SYRACUSE, N.Y. — As the schedule winds down, UConn football looks to put an exclamation point on a season that has already far exceeded expectations.
Coming out of a bye week, the Huskies are on the road Saturday at noon against a familiar foe. It’s UConn Syracuse at the JMA Wireless Dome, or as most fans know it, the Carrier Dome. The game will be televised on ACC Network.
It’s the 13th time the two programs are facing off on the gridiron; they each carry a 6-6 record all-time against each other. The Huskies and Orange also share the same record in 2024; both teams are 7-3 and having impressive seasons.
UConn will take the field on game day for the first time since shocking UAB on Nov. 9, 31-23. The Huskies rallied back from a 20-3 halftime deficit with a fourth quarter comeback that the UConn faithful will long remember. UConn outscored UAB 28-3 in the second half.
In that game, UConn was led late by impressive quarterback play from backup Joe Fagnano, who filled in when starter Nick Evers was knocked out in the second half with an injury. While Evers suffered a hip injury on Nov. 9, head coach Jim Mora said recently that his toe has continued to bother him.
Regardless, it is expected that Evers will take the snaps on Saturday against a Syracuse defense that is allowing more than 28 points and 280 yards per game. UConn’s dangerous three-headed rushing attack of Cam Edwards, Mel Brown and Durrell Robinson will look to capitalize and do damage.
The Huskies’ defense is in for its biggest challenge of the year when it takes the field on Saturday. Syracuse’s offense is averaging nearly 32 points and more than 350 passing yards per game.
The Orange are led by quarterback Kyle McCord, an Ohio State transfer who has emerged as a star this season. In 2024, McCord is second in the FBS with 3,476 passing yards. He’s also thrown 24 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions this season while completing 64% of his passes.
In a press conference this week, Mora praised McCord’s pocket presence and ability to find the open man outside of it.
“He can make every throw. He knows how to throw guys open, which is a term that you hear often. When guys are covered up, he puts it where they can’t get to it. When he throws his fade ball, it’s outstanding. He throws a great back shoulder fade, underthrown fade,” Mora said. “He can extend plays with his legs, and I’m not talking necessarily about being a runner but extend plays in the pocket and let guys get open down the field.”
Trebor Pena leads Syracuse receivers with 736 yards and five touchdowns. Tight end Orande Gadsen II isn’t far behind with 707 yards and four touchdowns. Receiver Jackson Meeks has 691 yards and five touchdowns as well.
The Syracuse run game is ranked only No. 127 in the country but is led by Lequint Allen, who has contributed 761 yards this season.
Syracuse, which shared a decade in the Big East with UConn, represents the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Huskies have historically struggled against ACC teams, going 7-27 all-time against them. UConn is 0-2 in 2024 against ACC opponents, after the Huskies’ valiant comeback attempts against Duke and Wake Forest fell just short.
If the Huskies can reverse the trend on Saturday and get their first win over a Power 5 conference team in 2024, it would give them the all-time series edge over the Orange.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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