STORRS, Ct. — With bowl eligibility clinched, everything from here is just a bonus for the UConn Huskies football team in 2024. However, they still look for that first power-conference win of the football season, and Week 13 is a golden opportunity to come away with one.
The Huskies travel to northern New York to face Syracuse, an overachieving team thus far. The Orange have gotten significant national ranking consideration, and have two wins over ranked opponents this season. With just two games left, the Huskies face their toughest competition yet in a must-see matchup on the ACC Network.
UConn Huskies vs. Syracuse Orange Football History
In collegiate basketball, these two teams are two of the most successful in college basketball history. However, both of these football teams have seven wins with a few weeks remaining.
The Huskies and Orange have actually met 11 times in the football program’s history, where UConn has won six of them. However, their last meeting was a 48-14 demolition by Syracuse. Based on history, this matchup could go one of many different ways.
It was also recently reported that these two will meet again after this in a scheduled clash in 2028.
Key Players for UConn
The Huskies have been on a tear, winning six of their last seven games. Their only loss in that stretch has come against the ACC (Wake Forest). During this stretch, they’ve found that success through the ground.
Durell Robinson, Mel Brown, Camryn Edwards, and even quarterback Nick Evers have been valuable rushing assets. However, it’s unclear who UConn will turn to at the QB position in Week 13.
Evers has dealt with injuries all year, and most of the time, Joe Fagnano has been productive when stepping in. In their last meeting against UAB, the Huskies struggled to put points on the board until Fagnano stepped in for an injured Evers; who then proceeded to throw two touchdowns in a comeback win.
Whomever head coach Jim Mora leans too, they both add value in certain areas, and can be the signal callers that the Huskies need to win this game.
However, one player that has seemed to decline during this stretch of wins is wide receiver Skyler Bell. The Wisconsin-transfer began the season as one of FBS’ top wideouts. He was a huge red zone target as well as an overall yardage getter through his first few games as a Husky. However, his production, and the Huskies passing attack, has slowed down – and partly intentionally.
If Bell can come up with the big plays he made against Maryland, Merrimack and Buffalo earlier this season, it gives Syracuse a whole other element to be afraid of in this game.
Key Players for Syracuse
The Orange have had an incredible season, and they host the Huskies in a crucial matchup. Usually winning a football game starts with the signal caller, and the Orange have a decent one behind center.
Kyle McCord has been an impactful transfer-addition for Fran Brown’s group. Why does that name sound familiar? Well, McCord comes from Ohio State, a group whose only loss in 2023 came to the eventual champion Michigan Wolverines on the road during the regular season. McCord was a huge part of the Buckeyes success, as well as the productivity of eventual No. 4 pick, Marvin Harrison Jr. McCord is going against a tough Huskies secondary, but should be able to find success with his track record.
The Huskies have an incredible rushing attack. So the Orange need to offset that with a huge day from themselves on the ground. That would mostly come from LeQuint Allen.
Syracuse’s starting running back has been on a tear this season, rushing for 100+ rushing yards in two his last three games. For the season, Allen has eclipsed 700 yards and has gotten in the end zone 11 times while averaging 4.5 yards per pop. He’s an elusive and dynamic player who could give UConn’s defense some issues.
UConn Blueprint to Victory
To quote songwriter Willie Nelson, “nobody said it was going to be easy,” and that will be how UConn football head coach Jim Mora would look back at this game if the Huskies pull away. This is, by a large margin, the best team the Huskies have faced, and it comes in a very tough environment.
The best way to quiet the crowd is take an early lead. The Huskies have been playing exceptional football, but they’ve struggled to play a full-four quarters and find offensive production in the first half. That is crucial if the Huskies want even a shot at pulling away come the 45-minute mark.
But the way that Mora’s group finds early success is by executing on what they do best – running the football.
UConn has the 21st most rushing yards in FBS this season, but they run efficiently much differently than other squads. Instead of one overwhelming back, the Huskies have beaten teams this year using four different rushers. In fact, Connecticut has not had a repeat leading rusher in back-to-back games since Week 1 and 2, and have had three different backs hold the baton in their last three games.
On the other hand, the Orange have allowed over 156 rushing yards per game this season. If Mora gives one of his elite runners the football, the Huskies should put points on the board.
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.