UConn football vs. Indiana Hoosiers: How to watch, by the numbers, what to watch for

KICKOFF: 12 p.m. ET

TV: Big Ten Network (channel finder)

ANNOUNCERS: Lisa Byington (play-by-play), J Lemen (color analyst)

RADIO: UConn IMG Radio Network; TuneIn; 97.9 ESPN Hartford, WINE 940 AM, WGCH 1490 AM, WICC 600 AM, WAVZ 1300 AM, WATR 1320 AM WILI 1400 AM and 95.3 FM

ANNOUNCERS: Mike Crispino (play-by-play), Wayne Norman (color analyst), Adam Giardino (sideline), Bob Joyce (pregame host)

RECORDS: UConn (1-1); Indiana (2-1)

POINT SPREAD: Indiana - 27.5

OVER/UNDER: 57 points

SERIES HISTORY: This will be the third time the UConn Huskies and Indiana Hoosiers have met on the gridiron. The Huskies own a 2-0 advantage over the Hoosiers having won in 2003 and 2006.

Pregame Coverage

Preseason Opponent Preview: Indiana Hoosiers

UConn-Indiana Q&A with Crimson Quarry

Notes & Quotes from Randy Edsall’s Weekly Press Conference

Fun With Numbers

2,563 - Number of days since UConn’s last non-conference road win, a 24-21 win in 2012 over a Maryland squad led by Randy Edsall.

19 - Tackles for graduate transfer linebacker D.J. Morgan, the highest total on the team. His average of 9.5 tackles per game is tied for 31st in the country.

191 - Receiving yards for Indiana tight end Peyton Hendershot, the highest mark on the team. Hendershot has recorded at least four catches and 50 yards in each of the Hoosiers’ three games this season

275 - Passing yards for UConn quarterback Jack Zergiotis against Illinois in his collegiate debut. It was the most passing yards a UConn quarterback has thrown since David Pindell threw for 315 yards against Rhode Island on September 15, 2018.

What to watch for

What’s next for The Zerg?

Jack Zergiotis’ numbers might not jump off the page after his debut in a UConn uniform — the two interceptions definitely put a damper on things — but 21-31 for 275 yards is nothing to be ashamed of. Now that he’s been named the definitive starter going forward, he’ll have a chance to cement himself as an important part of this Huskies offense.

It’s entirely possible that Indiana fixed their pass defense since giving up nearly 300 yards through the air to Ball State. Eastern Illinois could only get scraps against them through the air in week two, and Justin Fields completed just 56.8 percent of his passes for 214 yards last week. But they’re a young and volatile group, and it could be the perfect storm for Zergiotis to continue his development.

Getting to the quarterback

Against an Indiana team ranked 81st in the country in pass protection, Lwal Uguak and the rest of the UConn defensive line will try to get to quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

Penix Jr. is coming off an undisclosed injury suffered last week against Ohio State, and his backup went just 19 for 33 last week for 162 yards against Ohio State, with no touchdowns and two picks.

Pounding the rock

Only 20 running backs in the nation have carried the ball more times this year than UConn’s Kevin Mensah, but at 3.4 yards per attempt, he’s hardly been the most efficient back in the world.

Some of that might fall on the offensive line, who Edsall has gone on record as saying wasn’t up to par in the early season.