UConn Football Preview 2025: Are the Huskies Actually Good Now?
What exactly was that?UConn wasn't just 9-4 good, it was lose-at-Duke-by-just-five-points good. It was lose-to-Wake Forest-by-three-points good. It was push-Syracuse-on-the-road-in-a-31-24-loss good.For the most part, over the last decade-plus, this is a program that only won against the tired, the poor, and the huddled masses yearning to fill out a schedule. But in the third year under Jim Mora, UConn came up with its first winning season since 2010, back when it was in the (sky point) Big East.
It wasn't like UConn faced Ohio State and Georgia. Still, after getting obliterated by Maryland in the opener, it put together one of the strongest and most competitive seasons in school history.The special teams were great, the offense scored when it had the chance, the defense was fantastic on third downs, and there weren't a ton of penalties. When you don't have elite talent, doing just about everything right is a must.This year's team should be good enough to do it all again.
UConn Huskies Preview 2025: Offense
X CFN, Fiu | CFN Facebook | Bluesky Fiu, CFN- The offense worked. The 415 points were the most ever put up by a UConn attack since the program moved up to the FBS. There weren't too many empty trips in the red zone, the running game was great, and the line was among the best in the nation at keeping defenses out of the backfield.It'll be a good line again, but it could take a little bit to put it all together around center Wes Hoeh, the lone returning starter. There's depth, though, with players like Carsten Casady able to move around where needed inside. Getting Ty Chan (Notre Dame) at left tackle was one of the better under-the-radar pickups in the portal.
- The backs are there to keep the production going. This wasn't a dominant running team, but it averaged over five yards per carry, helped by the 830 yards and eight scores from Cam Edwards. Mel Brown added 673 yards, and even though second-leading rusher Durell Robinson left for Auburn, picking up MJ Flowers from Eastern Illinois will boost the depth.- Joe Fagnano pulled off a stunning season with 20 touchdown passes and four picks, and former Oklahoma super-recruit Nick Evers got in plenty of work and added more of a rushing threat.- Former Wisconsin Badger Skyler Bell turned into UConn's most dangerous receiver, averaging over 17 yards per catch with five scores.Caleb Burton (Auburn) is coming in to be an instant starter on the inside, and Chris Parker (Central Michigan) will take over on the outside. Louis Hansen is a veteran tight end who caught 24 passes with four scores.
UConn Huskies Preview 2025: Defense
- The UConn defense is building back up through the transfer portal. The front is getting the most help with a total overhaul.Stephon Wright (Texas Southern), Ben Smiley (Virginia), and Trent Jones (Iowa State) come in to take over on the ends, and 290-pound Vincent Carroll-Jackson (Nebraska) needs to gum up the inside.
- The stars are gone from the linebacking corps. Donovan Branch is the lone holdover coming off a 24-tackle season. Kansas State's Terry Kirksey has to be a pass rusher at one outside spot, and Tyquan King (Temple) and Bryun Parham (Washington) will be statistical stars on the inside.- Cam Chadwick is a good young corner who held his own as a freshman, and Sammy Anderson (Austin Peay) is a veteran who'll fit right in. Veteran safeties Malachi Mclean and D'Mon Brinson should combine for over 100 tackles, but Penn State transfer Tyrece Mills could be the best of the bunch.
UConn Huskies Key to the Season
Keep the good passing teams from going off.The UConn offense will be terrific, but it's not built to crank it up in the shootouts. The Huskies faced four Power Four programs in the regular season, and those were the four losses. And why?Besides being Power Four programs, all four threw for more than 265 yards. UConn was 8-0 - including in the bowl win over a depleted North Carolina - when allowing fewer.
UConn Huskies Key Player
Stephon Wright, EDGE Sr.The Huskies will turn everyone loose to get into the backfield, but they're missing almost all of the main pass rushers who made the defense so strong. That's where Wright needs to help. He's not a true edge rusher, but the 280-pounder from Austin Peay has to apply the pressure.
UConn Huskies Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss
Top Transfer In: Tyquan King, LB Sr.It might be former Washington linebacker Bryun Parham if he gets back to the form he showed at San Jose State in 2022 and 2023. King started out at East Carolina, moved to Temple, and last year was a machine, making 112 tackles with three tackles and six tackles for loss.Top Transfer Out: Pryce Yates, EDGE Sr.The three-year producer for the Huskies left after making 108 tackles, 12.5 sacks, and 30 tackles for loss as the star of the defensive front. He'll be working in Bill Belichick's rotation at North Carolina.
UConn Huskies Key Game
at Syracuse, Sept. 6Let's think super-big here. UConn didn't lose last season to any non-Power Four program, and it might be favored against all of the Group of Five types this year. Pull off a win at Boston College, get by Duke at home, win at Syracuse in early September, and maybe the College Football Play… nah, but at least the Huskies could get into the discussion if they get by the Orange.- 2025 UConn Huskies Schedule Breakdown
UConn Huskies Top 10 Players
1. Tyquan King, LB Sr.2. Joe Fagnano, QB Sr.3. Cam Edwards, RB Jr.4. Bryun Parham, LB Sr.5. Ty Chan, OT Jr.6. Chris Parker, WR Sr.7. Wes Hoeh, C Sr.8. D'Mon Brinson, S Sr.9. Mel Brown, RB Sr.10. Chris Freeman, PK Sr.
UConn Huskies 2024 Fun Stats
- Red Zone Scores: UConn 41-of-44, Opponents 36-of-43- Penalties: Opponents 99 for 835 yards, UConn 69 for 685 yards- 3rd Quarter Scoring: UConn 99, Opponents 42
UConn Huskies 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen
Can the Huskies have the same confidence and efficiency as last year? That's asking a lot considering how they managed to find ways to play up or down to their competition.There will be a misfire somewhere - Air Force will be a tough out, and going to Buffalo could be sneaky-nasty. On the plus side, there are only three games against Power Four teams; last year there were four.
The schedule is, for the most part, the same in terms of degree of difficulty. The games against Group of Five programs are all winnable, the dates with the ACC programs should be good fights, and it'll all culminate with a third bowl appearance in four seasons under Jim Mora.Set The UConn Huskies Win Total At … 8Likely Wins: Ball State, Central Connecticut State, FIU, UAB50/50 Games: Air Force, at Buffalo, at Delaware, Duke, at Florida Atlantic, at RiceLikely Losses: at Boston College, at Syracuse
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There's too much experience not to be in the Sun Belt race until late, but not having a home game for a month over the second half of the season will make it The Georgia Southern Eagles Win Total At … 6.5Likely Wins: Jacksonville State, Maine50/50 Games: at App State, at Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, at James Madison, at Marshall, Old Dominion, Southern MissLikely Losses: at Fresno State, at USC © 2025 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
