UConn Football vs. Temple: How to Watch, By The Numbers, Keys To Game

KICKOFF: 12:00 p.m.

TV: ESPNews, WatchESPN

ANNOUNCERS: Bill Roth (play-by-play), Christian Ponder (color analyst)

RADIO: UConn IMG Radio Network (WTIC 1080 AM, WILI 1400 AM, WAVZ 1300 AM, WGCH 1490 AM); TuneIn; Sirius 112, XM 202

ANNOUNCERS: Joe D'Ambrosio (play-by-play), Wayne Norman (color analyst), Ken Sweitzer (sideline)

POINT SPREAD-OVER/UNDER: Temple -10

SERIES HISTORY: This is the 18th time the UConn Huskies and Temple Owls have met on the gridiron. The Owls hold a 12-5 edge over the Huskies and have won the last three times the two teams have met.

UConn Huskies Depth Chart for Temple

By the Numbers:

8 - UConn is currently on an eight-game conference losing streak dating back to last season. The Huskies haven’t won an American contest since defeating Cincinnati Oct. 8 last year. It UConn’s longest conference losing streak dating back to 2004 when they joined the Big East.

4 - For the first time in program history, UConn has four different wide receivers with at least one 100-yard game this season. Arkeel Newsome, Hergy Mayala, Aaron McLean and Mason Donaldson have all reached the mark, with Newsome and Donaldson doing so last week against Memphis.

17 - There are 17 freshmen or redshirt freshmen listed on this week’s depth chart, the second most of any class behind the seniors (19). There are nine juniors listed and just seven sophomores.

9 - The Huskies haven’t won a single road game in their last nine attempts, dating back 707 days to Nov. 7, 2015. That day, UConn defeated Tulane 7-3 at Yulman Stadium in a game where their only points came off a Jamar Summers pick-six.

10.3 - Arkeel Newsome is averaging 10.3 yards per touch this season, totaling a team-leading 527 all-purpose yards. He’s been the Huskies’ most explosive player, seen in his 64-yard touchdown run to open the last game against Memphis.

Keys to the Game/What to Watch For

Emerging Offensive Playmakers

Offensively, the Huskies have been spreading the love and getting a lot of different guys involved. Mason Donaldson, Tyler Davis, Aaron McLean, Nate Hopkins, Kevin Mensah, Keyion Dixon, and Quayvon Skanes have all made big plays while senior Arkeel Newsome seems to be hitting a stride. It has been an absolute pleasure to watch. They need to get stronger and more consistent as a group, but their progress is promising.

Soft Landing for the Defense

Eventually, this team will be able to outscore someone, even with the defense playing this poorly. Or maybe if the defense has a better day. There is hope for this game, as Temple’s offense is ranked 119th in the country in S&P+ efficiency, a welcome sight after taking on SMU (11th) and Memphis (15th) in consecutive games. There are young guys all over the depth chart

Prove We Have Winnable Games Left, Randy

The possibility of Randy Edsall’s second first season exceeding expectations seems low barring a miraculous turn of events. However, there are winnable games left on the schedule. The Huskies need to show that they are capable of playing competitively Saturday, otherwise, whatever hope there is left will die. Temple has gotten the best of UConn as of late, but this is the most even the matchup has been for a few years. There is very little room for moral victories, but given how the last two games have ended, this one needs to be close if it’s a loss.