STORRS, Ct. – After going toe-to-toe with the Duke Blue Devils in Week 3, the 1-2 UConn Huskies host Florida Atlantic, coming off of a huge win over FIU. However, with Wisconsin-transfer Nick Evers showing his full potential in the Huskies game in Durham last week, UConn is actually favored to win this football contest against FAU. It’s the first time they’ve been favored against an FBS school this season. In basketball, this is a must-see matchup. When these squads face off on Saturday night, we’ll see if it’s the same.
UConn vs. FAU Matchup History
The UConn Huskies and FAU Owls have faced off just one time in the football program’s history, with the Huskies winning that lone matchup back in 2002, 61-14 in Storrs, CT. The leader of that Husky team was quarterback Dan Orlovsky, the current NFL analyst at ESPN. However, that’s the only time they’ve ever faced off up until this Saturday.
In basketball, these schools have also found a way to avoid each other, though they each played in the same region in March Madness this past year and each made the final four in 2023. The athletic programs have frankly avoided any head-to-head matchups in their history. Yet the one time they faced off in football, it was the Huskies who dominated.
Key Players for Connecticut
Last week, head coach Jim Mora made the shocking decision to start Evers at QB over Joe Fagnano. Fagnano had taken Evers’ role due to injury and threw for five touchdowns in their previous performance against the Merrimack Warriors. And with how well Evers played, I’d be shocked to see Fagnano appear in what is projected to be a very competitive matchup. However, if needed, Fagnano is an elite-level QB2.
Evers has to find a groove with wide receiver Skyler Bell. It’s hard to judge UConn’s performance against Merrimack considering the Warriors are a FCS football opponent. That’s the only game Fagnano started this season. However, in the second half against Maryland and in that matchup against the Warriors, Fagnano and Bell had a connection that made the former Badger wideout surpass 100 yards in his first two games in navy and white.
In a game and a half with Fagnano, Bell accumulated 209 yards and two touchdowns compared to 96 yards and no scores in the same time frame with his former Badger signal caller. The QB-WR connection will be crucial to the Huskies’ Week 4 success.
Key Players for Florida Atlantic
It’s been a rough start to the season for Florida Atlantic, but there are some players who have stepped up and some players that could get the Owls to back-to-back victories. The first of which is starting quarterback Cam Fancher.
Fancher hasn’t been horrific, though he also hasn’t been a difference maker of any sorts. He’s throwing more interceptions than touchdowns this season while posting the 121st highest qualifying QBR in FBS. However, we’ve seen the type of player he can be in previous seasons; one with a 66 percent completion rate just one year ago. Fancher is going to have to play basically just as well as Evers or Fagnano on the other side, and that’s a tough task.
The other key player for Florida Atlantic is Florida-native running back Zuberi Mobley. He is a talented running back who’s been excellent as of late, scoring all three of his touchdowns this season in FAU’s dominating over FIU. UConn has also struggled against strong running games, especially in their first two outings against Maryland and Merrimack. Mobley could be a huge difference maker against the Huskies.
Connecticut Blueprint to Victory
It’s very rare that UConn is a favorite against a FBS football squad. Yet after how well they played as a three-score underdog on the road in Durham against the Duke Blue Devils, here they are. But being a favorite only means so much.
UConn is 0-2 this year against FBS competition. Fancher being contained is the first priority for UConn. He hasn’t been terrible for the Owls, but also hasn’t elevated his team. Making sure he doesn’t do that in this game is critical.
UConn also has to do a much better job on the opposing side of the field. UConn was down 17-7 at halftime, but quickly rallied back against Duke to take a 21-17 lead. When they eventually went back down, UConn had chances to bounce back, and drove down the field many times. However, a successful run game was abandoned, and Evers wasn’t given the opportunity to use his legs as an offensive weapon. The Huskies have to score in the red zone and get points in opposing territory for them to get back at .500.
Chase Coburn
Chase Coburn is an aspiring sports reporter and journalist who's already achieved some great things in the industry. At just 13 years old, Chase has already started his own podcast, interviewing celebrities such as ESPN's Adam Schefter, Baltimore Ravens' Justin Madubuike, ESPN's Dan Graziano, and many others. Chase is even experienced in writing for his websites, chasessportsnews.com & chasecoburn.substack.com. He runs his schools broadcast department, and is also a freelance writer for The League Winners, covering Ravens football and UConn football.Chase, who resides in Fairfield, CT, hopes to continue his dream as a broadcaster, and inspire others to CHASE their dreams like he has.