KICKOFF: 12:00 p.m.
ANNOUNCERS: Bill Spaulding (play-by-play), Craig Hauber (analyst)
RADIO: UConn Sports Network; Varsity Network App; 97.9 Fox Sports, WGCH 1490 AM, WAVZ 1300 AM, WILI 1400 AM and 95.3 FM, WICH 1310 AM and 94.5 FM; Sirius/XM online streaming, XM 383 (UConn)
ANNOUNCERS: Mike Crispino (play-by-play), Wayne Norman (color analyst), Adam Giardino (sideline)
RECORDS: UConn (1-0), Syracuse (0-1)
LAST WEEK: UConn crushed CCSU, 59-13, in their home opener; Syracuse lost to Tennessee,
45-26
POINT SPREAD: Syracuse -6,5 (odds via FanDuel)
O/U: 57.5
SERIES HISTORY: This is the 14th time the two teams have met on the gridiron with the Orange holding a 7-6 advantage. The Huskies were 6-3 against the Orange in Big East Conference play.
PREGAME PRESS CONFERENCE(S): UConn head coach Jim Mora; Syracuse head coach Fran Brown
WEATHER FORECAST: Syracuse, NY (game is being played in JMA Wireless Dome)
Fun With Numbers
26: Syracuse is 26-19 in home openers at the Dome.
638: UConn had 638 total yards, a school record, in their win over CCSU last week.
274: Notre Dame transfer QB Steve Angeli threw for 274 yards in his Orange debut
8: The Huskies have just eight wins against ACC opponents, with an 8-28 overall record.
3: Syracuse is the first of three ACC games UConn will play in the 2025 season. Next up are at Boston College (October 18) and home vs. Duke (November 8).
115: Cam Edwards rushed for 115 yards on just six carries in the season opener. It was his fifth career 100-yard rushing game.
11: All 11 FBS schools on the Orange’s 2025 schedule all played in a bowl game last year.
4: UConn QB Joe Fagnano was responsible for four touchdowns in the season-opening win (three pass, one run). Four is also the number of 2024 College Football Playoff teams the Orange will face in 2025 (Tennessee, Clemson, Notre Dame, SMU).
6: UConn has six players from New York – WR Skyler Bell (Bronx), DB Kolubah Pewee Jr. (Staten Island), RB Malichi Greaves (Queens), LB Oumar Diomande (Bronx), OL Joe McGann (Lagrangeville), and TE Xavier Watson (Waverly)
37: Syracuse is one of 37 programs that have 700+ wins.
What to watch for
Level Up
UConn took care of business against CCSU, but how will the Huskies adjust to a higher level of opponent? They need to show sharper execution and avoid penalties and other mistakes that popped up in the season opener. The Huskies have a chance to make a statement with this Week 2 matchup, and should go into the familiar confines of the JMA Wireless Dome confident that they can play a competitive game.
The CCSU game started with a 7-0 deficit and two mistake-ridden drives. UConn can’t put itself anywhere close to that position on Saturday. This also includes the special teams units, which had penalties, a botched punt snap, and a missed field goal to answer to from that game.
Who Steps Up on D?
The UConn pass rush did not get very much pressure in Week 1. Head coach Jim Mora also noted that the run defense looked soft up the middle. They’ll need to tighten that up as their hands will be full against the playmaking abilities of Syracuse running backs Yasin Willis and Will Nixon. Both looked solid against Tennessee and are surely expecting success after that performance against an SEC opponent.
The Huskies also need to show, against better competition, that they can prevent big plays. This has hurt them in the past against the power conference teams they’ve faced. If they’re getting gashed in the run game, that will open everything else up. They’ll need to be stout on the line and disciplined in the back as the Orange have playmakers and a decent QB.
Run It Again
Cam Edward needed just six carries to put up 115 yards last week, thanks to a 73-yard TD run. Mel Brown led the RBs with nine carries, for 83 yards, as transfer MJ Flowers and senior Victor Rosa got involved as well. This group and the push from the O-line will be key as the Huskies look to establish the run and open up the passing game. If the run is stuffed and UConn gets one-dimensional or forced into lots of passing situations, that could spell trouble.
