EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — Fresh off a massive 48-14 victory over Florida Atlantic, UConn football is back in action Saturday at noon against the University of Buffalo at Pratt & Whitney Stadium on CBS Sports Network.
The schedule gets no easier, as the 2-2 Huskies host the 3-1 Bulls, who defeated No. 23 Northern Illinois on the road 23-20 in overtime on Sept. 21.
Saturday will be the 22nd all-time meeting between the two programs. UConn is 10-2 against the Bulls since 1999, but Buffalo won the most recent meeting in 2013, 41-12. UConn is undefeated against the Bulls in East Hartford, having posted a 4-0 record when the two teams play there. UConn and Buffalo also met in the 2009 International Bowl in Toronto, which UConn won.
UConn enters the game undefeated at home on the young season, outscoring opponents 111-31 in East Hartford over the course of two games. Last Saturday against FAU, UConn rushed the ball for a program FBS record 421 yards, led by running backs Mel Brown and Durell Robinson, who each ran for 156 yards. The Huskies almost eclipsed the program record for rushing yards, which was set in 1956 vs UMass with 437.
Even quarterback Nick Evers found success on the ground, running for a career-high 78 yards on 18 carries. He scored two rushing touchdowns and added another through the air, completing nine of 14 passes for 88 yards.
Much credit can be given to the UConn offensive line, which has allowed just one sack through four games, ranking sixth in the nation in that category. UConn ranked ninth last season, allowing one sack per game, and will look to continue providing Evers with top-tier protection.
Against FAU, the Huskies’ defense was stellar, allowing a season-low 250 yards, including just 87 through the air. Linebacker Tui Faumuina-Brown set the pace on defense with nine tackles. The Huskies failed to record a sack in the victory but did intercept Owls quarterback Cam Fancher, who completed only nine passes.
No one expects UConn to run over Buffalo the way they did FAU last week. The Bulls are a formidable opponent, with their only loss on the season coming to No. 11 Missouri on Sept. 7. Buffalo’s win over NIU is only their second over a ranked opponent in program history.
Buffalo linebacker Shaun Dolac led the defense with 19 tackles last week, including 4.5 for a loss and an interception in the victory. Dolac enters the UConn game as the nation’s leading tackler with 62 on the season.
Offensively, Buffalo quarterback C.J. Ogbonna has thrown for 542 yards and four touchdowns through four games. Running back Jacqez Barksdale has added a team-high 194 yards and a rushing touchdown.
Worth noting, the Bulls’ place kicker, Upton Bellenfant has connected on all five of his field goal attempts this season, including the overtime game-winner against NIU last Saturday. If the game comes down to the wire, the Huskies would rather not leave their fate in the hands of Bellenfant.
While UConn is an independent, Buffalo competes as a member of the Mid-American Conference. The Huskies are 20-11 all-time against opponents from the MAC.
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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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