How did UConn's Opponents Fare in Week 2?
Duke: Defeated Northwestern 26-20 (2OT)
At the temporary lakefront stadium on Lake Michigan, this one wasn’t pretty, but the Blue Devils got out of there with their second victory of the season. Duke QB Maalik Murphy threw for 242 yards on 24-39 passing with three TDs and one INT. His favorite target was Jordan Moore, who was targetd 15 times, catching 11 of those for 121 yards. The next leading receiver was TE Nicky Dalmolin, who caught three catches for 39 yards. The run game struggled a bit again, averaging just 3.1 yards per carry. For Northwestern, QB Mike Wright threw for 158 yards on 20-36 passing. RB Cam Porter rushed for 93 yards on 16 carries, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. Duke outgained the Wildcats 342-287, and each time was sloppy, turning the ball over twice, while Duke wa penalized nine times for 80 yards, and Northwestern seven times for 58 yards.
Next up: UConn 6:00 ACCN+
FAU: Lost to Army 24-7
The Owls got the unenviable task of being Army’s first opponent as a member of the AAC, and got a firsthand look at challenging it is to play the Black Knights. Army rushed for 405 yards as a team, and held possession for 38:39, as they do, but QB Bryson Daily also completed one pass for a 44 yard TD. The Owls, on the other hand, struggled to establish the run, rushing for 41 yards on 17 attempts, an average yards per carry of 2.4. QB Cam Fancher threw for 193 yards on 25-37 passing, with a TD and INT. Another rough offensive performance.
Next up: FIU 6:00 ESPN+
Buffalo: Lost to #9 Missouri 38-0
The Bulls had some moments defensively, and certainly could’ve allowed more points against the Tigers, but Missouri handled business easily in Columbia. Outgaining Buffalo 518-169, the Tigers led 24-0 at the half, after being held to just a FG in the first quarter. Brady Cook threw for 228 yards on 28-36 passing, and the Tigers rushed 41 times for 255 yards as a unit, averaging 6.2 yards per carry. Bulls QB CJ Ogbonna struggled against the SEC defense, throwing for just 55 yards on 6-20 passing. RB Jaques Barksdale was a bright spot, rushing for 67 yards on 15 carries. LB Shaun Dolac led the team with 16 tackles, including one for a loss.
Next up: UMass 1:00 CBSSN
Temple: Lost to Navy 38-11
Temple followed up their anemic offensive output against Oklahoma, which was to be expected, with another one against Navy. The Midshipmen raced out to a 23-3 halftime lead, and led 38-3 going into the fourth quarter, before Temple got their first TD of the day, a Dante Wright 23 yard TD catch from Freddie Brock. Wright was a bright spot for the Owls, with 11 catches for 101 yards. Brock threw for 275 yards on passing 30-47, with the one TD to Wright, and two INTs. The Owls rushing game was nonexistent, rushing for 35 yards on 20 carries.
Next up: at Coastal Carolina 2:00 ESPN+
Wake Forest: Lost to Virginia 31-30
An exciting one in Winstom-Salem, the Demon Deacons gave up 14 in the 4th quarter as they fell to the Cavaliers. Gunslinger QB Anthony Colandrea had a big game for UVA, throwing for 357 yards on 33-43 passing, three TDs and two INTs, in classic him fashion. Malachi Fields caught eleven of those passes for 148 yards. Wake Forest QB Hank Bachmeier played pretty well himself, throwing for 403 yards on 27-42 passing, and RB Demond Claiborne rushed for 86 yards on 21 carries and two TDs, as Wake Forest outgained UVA 544-430. UVA got the big plays when it mattered, and they kept Wake Forest off the board in the 4th to seal the victory.
Next up: Ole Miss 6:30 The CW
Rice: Defeated Texas Southern 69-7
After a disappointing loss to Sam Houston State to start the season, the Owls bounced back with a huge win over FCS opponent Texas Southern. It was a complete domination by Rice, outgaining TSU 533-87. EJ Warner threw for 189 yards on 20-30 passing, with two TDs and one INT, while Dean Connors had a huge game rushing, carrying the ball nine times for 113 yards, including a 71 yard run. Taji Atkins rushed for 91 yards on eleven carries, and the Owls averaged 10.7 yards per rush as a unit.
Next up: at Houston 8:00 ESPN+
Georgia State: Defeated Chattanooga 24-21
A pretty solid rule of thumb for scheduling FCS teams is don’t schedule good ones. GSU did not follow that rule, as #11 (FCS) Chattanooga headed to Atlanta and gave the Panthers all they could handle. Falling behind 21-17 with 11:33 to go in the game, GSU got a Freddie Brock 12 yard TD run with 7:01 left to re-take the lead and hung on for the win. GSU outgained the Mocs 391-308. Christian Veilleux threw for 238 and two TDs on 26-38 passing for GSU, while his counterpart, Chase Artopoeus threw for 232 yards on 13-23 passing. Mocs WR Sam Phillips had a huge game, catching eight passes for 195 yards. Brock carried the ball 14 times for the Panthers for 73 yards, while Ted Hurst caught six passes for 83 yards.
Next up: Vanderbilt 7:00 ESPN+
UAB: Lost to UL-Monroe 32-6
A shocking result, to me anyways. UAB and its high-powered offense sputtered in Monroe, LA, with QB Jacob Zeno throwing for just 167 yards on 22-32 passing. The Blazers struggled to move the ball on the ground, rushing for 92 yards on 35 carries for an average of 2.6 yards per carry. All-Name Team QB General Booty threw for only 87 yards on 9-16 passing, but UL-Monroe rushed for 209 yards on 48 carries on the ground, helping them keep possession for 33:18. UAB turned the ball over three times and were penalized nine times for 66 yards. They’ll need to clean it up.
Next up: at Arkansas 4:15 SEC Network
Syracuse: Defeated #23 Georgia Tech 31-28
Kyle McCord had a monster game for the Orange, throwing for 381 yards and four TDs on 32-46 passing, as Syracuse beat the Yellow Jackets. Lequint Allen rushed for 83 yards on 15 carries, and as a team, the Orange rushed for 134 yards on 32 carries, averaging 4.2 yards per carry. McCord outdueled Haynes King, who threw for 266 yards on 29-39 passing. Georgia Tech blocked a FG, punt, and recovered an onside kick, so the Orange will need to shore up their special teams. Nevertheless, they’re now 2-0 as they host ACC foe Stanford next week, followed by Holy Cross. Another iteration of “September Syracuse.”
UMass: Lost to Toledo 38-23
After opening the season with a 28-14 loss to future MAC conference mate Eastern Michigan, the Minutemen headed west to take on Toledo. The Rockets have been one of the better MAC programs in recent years, so it wouldn’t be crazy to think this game would go worse for UMass. A late Toledo TD made the score look a little better, but the Minutemen played well against the Rockets, even outgaining them 384-258. UMass’ defense had the propensity to give up big plays in the passing game, allowing a 73 yard TD and a 40 yard TD. QB Tucker Gleason threw for 175 yards on just 8-23 passing. UMass QB Taisun Phommachanh fared a little better, throwing for 259 yards on 26-40 passing, with one TD and one INT, and rushing for 44 yards on 22 carries. WR Jakobie Keeney-James caught six passes for 93 yards, and Jacquon Gibson caught six passes of his own for 72 yards. UMass ran the ball 46 times for just 125 yards.