy, is a success. Merrimack threw for 103 yards, led by Malakai Anthony, who threw for 74 on 14-21 passing. Ayden Pereira came in relief and threw for a TD pass to Jalen McDonald as time expired to avoid the shutout, who led the team in receiving with 39 yards on six catches. This is a team that might cause some issues for UConn, especially after struggling on offense this weekend.
Next up: at UConn 12:00 WFSB/UConn+
Duke: Defeated Elon 26-3
The Blue Devils struggled offensively at times, but they took care of business against FCS Elon. Texas transfer QB Maalik Murphy missed some guys but just a little, and that would’ve made a huge difference in the stat column. Murphy finished with 291 yards on 26-40 passing, with two TDs and one INT. Not much of a rushing attack for Duke in this one, as they carried the ball 27 times for just 59 yards, a 2.2 yards per carry average. Murphy had no issues finding top WR Jordan Moore, targeting him 12 times, completing seven, for 112 yards. The Blue Devils’ defense was in top shape, holding the Phoenix to 140 yards, and just 30 rushing yards.
Next up: at Northwestern 9:00 FS1 (Fri)
FAU: Lost to Michigan State 16-10
FAU was the talk of the internet against Michigan State, largely because of QB Cam Fancher’s affinity for sliding late and attracting targeting calls. Fancher struggled mightily in the first half, but turned it around slightly in the second, still only throwing for 116 yards on 12-25 passing, with one TD and two INTs. Fancher also led the team in rushing with 67 yards on 20 carries, and helped the Owls force 10 Spartan penalties for 110 yards. Neither team eclipsed the 300 yard mark, and Michigan State made a 16-3 halftime hold up. Sophomore WR Omari Hayes stood out, catching all five of his targets for 74 yards.
Next up: Army 12:00 CBSSN
Buffalo: Defeated Lafayette 30-13
New HC Pete Lembo opened his tenure with a victory, snapping a two game losing streak to FCS teams, specifically, teams from the Patriot League. The Bulls opened up a 16-0 lead over the 18th ranked in FCS Leopards, behind a Al-Jay Henderson TD rush, and a Nik McMillan TD catch from QB CJ Ogbanna. Lafayette would open the second half with a little trickeration to get on the board at 16-6, but another Ogbanna TD pass gave them a 23-6 going into the 4th. Ogbanna finished with 195 yards and two TDs on 14-24 passing. RB Jacquez Barksdale finished with 99 yards on 14 carries, a 7.1 average yards per carry, while McMillan caught five passes for 76 yards. The Bulls defense, led by Shaun Dolac (six solo tackles, one INT), held the preseason POY in the Patriot League, Jamar Curtis, to just 12 yards on 14 carries.
Next up: at Missouri 7:00pm ESPN+
Temple: Lost to Oklahoma 51-3
The Owls had the monumental task of opening at Oklahoma in Norman, and it went about the way most expected. The Sooners started highly touted five star Jackson Arnold, and it was mixed for the youngster, throwing for just 141 yards on 17-25 passing, but also had four TD passes. The Sooners ran the ball 36 times for 220 yards. The Owls started Forrest Brock, getting the starting nod over Rutgers transfer Evan Simon, and Brock found out what SEC defense is about, throwing for 128 yards on 12-25 passing with two INTs. The Owls ran the ball 36 times for 69 yards, a 1.9 yard per carry average. The Owls had some bright spots on defense, sacking the QBs three times, and just showed general toughness. The Owls turned it over 6 times, losing four fumbles, which did not put the defense in good positions, but holding the Sooners to 378 yards has to be considered an accomplishment.
Next up: at Navy 3:30 CBSSN
Wake Forest: Defeated North Carolina A&T 45-13
Wake struggled in the first half against the Aggies before pulling away in the second to win their opener. QB wasn’t announced until gametime, with HC Dave Clawson going with Michael Kern over Boise/Louisana Tech transfer Hank Bachmeier, and Kern struggled, finishing with 71 yards on 5-8 passing. Demond Claiborne handled business in the first half, opening the scoring with a 7 yard TD run. The Aggies responded with a TD, and took the lead midway through the second quarter on a FG. Bachmeier came in to throw a 24 yard TD pass to Donovan Greene, a screen that turned into a TD with some poort Aggie tackling. A punt return for a TD gave the Demon Deacons some breathing room at 24-10, and a couple more Bachmeier TD passes gave them a comfortable 38-10 going into the 4th. Bachmeier finished with 266 yards on 19-29 passing, with three TDs and no interceptions. Claiborne finished with 135 yards on 17 carries. Taylor Morin caught all six of his targets for 100 yards. The Deacons defense did allow 121 rushing yards to Kenji Christian, but just 152 passing yards.
Next up: vs Virginia 9/7 7:00pm ESPN2
Rice: Lost to Sam Houston State 34-14
The Bearkats of SHSU jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the 1st quarter and never looked back. In their second season as an FBS member, The Bearkats outgained Rice 410-274, holding QB EJ Warner to 227 yards on 27-44 passing. The Owls struggled to move the ball on the ground, carrying the ball 18 times for 47 yards. Matt Sykes led the team in receiving, with six catches for 74 yards, and Kobie Campbell caught four passes for 53 yards, as the Owls look to replace WR Luke McCaffrey. Rice allowed 229 passing yards and 181 rushing yards, although the Bearkats did run the ball 46 times, for a 3.9 yard per carry average.
Next up: Texas Southern 7:00 ESPN+
Georgia State: Lost to Georgia Tech 35-12
Georgia State played crosstown rival Georgia Tech for the first time, and were hoping to make a statement against the Yellow Jackets. Penn State/Pitt transfer Christian Veilleux got the start for the Panthers and threw for 210 yards on 19-34 passing. The run game struggled to gain traction, outside of a 41 yard rush by Sy’veon Wilkerson, although Freddie Brock did avergae 6.1 yards per carry on ten carries. Tailique Williams got the bulk of the targets with 11, but came up with only five catches. Georgia Tech was strong again on offense, with QB Haynes King throwing for 275 yards on 24-29 passing. As a team, they ran for 224 yards on 35 carries, for an average of 6.4 yards per carry.
Next up: Chattanooga 7:00 ESPN+
UAB: Defeated Alcorn State 41-3
UAB also took care of business against their FCS opponent on Thursday night. QB Jacob Zeno threw for 216 yards, a little less than what he usually does, on 22-31 passing. Lee Beebe Jr rushed for 85. yards in 16 carries, as the Blazers racked up 304 yards, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. 5’8” freshman Cam Shanks led the team in receiving with six catches for 73 yards. Defensively, the Blazers held Alcorn to 177 yards, just 60 through the air.
Next up: at UL-Monroe 7:00 ESPN+
Syracuse: Defeated Ohio 38-22
It was touch and go for a bit in the first half, but the Orange pulled for a two TD victory. Ohio jumped out to a 6-0 lead after one, after two FGs. QB Kyle McCord threw his first TD pass for the Orange in the second, a 28 yard pass to TE Oronde Gadsden. After trading FGs, Syracuse got a late TD, another McCord TD pass, to take a 17-9 halftime lead. Ohio opened the second half with a TD to pull within one, but Syracuse would break away, with two more McCord TD passes in the 3rd, then an early 4th quarter TD rush by WR Trebor Pena. McCord threw for 354 yards on 27-39 passes, with four TDs and one INT, while Lequint Allen rushed for 98 yards on 15 carries. Gadsden, the top receiver for Syracuse in 2022, led the team with seven catches for 108 yards on 12 targets. Ohio still was able to rack up 436 yards of offense, but struggled to get TDs.
Next up: Georgia Tech 12:00 ACCN
UMass: Lost to Eastern Michigan 28-14
The Minutemen opened their season at home against Eastern Michigan, and the Eagles were in control throughout. After a scoreless first quarter, EMU got a couple second quarter TDs, and eventually took a 28-7 lead before UMass got a late TD. A staunch pass defense last season, UMass allowed 241 yards to Cole Snyder, and another 136 rushing yards. The Minutemen, led by QB Taisun Phommachanh, threw for 179 yards of their own, and rushed for 152, with Phommachanh leading the team in both. Arizona transfer Jalen John rushed for 53 yards on 14 carries, and caught five catches for 42 yards, leading the team.
Next up: at Toledo 3:30 ESPN+