In the final tune up before the conference schedule, Ball State (1-2) hits the road for the third time in four weeks, this time to tangle with the Huskies (1-2).
Both squads enter the contest from different angles, and we will take a look at where each has been and some things to expect in this one.
Game notes
- Time and date: Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time
- Location: Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut
- TV network options: The game will be aired nationally on CBS Sports Network, with Fran Charles (play-by-play), Taylor McHargue (color) and Hailey Sutton (sidelines) on the call. A valid cable subscription is required for viewing.
- Radio Options: Mick Tidrow (play-by-play) and Chris Radican (color) will provide the Ball State call for WMUN-AM 1340. For UConn, Mike Crispino (play-by-play), Wayne Norman (color) and Adam Giardino (sidelines) have the Huskies call on Fox Sports 97.9 FM (Hartford.)
- Gambling Considerations: UConn are 21.5 point home favorites, with an over/under of 53.5, per FanDuel.
- All-Time Series: Ball State leads the all-time series with a perfect 4-0 margin. The last game between the two programs was on October 15, 2022, with Ball State winning 25-21 at home.
About the Ball State Cardinals
The Cardinals flew into 2025 with a lot of changes in the coaching leadership and dozens upon dozens of new players to integrate, along with some key returning players. After road losses in the first two
weeks against the Purdue Boilermakers and Auburn Tigers, BSU’s players and coaches celebrated a well-earned win— the first of the head coach Mike Uremovich era— in a 34-29 victory over No. 23-ranked New Hampshire Wildcats (FCS).
From a special teams perspective, the film was a learn-and-burn for the Cardinals, who gave up a blocked punt for touchdown and a fumbled return.
That being said, the overall takeaway about last week’s performance was very positive.
Defensively, the Cardinals played with good team spirit, digging deep when they needed to in order to spearhead the victory. On the day, BSU held the visitors to only 20 points with nine points scored on a blocked punt TD and safety.
The defense was also noticeably resilient in stretches, holding the Wildcats to zero points on back-to-back second quarter drives which started in BSU territory and also when thwarting a final drive to preserve the victory.
Overall, the Cardinals defense has shown notable explosiveness too as they rank 10th in the FBS in sacks. Leading the charge is a rotation of linebackers and players like defensive end Nathan Voorhis, who is tops on the team with 3.5 sacks.
The run defense at times has also been very promising with only 3.6 yards per carry allowed on 63 combined carries in games versus New Hampshire and Purdue.
Offensively, BSU mustered three points the first two weeks but got on track last week against a more evenly matched roster in rolling up 34 points.
Based upon his time in Butler, Uremovich will probably favor the run— personnel permitting— and Ball State blew up last week for 308 total rushing yards led by RB Qua Ashley’s 154 and QB Kiael Kelly’s 101.
The passing game is a work-in-progress. There definitely is talent there in players like Eric Weatherly and Qian Magwood, among others,and the sweet spot for this club in the aerial attack may be efficient passing coupled with explosive plays if BSU can keep teams worried about the rushing attack.
About the UConn Huskies
The Huskies had a remarkable 9-4 season in 2024. led by head coach Jim Mora Jr.
So far in 2025, the promise of last season’s campaign is still there to be built upon— but there are also some issues to address defensively.
UConn opened the season with an expected blowout win over the Central Connecticut Blue Devils (FCS) 59-13, followed by gut-wrenching overtime losses to Syracuse (27-20) and new FBS member Delaware (44-40).
Defensively, the game against Delaware was a headscratcher. The Blue Hens offense was certainly decent, but there were a few things in one game that you usually don’t see, including some distinctive explosive plays. For instance, a touchdown pass where the last defender fell down trying for the ball, not making the tackle on a catch and long run, or when the Blue Hens’ runner reversed field for an explosive TD run down the opposite sideline.
Stuff happens and you move on to next week.
The matchup between BSU’s rushing offense and UConn’s rushing defense may go a long way towards writing this story’s conclusion. Which Huskies run defense will we see this week: the one which held Syracuse to 1.7 yards per carry on 27 rushes or the 247-yard, 5.5 yard per rush effort versus Delaware?
Offensively, UConn looks to be sound as a pound in 2025, with a balanced attack and proven playmakers throughout the lineup.
QB Joe Fagnano enters his third year at UConn while spending the prior four years with the FCS Maine Black Bears. Fagnano is obviously an experienced, productive veteran who also very importantly takes care of the football. In his career, the UConn signal caller has over 1,000 pass attempts, over 8,000 passing yards with a sparkling TD:INT ratio of 70-17.
Fagnano isn’t renowned as a rushing threat, but can handle things when duty calls as he has over 500 yards rushing and seven scores.
UConn’s main target for Fagnano is wideout Skyler Bell, a 2024 Wisconsin transfer who has almost 2,000 career receiving yards and 13 touchdowns.
Head coach Jim Mora Jr. also noted at a recent press conference that Bell is a plus run-blocker, which is music to the ears of the Huskies runners, including lead halfback Cam Edwards. Like Fagnano and Bell, Edwards is an experienced and productive player with over 300 career carries for over 1750 yards and 15 TDs.
Keep an eye out too for Mel Brown, who has similar career numbers to Edwards and can do some damage any given Saturday in the explosive play department. Brown had a 49-yard dash in week one and scorched Syracuse in week two with a 45-yarder.
Final Thoughts
This is an important game for both teams.
After UConn and then a bye week, Ball State starts conference play in the first week of October with a massive challenge as they host 2024 MAC champs Ohio Bobcats, who have already proven formidable in the first three games of the 2025 campaign, going 1-2 against three Power programs— including one lost by less than a score.
Schematically, the Bobcats are different from the Huskies, but both are tough teams capable of playing at a high level so BSU should reap the benefits in conference play of this level of challenge now from UConn.
Little doubt BSU will face some adversity against the Huskies, who are more than a 20-point favorite. The task for the Cards is to continue to ball out for four quarters and build on last week’s offensive and defense progress and resilience, while patching up special teams.
UConn generally brings it every game but you have to think that the frustration of back-to-back overtime losses and a forgettable defensive performance last week will spark a proud Huskies program to an especially focused effort.
In other words, BSU should get UConn’s best shot.
