College Football Week 1 Preview: UConn vs. Central Connecticut State

The long await is over. UConn is set for its college football debut at The Rent on Saturday, when they welcome Central Connecticut State in Week 1. The matchup presents many storylines for both programs.

For the Blue Devils, they hope to open their season on the right foot as FCS contenders. They made the playoffs in 2017, 2019, and 2024, though haven’t won a playoff game. This year, the team is “shooting for the stars,” said running back Elijah Howard.

Meanwhile, UConn is hoping to cruise by and assert their dominance heading into a critical Week 2 affair at Syracuse. After a 9-4 season and Fenway Bowl win in 2024, the expectations are sky high.

But which dream will become a reality? Will the Huskies capture its first Week 1 win in 10 years, or will its in-state opponent crush their hopes of a promising season?

UConn Huskies vs. Central Connecticut State Blue Devils: Matchup History

UConn is far from an elite program in college football riddled with success. However, they have been far superior than CCSU. While the Blue Devils have found a boatload of success in recent years in the FCS, the Huskies are looking to assert themselves as an FBS contender. The programs are on opposite levels.

However, one time in the past have these two teams crossed paths. And it was a lopsided affair in favor of Connecticut. Although, not in the prettiest fashion.

In this contest—a 28-3 finish for UConn in Week 1 of 2022—the Huskies were sloppy. Very rarely in football can a team commit three more penalties, surrender two more turnovers, and still find a way to win. Let alone by four scores.

The Blue Devils started the game with an opening field goal, though were shut out from there on out. Quarterback Romelo Williams was limited to 5.5 yards per attempt, while the Huskies signal caller Zion Turner went for two touchdowns. Despite some of their inefficiencies, UConn manhandled their opponent, gaining over 200 more yards of offense, while controlling the time of possession. They ran for nearly 300 yards on the ground, while Central Connecticut State was limited to 78.

Could a similar story be told in their second ever meeting on Saturday? The Huskies were one of the county’s most efficient rushing offenses last year, while its passing attack was never the driving source of offense. Perhaps UConn will lean on its ground game again to pick up a second all time win against Central Connecticut State.

UConn Huskies vs. Central Connecticut State Blue Devils: Keys to the Game and Predictions

Key Players for Central Connecticut State

UConn leans on its ground game for success, and so does Central Connecticut State. Due for a big opening game is Elijah Howard, the reigning NEC Offensive Player of the Year.

“What makes him so good is his explosiveness,” head coach Adam Lechtenberg recently told CT Insider. “He is a dynamic threat to opponents every week.”

Howard, a central component in the Blue Devils’ offensive strategy, led the team with nearly 1000 rushing yards last season. And, he looks primed for an even better senior year.

Howard is very unique, and abnormally consistent for the position. In the two games where he rushed for less than 50 yards in 2024, he scored a touchdown. He also went for 100+ yards five times. Howard has the potential to pop off in Week 1.

While Howard has emerged as the leader and anchor of the offense, other contributing pieces will hope to play part in a contending season. That includes wide receiver and kick returner Donovan Wadley, the NEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2023. However, it came with Merrimack, and he was on track for a strong 2024, too. Although, an ankle injury kept him sideline for the majority of contests. Now with the Blue Devils, and he could pose a threat both offensively and on special teams.

His dynamic skill set paired with Howard’s effectiveness could cause havoc for UConn’s defense. Last season, they were one of the country’s most efficient units in year one under defensive coordinator Matt Brock. However, nine of their 11 defensive starters entering 2025 are new. As they try and build a cohesive group, they could stumble.

Key Players for UConn

The Huskies come into this game as major favorites, and have a high likelihood of coming out on top to open their season. Yes, there are no easy games in Division I college football. Yet as the Huskies try and replicate an overachieving season on both ends, they should try and use all of their pieces offensively to see what would work in a brutal ACC battle with Syracuse the next week.

That should start with transfer MJ Flowers, who checks off every box at running back. He comes from Eastern Illinois where he was a productive runner of the football. Flowers is a dominant downhill tailback that plays very similarly to Derrick Henry. He’s not as shifty as some others, but uses his strength and high motor to become an explosive asset.

While he never played Central Connecticut State, his previous FCS experience could pay dividends for him in this matchup. UConn has a crowded running back room. There is no guarantee that Flowers will have a major role despite his talent after the success the Huskies had last year with their three returning backs. But a strong Week 1 outing would increase those chances.

And at quarterback, this is a major game for Joe Fagnano to get the ball rolling in his final collegiate season. He enters year seven in college football and has finally earned himself a starting job at the FBS level with UConn.

“He was one of the 15 most efficient quarterbacks in the country,” UConn sideline reporter Adam Giardino told The League Winners.

He’s not wrong. Fagnano’s 20 touchdowns to four interceptions paired with a 4-1 record as a starter were major indicators that he can quarterback this team. But can he do it again? He put together one of the strongest games in UConn history against FCS’ Merrimack in 2024. Maybe he can do something similar against the Blue Devils in his season opener.

College Football: How UConn Wins in Week 1

By all metrics and systems, UConn is a heavy favorite to take this Week 1 college football contest. For as lousy as the football program has been in the past, the Huskies have always remained superior over FCS competition.

UConn is 21-2 all time against FCS schools in the FBS era (2002-to-present) and haven’t lost any such battles under Jim Mora. They dismantled Merrimack 63-17 last year, and fans should expect a similar result if the Huskies play their cards correctly.

Now, CCSU is among the premier teams in FCS. They will put up a jubilant effort. But as long as UConn never loses control of the game, they’ll take care of business. That means starting out early and never allowing the Blue Devils to gain momentum.

Central Connecticut schemes a very creative offensive system led by Howard and its ground attack. If UConn leads by two scores early, the Blue Devils will have to go through the air to conserve time, and will have less success. So, a hot start will increase the chances exponentially.

UConn also has to make sure that they keep the lead throughout all four quarters, and never allow the Blue Devils to feel in control. So, once they take the lead, UConn has to limit turnovers.

With Fagnano last season, UConn very rarely turned the ball over, which helped them find so much success. However, the Blue Devils forced 32 giveaways last year, the second-most in FCS. If a team is going try and disrupt that plan, it will be CCSU. So the Huskies have to take care of the ball.

If they do, though, a win shouldn’t be hard to find. ESPN projects a 98-percent win probability for UConn heading into this contest. If the Blue Devils pull off the upset, it will be a quiet ride back to the dorms for the Huskies.

Bold Prediction

UConn will have a 300-yard passer, 100-yard rusher, and 100-yard receiver in the same game for the first time since 2017. Fagnano has dominated against FCS competition. Bell is a consistent threat when Fagnano is under center. And one of UConn’s four quality rushers should find a way to eclipse three digits. I’d guess Flowers in his debut with the Huskies.