Jim Mora doesn’t want his players to see the end of preseason camp as a light at the end of a tunnel, but it is clear the Huskies are ready to hit someone in a different helmet.
Entering Mora’s fourth campaign in Storrs, UConn football finds itself in a position to build off of last year’s successful 9-4 campaign, an unbeaten year against Group of Five opponents which concluded with a win over North Carolina and a coronation at Fenway Park. The Huskies have one of the weaker schedules in the nation in 2025, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index, though the slate features some familiar opponents and old friends as at least three former Huskies are expected to suit up in opposite locker rooms.
To have the best shot at repeating last season’s success, UConn will rely on returning experience at the skill positions on offense and an all-new defensive front, which has been impressive throughout camp.
It all starts Saturday at Rentschler Field as the Huskies host Central Connecticut, looking for their first win in a season-opener since 2019.
Here is a week-by-week breakdown of the 2025 slate:
Week One: vs. Central Connecticut State
When/where: 2 p.m., Saturday at Rentschler Field in East Hartford
TV: WWAX, The Wax
2024 record: 7-6 (FCS)
What to know: UConn leads 4-0 in the all-time series, which began in 1986. The last time the two teams met was Jim Mora’s first home game as Huskies’ head coach in 2022, a 28-3 victory after Nate Carter ran for 123 yards. CCSU beat Duquesne to win the NEC Championship last season and had seven interceptions in the championship game. The Blue Devils are picked to finish first in the preseason NEC coaches’ poll after their first conference title since 2019.
Steve Angeli, a transfer from Notre Dame, takes over the quarterbacking duties at Syracuse. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)
Week Two: at Syracuse
When/where: Noon, Sept. 6 at JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, N.Y.
TV: ESPN+
2024 record: 10-3
What to know: The Orangemen had their best season since 2018, winning 10 games including the Holiday Bowl in their first year under head coach Fran Brown. Still, UConn nearly beat them on the road in Week 13. Most expect Syracuse to take a bit of a step back this season after they lost an 1,000-yard rusher in Lequint Allen Jr., their top three receivers and QB Kyle McCord, who led the nation in passing yards and had 470 against the Huskies. Steve Angeli, the former backup at Notre Dame, is the starting QB this year, but the Orange will need to replace four offensive line starters.
Week Three: at Delaware
When/where: 3 p.m., Sept. 13 at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Del.
TV: ESPN+
2024 record: 9-2 (FCS)
What to know: Rekindling the former FCS rivalry, it will be UConn’s first trip to Newark since 1997. The Huskies have lost the last five games in the series which began in 1951, giving the Blue Hens a 20-7 advantage all-time. Transitioning to the FBS level in Conference USA this fall, it will be Delaware’s first time hosting UConn since 1997 and its first time hosting an FBS opponent since beating Navy in 1989.
Week Four: vs. Ball State
When/where: 3:30 p.m., Sept. 20 at Rentschler Field
TV: CBS Sports Network
2024 record: 3-9
What to know: UConn has played Ball State four times since 2000 and never won. The last time the two teams met resulted in one of UConn’s most devastating losses during Mora’s first campaign as the Huskies allowed 15 unanswered points and blew a 21-10 halftime lead. Carson Steele, a popular running back/fullback for the Kansas City Chiefs last season, ran for 179 yards and three touchdowns in that game. The Cardinals hired Mike Uremovich to replace head coach Mike Neu after four consecutive losing seasons and were picked to finish 10th in the MAC preseason coaches’ poll.
When the UConn defense lines up against the Buffalo offense they’ll see a familiar face in QB Ta’Quan Roberson. The former Husky transferred and is the Bulls’ QB1. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Week Five: at Buffalo
When/where: TBA, Sept. 27 at UB Stadium in Amherst, N.Y.
TV: TBA
2024 record: 9-4
What to know: UConn could see a pair of old friends when it travels to Amherst for the first time since 2013. Ta’Quan Roberson, who started 10 games for the Huskies in 2023, ultimately throwing for over 2,000 yards in a 3-9 year, joined the Bulls for his sixth season. And Jasaiah Gathings, who was the Huskies’ third-leading receiver with 307 yards and three TDs last year, committed to Buffalo in June. The Bulls visited Storrs when the Huskies were rolling early last season and fell 47-3 as UConn’s stable of backs ran for 257 yards.
Week Six: vs. FIU
When/where: 3:30 p.m., Oct. 4 at Rentschler Field
TV: CBS Sports Network
2024 record: 4-8
What to know: UConn and FIU have played twice-ever in 2022 and ’23, and the visitor has won both games. The Huskies scored 14 unanswered points after trailing 24-3 at halftime when they last met in East Hartford in 2023 but couldn’t capitalize on their final three drives to complete the comeback. The Panthers hired Willie Simmons to take over as head coach after three consecutive 4-8 seasons and he will be tasked with replacing eight starters on both sides of the ball. But the Panthers will likely have a third-year starter at QB in Keyone Jenkins and a fifth-year running back in Kejon Owens.
Week Seven: Bye
Another UConn opponent with a transfer quarterback is Boston College, who welcome in former Alabama QB Dylan Lonergan to run the offense. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)
Week Eight: at Boston College
When/where: TBA, Oct. 18 at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
TV: TBA
2024 record: 7-6
What to know: UConn’s last regular-season win against a power conference opponent came when BC visited East Hartford in Mora’s first season. The Eagles won the next matchup in Chestnut Hill in 2023, 13-3, before hiring former NFL coach Bill O’Brien to take over last year. Picked to finish 13th in the preseason ACC coaches’ poll, BC expects to have more stability at quarterback with Alabama transfer Dylan Lonergan being named the starter relatively early in camp. The Eagles’ first area of concern is the defensive line, where they lost three starters, including second-round NFL Draft pick Donovan Ezeiruaku.
Week Nine: at Rice
When/where: TBA, Oct. 25 at Rice Stadium in Houston
TV: TBA
2024 record: 4-8
What to know: The Huskies return to Houston to meet Rice for the third year in a row and will look to move the all-time series to a perfect 3-0. The Owls lost quarterback EJ Warner to Fresno State and will turn to redshirt sophomore Chase Jenkins, who has played both QB and receiver in his two years at Rice and can move outside the pocket. While UConn had to replace almost its entire defense this offseason, Rice had to do the opposite after losing four starters on the offensive line, running back Dean Connors and its top two receivers. Aaron Turner, a WR who began his career at UConn before spending the last two years at Cincinnati, will play his final season with the Owls, who will operate under first-year head coach Scott Abell.
Week 10: vs. UAB
When/where: Noon, Nov. 1 at Rentschler Field
TV: CBS Sports Network
2024 record: 3-9
What to know: UConn trailed 20-3 at halftime in its first-ever game against the Blazers last season and used three fourth-quarter touchdowns to complete a 31-23 comeback victory. UAB returns quarterback Jalen Kitna, son of former NFL QB Jon Kitna, who passed for 233 yards, a touchdown and an interception against the Huskies last season. Lee Beebe Jr., who ran for 115 yards and a score in last year’s matchup, transferred to Indiana. Isaiah Jacobs, brother of Green Bay Packers RB Josh Jacobs, looks to be the lead man in the backfield as Trent Dilfer looks to lead UAB to its first winning season in his tenure.
Week 11: vs. Duke
When/where: 3:30 p.m., Nov. 8 at Rentschler Field
TV: CBS Sports Network
2024 record: 9-4
What to know: Likely to be UConn’s biggest game of the year as the only home matchup against a power conference opponent, Duke was picked sixth in the preseason ACC coaches’ poll in its second year under HC Manny Diaz. The Blue Devils return seven starters on defense and five on offense, including four offensive linemen. Duke added sophomore QB Darian Mensah, who threw for over 2,700 yards and 22 touchdowns last season at Tulane. UConn nearly took down the Blue Devils last season but fell, 26-21, after allowing 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.
Air Force return Dylan Carson to lead the Falcons strong running attack. The Huskies will see him in Week 12. (Courant file photo)
Week 12: vs Air Force
When/where: Noon, Nov. 15 at Rentschler Field
TV: CBS Sports Network
2024 record: 5-7
What to know: UConn is 6-13 all-time against service academies, but this will be its first matchup against Air Force, which went 5-7 last season in Troy Calhoun’s 18th year as head coach. The Falcons return eight offensive starters but will have a new starting quarterback in either junior Josh Johnson or sophomore Liam Szarka. The Falcons return running back Dylan Carson, who helped them finish as a top-10 rushing offense (224 yards per game) last season, and will test UConn’s new defensive front on the ground.
Week 13: at FAU
When/where: TBA, Nov. 22 at Flagler Credit Union Stadium in Boca Raton, Fla.
TV: TBA
2024 record: 3-9
What to know: FAU is still looking for its first winning season since Lane Kiffin left the program for Ole Miss after an 11-3 season in 2019. The Owls fell apart last season losing nine games, including a 48-14 blowout at Rentschler Field, but brought in Zach Kittley to relieve Tom Herman as head coach. The regular season finale will be UConn’s first-ever trip to FAU Stadium. The Owls will look to turn things around with a duo from Western Kentucky in QB Caden Veltkamp, who threw for over 3,100 yards last season, and Easton Messer, who was his second-leading receiver with 793 yards and four touchdowns.