UConn is looking for a program record 10 wins in a season in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl.
KICKOFF: 2:15 p.m.
TV: ESPN
ANNOUNCERS: Wes Durham (play-by-play), Steve Addazio (color analyst), Dana Boyle (sideline)
RADIO: UConn Sports Network; Varsity Network App; SiriusXM 81, SiriusXM streaming
ANNOUNCERS: Mike Crispino (play-by-play), Wayne Norman (color analyst), Adam Giardino (sideline)
RECORDS: UConn (9-3), Army (6-6, 4-4 AAC)
LAST GAME: In their final regular-season game, a missed field goal with no time left gave the Huskies a 48-45 win over the FAU Owls. Army lost a heartbreaker to Navy, 17-16, in the 126th Army/Navy game.
POINT SPREAD: Army -9.5 (odds via FanDuel)
O/U: 43.5
SERIES HISTORY: UConn holds a 5-4 all-time series advantage. They last faced off in 2022 at West Point, NY with Army securing a 34-17 win in former head coach Jim Mora’s first season. They have faced off once in a baseball stadium back in 2014 at Yankee Stadium; a 35-21 Army win.
PREGAME PRESS CONFERENCE(S):UConn WR Skyler Bell, UConn TE Louis Hansen, UConn C Wes Hoeh, UConn DB Cam Chadwick; Army head coach Jeff Monken
WEATHER FORECAST:Boston, MA
Fun With Numbers
10: UConn has never won 10 games in a season in their FBS era.
1: Skyler Bell is first the consenus All-American in UConn football history. He was named a first team All-American by the Associated Press, the AFCA and the Sporting News. He was named a second team All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
3: All three of UConn’s losses came in overtime this season. They have not lost in regulation in November 23, 2024 when they fell to Syracuse, 31-24.
3K+1K+1K: For the first time in Huskies history, they had a 3,000-yard passer (Joe Fagnano – 3,448), a 1,000-yard rusher (Cam Edwards – 1,132), and a 1,000-yard receiver (Bell – 1,278). UConn was only one of five schools this year to achieve this feat, along with Ohio State, Rutgers, North Texas, and Texas State.
2: UConn finished with just two turnovers on the season which led FBS. They created 16 turnovers and finished fourth in turnover margin per game (1.17).
11: Since leaving the American Athletic Conference, the Huskies are 7-4 against them including two wins this season.
34: Army is least penalized team in FBS with just 34 penalities all seaason.
245.5: The Black Knights rank sixth in rushing yards per game with 245.5.
What to watch for
Stopping the Triple
Army’s rushing attack is designed to chip away at defenses and slow the game down into one with fewer possessions. Their team has been solid this year but luckily for the Huskies, they’re well-tested against this kind of attack, having faced Rice and Air Force already this season. The Rice game was a defensive disaster, while the Air Force game started like one before their QB went down.
UConn players and coaches say the Husky defense should have minimal opt-outs. DB Cam Chadwick, who has announced his intention to transfer, said he’s playing. A few others have announced their intention to transfer, including LB Oumar Diomande and DL Vincent Carroll-Jackson. This group has had trouble against the run and giving up big plays, which will be tested in this matchup.
When UConn played Air Force, then-head coach Jim Mora said they installed a new defense for that week. They’re probably doing something similar with the long prep time for this game.
The Offense Will Be Different
Good News: Cam Edwards and Skyler Bell are playing.
Bad News: Joe Fagnano, two starting O-linemen, and two of the most dynamic tight ends, are not.
At QB, the likely starter appears to be Ksaan Farrar, the freshman who was a three-star recruit out of Virginia in the Class of 2025. Backup Nick Evers is expected to enter the portal, while Tucker McDonald, the only other QB to take snaps this season, has reportedly been dealing with an injury.
The team has been tight-lipped about who the starter will be. But it looks like Farrar has the inside track. Emergency backup options may include freshman WR Terrence Smith, who has lined up under center in a wildcat look, and John Neider, who has thrown a couple of passes on trick plays this season and was a QB at Jonathan Law HS in Milford, CT, though he’s also announced his intention to put his name in the portal. Starting tight ends Alex Honig and Juice Vereen are going to enter the portal as well.
This is certainly going to be interesting, but heavy doses of Edwards and Bell are still the focal point of the game plan. The passing attack and overall offensive weapons will be lighter, but maybe the Huskies won’t need those attributes in a snowy game where holding possession will be key.
The Future
While the drive for a 10th win and a program FBS record is certainly compelling, it’s largely been overshadowed by the transition occurring at the top of the program. With Mora leaving for Colorado, the coordinators have reportedly accepted new jobs elsewhere and all or most of the staff appears to be moving on.
Some new staff names under new head coach Jason Candle have trickled in, including WR coach Kerry Davis II and offensive coordinator Nunzio Campanille. Recruiting has picked up, with a few three-star commitments coming in, including a QB and some great skill talent.
The future is uncertain, but for the first time in a long time, the arrow is pointing in the right direction for the program. Good things are happening. It’s kind of in the background during this game, but it’s also on top of our minds throughout, especially as we perhaps get a chance to look at some depth guys on Saturday who may be looking for bigger roles on the team next year.
Category: General Sports
