UConn football future opponents: Week 2

UConn football is off to an 0-3 start after falling to Purdue, 49-0.

The Huskies are already one-quarter of the way through their season with nine opponents left on the year. Here is how each of them fared on Saturday.

Army (2-0) - Sept. 18

The Black Knights opened up a 35-14 lead on Western Kentucky early in the fourth quarter on an 18-yard run by Jakobi Buchanan, one of four Army scores on the ground. Though the home side took home the win, the Hilltoppers made it interesting at the end, scoring 21 of the game’s final 24 points to get within three. Army’s triple-option attack proved difficult to stop, as the team rushed for 5.1 yards per attempt, led by quarterback Christian Anderson’s 119 yards on 22 carries. Anderson also completed 5-of-6 pass attempts, including a 40-yard touchdown in the first half.

Wyoming (2-0) - Sept. 25

Like Army, the Cowboys got out to a big lead in the second half that they nearly squandered. However, Wyoming’s lead was larger, at 42-16, and Northern Illinois was able to temporarily take the lead, scoring four straight touchdowns in less than 15 minutes to grab a 43-42 advantage with less than five minutes to go. The visiting Cowboys retook the lead with a Sean Chambers nine-yard run, the quarterback’s third total touchdown of the afternoon. He also threw for 204 yards on 13-of-23 passing with a pair of scores through the air. Xazavian Valladay led the way on the ground, totaling 101 yards on 21 carries, while also finding the end zone.

Vanderbilt (1-1) - Oct. 2

Vanderbilt scored just three points against FCS opponent East Tennessee State to open the season. Though they struggled again this week on the road against Colorado State, a 38-yard field goal inside 30 seconds gave them a 24-21 win to break an 11-game losing streak that dated back to 2019. The Commodores were outgained, 445 yards to 342, but held possession for more than 35 minutes, limiting the Rams’ opportunities to pull away. Ken Seals was 27-of-42 passing for 238 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Re’Mahn Davis had 77 yards on the ground.

UMass (0-2) - Oct. 9

Boston College’s quarterback went down with an injury after just four pass attempts, but backup Dennis Grosel picked up the slack and helped hand the Minutemen a 45-28 defeat. UMass turned the ball over three times and gained 335 yards to the Eagles’ 473 in a game in which the home side was kept at arm’s length throughout the contest. UMass quarterback Brady Olson passed for 214 yards and completed merely 14 of his 29 passes, accounting for three of his team’s touchdowns with two interceptions. UMass’ other touchdown belonged to Kay’Ron Adams though Ellis Merriweather led the team’s rushing attack, going for 56 yards on 11 carries.

Yale (0-0) - Oct. 16

Yale’s season begins next week with a home game against Holy Cross, who beat UConn and followed that up with a loss to Merrimack this past Saturday.

MTSU (1-1) - Oct. 22

MTSU traveled to Blacksburg in search of an upset over the No. 19 Virginia Tech Hokies, but a strong second half by the home team sunk the Blue Raiders, who were down just one possession at halftime. The visitors held a slight time of possession advantage, but were unable to translate the advantage to the scoreboard. Bailey Hockman got most of the reps at quarterback, completing 19 of his 32 passes for 207 yards, with a touchdown and a pick, as well. MTSU struggled to get the running game going, with just 66 yards on 36 attempts, translating to 1.8 yards per rush. Amir Rasul had 39 yards on 14 carries as the team’s leading rusher.

No. 6 Clemson (1-1) - Nov. 13

The sixth-ranked Tigers looked to rebound from a tough loss to No. 5 Georgia with a home game against FCS South Carolina State. The “get right” game did the trick, as the only points scored by the Bulldogs came on a 27-yard field goal late in the first half after Clemson had put the ball in the end zone five times. The home side scored another pair of touchdowns in the third quarter before calling off the dogs. D.J. Uiagalelei started at quarterback, completing 14-of-24 passes for 171 yards and a score, though he was intercepted once. Will Shipley was Clemson’s leading rusher, scoring twice and gaining 80 yards on just eight carries. The team did have a case of the fumbles, coughing up the ball six times, though the Tigers only lost one of them.

UCF (2-0) - Nov. 20

UCF welcomed FCS Bethune-Cookman to the Bounce House and it went as expected. The Knights gained 671 total yards on their way to a 63-14 victory. Dillon Gabriel looked impressive under center, going 23-of-36 passing with 312 yards and two touchdowns. Trillon Coles was the team’s leading rusher, gaining 78 yards on 11 carries, while Isaiah Bowser found pay dirt four times on 12 carries. Bethune-Cookman actually tied the game at 7-7 midway through the third quarter after an 80-yard drive, but UCF scored the next 35 points and only punted once, the only drive that did not finish in the end zone.

Houston (1-1) - Nov. 27

Houston also had a fun Saturday, beating cross-city rival Rice 44-7. Clayton Tune was efficient at quarterback, completing 22 of his 30 passes for 236 yards and a pair of scores. The Cougars spread the rushing attack around, with Clayton Tune grabbing 49 yards on nine carries, while Alton McCaskill had 40 more and two touchdowns on 14 attempts. The Houston defense was the highlight, surrendering just 212 yards and 15 first downs, while they also forced three turnovers, including a 91-yard interception return for a touchdown by Alex Hogan on the final play of the game. Hasaan Hypolite and Art Green also picked off passes from Luke McCaffrey.