How did UConn Opponents Fare in Week 7?
Wake Forest (2-4): Lost to #10 Clemson 49-14
The Demon Deacons headed into the 2nd quarter with a 7-0 lead, but it was all Tigers from there. Clemson QB Cade Klubnik threw for 309 yards and three TDs on 31-41 passing, and RB Phil Mafah rushed for 118 yards on 20 carries. Clemson held possession for 36:29, totaled 566 yards, while forcing two INTs. Wake QB Hank Bachmeier made some nice throws early on, but struggled after the first quarter, eventually being replaced by backup Michael Kern, who didn’t fare much better. Bachmeier threw for 126 yards on 12-21 passing with two TDs and two INTs, and Kern threw for 20 yards on 2-8 passing. The Tigers held RB Demond Claiborne in check, has he rushed for 53 yards on 18 carries. WRs Deuce Alexander II and Horatio Fields had big catches of 38 and 31 yards, showing off their speed.
Up Next: at UConn (4-2) 12:00 CBSSN
Rice (2-4): Defeated UTSA 29-27
A TD with :09 on the clock earned the Owls their first FBS win of the year. QB EJ Warner threw for over 300 yards for the first time this season, and RB Dean Connors led the team in receiving with 109 yards on five catches. WR Matt Sykes caught seven passes for 85 yards. UTSA QB Owen McCown threw for 260 yards on 27-42 passing with three TDs, and led the Roadrunners in rushing with 53 yards. The Owls defense held UTSA to 3.9 yards per carry on the ground. After entering the fourth quarter with a 23-13 lead, UTSA stormed back with two TDs to take a lead. Rice went eight plays, 65 yards in 1:57, capped off by Warner’s heroics.
Up Next: Tulane (4-2) 3:30 ESPN+
Georgia State (2-3): Lost to Old Dominion 21-14
The Panthers lose their second straight Sun Belt game, this time on the road at Old Dominion. ODU QB Colton Joseph threw for 141 yards and rushed for 98, leading the way for the Monarchs. The Monarchs used an offensive approach similar to UConn’s, rushing 45 times and passing 23. They averaged 4.5 yards per carry, with a long of 27. GSU QB Christian Veilleux threw for 211 yards on 22-40 passing, his second lowest yardage total before being replaced late by Zach Gibson, who was 6-6 for 49 yards a TD late. GSU HC Dell McGee would not commit to a QB for their next matchup with Marshall on short rest.
Up Next: at Marshall (3-3) (Thu) 7:00 ESPN2
UAB (1-5): Lost to Army 44-10
Things have been going from bad to worse for the Blazers in a loss at West Point. Army did the thing they always do, hold possession for a long time, and rush for over 400 yards. They totaled 413 on the ground, averaging 7.4 yards per carry, while even throwing 8 times, completing three passes for 102 yards. UAB, on the other hand, rushed for just 61 yards on 24 attempts. Jalen Kitna, starting in place of starter Jacob Zeno, who was still out with a non-throwing shoulder injury, threw for 242 yards on 25-39 passing with one TD and two INTs, that TD coming late when the score was 44-3. 2nd year HC Trent Dilfer has his work cut out for him, after upsetting the fan base with some comments in postgame pressers, and having not won an FBS game yet.
Up Next: at USF (2-4) 3:30 ESPN+
Syracuse (5-1): Defeated NC State 24-17
The Orange went down to Raleigh and won their second consecutive road game for the first time since 2012, when they defeated Missouri and Temple in back to back weeks. QB Kyle McCord threw for over 300 yards again, something he has done in every game so far this season, to go along with a couple TD throws. WR Jackson Meeks caught 11 passes for 116 yards, and RB LeQuint Allen rushed for 91 yards. After losing QB Grayson McCall to injury last week, NC State sent out backup freshma CJ Bailey, who threw for 329 yards, including a TD pass to former Husky Justin Joly. The Orange are off to another hot start, which is not unusual, but they’ll be looking to finish strong, something they haven’t done recently, and was why former HC Dino Babers was let go.
Up Next: Bye Week
UMass (1-6): Lost to #21 Missouri 45-3
The Minutemen actually had a couple of moments against the Tigers, including a 39 yard rush on a fake punt. However, shortly after, Taisun Phommachanh threw an interception that was returned deep into UMass territory. Luther Burden got things going quickly with a 61 yard TD run less than a minute into the game. It was all Tigers from there. Brady Cook threw for 219 yards on 14-19 passing, before being replaced by Drew Pyne in the 4th. Phommachanh threw for 132 yards on 12-22 passing with the aforementioned interception. The long fake punt rush excluded, UMass rushed for just 56 yards on 30 carries, struggling against the SEC defense. Leading receiver Jakobie Keeney-James caught six passes for 80 yards, continuing to be Phommachanh’s favorite target.
Up Next: Bye Week
Past Opponents:
Maryland (3-3): Lost to Northwestern 37-10
The Terps have seldom resembled the team that dismantled UConn in week one, falling to .500 in a rough B1G loss. Maryland outgained the Wildcats 355-283, but turned the ball over four times in the loss. QB Billy Edwards threw for 296 yards on 28-51 passing with an INT. Maryland lost three fumbles. Northwestern QB Jack Lausch threw for 203 yards on 10-18 passing, and the Wildcats rushed for just 80 yards as a team on 34 carries, but it was enough for a 27 conference win.
Up Next: USC (3-3) 4:00 FS1
Merrimack (2-4): Defeated Morgan State 32-24
Up Next: Stonehill (1-4) 1:00 ESPN+
Duke (5-1): Bye Week
Up Next: Florida State (1-5) (Fri) 7:00 ESPN2
FAU (2-4): Lost to North Texas 41-37
FAU had 4-1 North Texas on the ropes, taking a 37-27 lead with 4:21 remaining, but the Mean Green scored two late TDs to secure the road victory. DT Sheffield, who caught 11 passes for 126 yards, caught both of those TDs from QB Chandler Morris, who threw for 336 yards on 27-45 passing. After struggling immensely in East Hartford, FAU QB Cam Fancher threw for 351 yards on 22-30 passing, with three TDs and an INT. FAU held possession for 36:10, and outgained UNT 519-484, and nearly got their first AAC win of the season.
Up Next: at UTSA (2-4) 3:30 ESPN+
Buffalo (4-2): Defeated Toledo 30-15
The Bulls earned UConn a transitive property victory over Mississippi State, defeating Toledo at home. Coming off a bye week after losing to UConn 47-3, Buffalo was outgained 418-357, but forced two fumbles by the Rockets. UB QB Cj Ogbanna threw for 127 yards, and Al-Jay Henderson rushed for 142 yards on 18 carries. Buffalo held a 7-0 lead going into halftime, and took a 21-0 lead before a Toledo TD with 2:29 left in the 3rd. The Bulls are now 2-0 in the MAC, leading the league.
Up Next: Western Michigan (3-3) 3:30 ESPN+
Temple (1-5): Bye Week
Up Next: Tulsa (2-4) 2:00 ESPN+