UConn Football Future Opponents: Week 8

UConn football took a tough loss at the hands of No. 20 USF, keeping it closer through the final minutes than they had at any point this year against an FBS opponent. Here’s how the team’s future opponents fared this week.

UMass (2-6) - Oct. 27

Andrew Ford threw for 324 yards and the Minutemen equaled Coastal Carolina in first downs (22) and turnovers (two), with total yards almost identical, but the visiting Chanticleers took a 24-13 win. UMass held a 6-3 lead headed into the half, but Coastal Carolina scored two touchdowns to the hosts’ one, proving to be the difference when combined with a fourth-quarter field goal.

Tulsa (1-6) - Nov. 3

The Golden Hurricane took a break from American Athletic Conference play on Saturday and were shut out on the road by Arkansas, 23-0. It was a defensive battle, with each team gaining less than 350 total yards, but Arkansas possessed the ball more than 35 minutes and did not allow Tulsa to get drives going. Seth Boomer was 8-of-25 passing for merely 127 yards with an interception while Shamari Brooks ran for 91 yards.

SMU (3-4) - Nov. 10

The Mustangs were down 23-14 on the road against Tulane with less than 13 minutes to go, but SMU pulled out two straight touchdowns, and grabbed the lead with 1:15 to go on a 67-yard screen to James Proche to win, 27-23. Ben Hicks was 21-of-40 passing for 291 yards with three touchdowns against one interception. The visitors only to rushed for 36 yards.

ECU (2-4) - Nov. 17

After the first quarter, the Pirates led No. 9 UCF 3-0 at home with the undefeated Knights sputtering. That did not last long. The visitors scored 37 of the final 44 points, including 20 unanswered in the second quarter, to take a 37-10 victory. ECU turned the ball over five times across the final three quarters, leading to 24 UCF points. Holton Ahlers accounted for all but 21 of ECU’s yards, completing 29-of-53 passes for 406 yards with a touchdown and an interception as well as 69 rushing yards on 21 attempts. He also fumbled the ball twice.

Temple (5-3) - Nov. 24

It took overtime, but the Owls handed No. 21 Cincinnati its first loss of the year in Philadelphia, 24-17. The Bearcats had a 17-10 lead until the final minute, when Anthony Russo found Isaiah Wright for a 22-yard touchdown with 49 seconds to go in regulation. Temple had the ball first in overtime and scored, then intercepted Desmond Ridder to end the game. It was a close one all the way, with yards, turnovers, first downs and time of possession all practically even.