Three-Straight At Home for UConn Starting Saturday Against FIU - University of Connecticut Athletics (2024)

TV: CBS Sports Network

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Game Notes:UConn FIU

Quick Hits...

The UConn Huskies return home for the first of three-straight at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field this Saturday when the FIU Panthers come to East Hartford. Game time is scheduled for 3:30 with coverage on CBS Sports Network.

The Huskies are looking to rebound after falling to 0-2 on the season after last weekend's 35-14 loss at Georgia State. GSU took a 21-0 lead into the half and led 28-0 at the end of the third. The Huskies struggled on offense in the first half and were out gained 247 to 88 in total yards. UConn ran it 22 times in the first 30 minutes but managed just 25 yards as they found themselves in a hole they couldn't get out of.

UConn quarterback Ta'Quan Roberson saw action after starter Joe fa*gnano had to exit with injury in the second quarter. Roberson led two fourth quarter scoring drives and finished 19-of-30 for 216 yards and a pair of touchdowns with an interception in the loss. Roberson will take over starting quarterback duties starting with this week's match-up with FIU. It was announced that fa*gnano will be forced to miss the remainder of the season due to his shoulder injury.

Grad transfer linebacker Noah Plack had his best game as a Husky, finishing with 13 tackles, two for a loss while senior linebacker Jackson Mitchell made seven stops and had a half a sack.

Grad transfer wide receiver Brett Buckman and junior wideout Kevens Clercius both caught touchdowns in the loss, their first scores of the season.

20 Seasons at The Rent...

The 2023 season marks the 20th season of UConn football at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Each week, we will look back on a key game or moment in the history of UConn football at the East Hartford stadium. This week's highlight:

September 19, 2008 – Sept. 19, 2008 – Junior tailback Donald Brown scored on a three-yard run with 6:04 remaining in the fourth quarter and the UConn defense held Baylor on fourth down with less than a minute to play as the Huskies went on to beat the Bears, 31-28, before a crowd of 38,870 at Rentschler Field. Following Brown's go-ahead score, Baylor freshman quarterback Robert Griffin III had one last drive to take the lead or pull the game even. RGIII converted two third downs but the UConn defense stood tall and stalled the drive out at the Connecticut 39 to earn the hard-fought win.

Last Meeting vs. FIU -Oct. 8, 2021 - UConn 33 - FIU 12 - FIU Stadium

UConn ran for a season-high 295 yards to go on the road and grab a 33-12 win at FIU last fall. Sophom*ore Devontae Houston ran for a career-best 135 yards and freshman Victor Rosa had 89 yards and two scores to pace the Husky rushing attack. The Huskies created three FIU turnovers in the first half and turned them into 17 points on their way to building a 20-0 lead at the half. UConn came into the game averaging 167.7 yards rushing and in the first half rang up 172 on the ground led by Houston. The sophom*ore running back had 132 of his 135 yards on 11 carries in the first half but was forced from the game with an injury at the beginning of the third quarter. The Huskies scored on all-four of their trips to the red-zone in the first half with Rosa capping off a pair of 11-play drives with touchdown runs. Senior defensive back Tre Wortham had two interceptions in the half, the second with 47 seconds left to set up a Noe Ruelas field goal to end the half. FIU was able to pull within 26-12 with 5:22 left in the fourth but the Huskies put the game away as Cale Millen held the ball on a read-option play and flew untouched off left tackle for a 49-yard score with 2:56 left to make produce the 33-12 final. Quarterback Zion Turner finished the game 14-for-19 for 102 yards while also catching a touchdown from Millen in the win.

Scouting the Panthers...

After a season opening loss at Louisiana Tech, the FIU Panthers have won two-straight and come into Saturday's match-up fresh off a 46-39 win over North Texas last weekend at home. Sophom*ore running back Kejon Owens rushed for a career-high 101 yards on 10 carries and scored three touchdowns to lead Panthers against the Mean Green and was named the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts. Classmate Shomari Lawrence leads the rushing attack with 254 yards on 38 carries through three games, ninth among NCAA leaders. Lawrence is averaging 6.7 yards per carry and has rushed for a pair of scores. Freshman quarterback Keyone Jenkins has thrown for 583 yards and three touchdowns in two games this season. Kris Mitchell is off to a fast start, catching 17 passes for 297 yards, a 17.5 yards per catch average, with three scores. Mitchell ranks third in the NCAA in receiving yards. On defense, the Panthers have forced six turnovers so far this season led by senior linebacker Donovan Manuel who has three forced fumbles while also leading the team in tackles with 38, 20 solo stops, and 5.0 tackles for a loss.

UConn vs. Conference-USA...

The Huskies are 1-3 against teams currently in Conference-USA. UConn beat FIU last season and is 0-3 against Middle Tennessee. UConn has two more future dates scheduled with FIU (2025-H and 2027-A) and also will play Liberty on the road in 2027. The Huskies faced past members of the league during their stints in Conference-USA. The Huskies faced Cincinnati (0-1), FAU (1-0), Louisville (0-1), Marshall (0-1) and USF (0-2) when they were members of the league.