By Colin McDonough
There has been so much change in the last year in college football, but unfortunately one thing has not changed yet. UConn football and losing games.
The Huskies began their season by getting blown out at Maryland, 50-7, in the Randy Edsall Bowl. The Terrapins put up over 600 total yards on UConn, averaging almost eight yards a play.
The Husky offense looked anemic with zero touchdowns before starting quarterback Nick Evers left the game with an injury, and only one total, while giving away three turnovers.
Like most UConn football Saturdays in recent years, if you spent it watching other college football games, enjoying the weather outside, or simply sitting in quiet reflection and thought, you made the right decision.
UConn football has not had a winning season since 2010. The best season in school history saw the Huskies win the Big East title and appear in the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma. Two 6-7 seasons are their best records since 2010, and the Huskies are 40-106 since Edsall infamously “missed” that team flight in Phoenix almost 14 years ago.
So then why is there reason for optimism? Perhaps more hope for UConn football than most seasons since 2010?
Two reasons: the schedule, and the Big 12.
Not to steal any of Diamond Degenerate’s thunder here at Duck on a Rock Sports, but the over/under for wins in 2024 is 4.5. Even with a loss in the season opener, the Huskies can win at least five games. This is as favorable a schedule as a team coming off 3-9 can hope for. It’s the second easiest strength of schedule in FBS and they’ve already played their toughest game.
Wins over Merrimack, Buffalo, Temple, Rice, and Georgia State would get them to the five-win mark. If that happens, the Huskies can travel to Amherst and become bowl eligible with a win over New England rival UMass.
Jim Mora leading UConn to two bowls in three years, winning season or not, would be huge for the “progrum.” For UConn fans who like the football team being independent, and the basketball teams in the Big East, this is the schedule and opportunity you want. Are there big-time matchups coming to the Rent? No. Are there chances for wins? Yes. Playing close games and winning is more important than getting blown out by Power 4 teams as we saw on Saturday. Besides those matchups and blowouts may be coming soon enough.
The chatter and reports of UConn possibly going to the Big 12 in all sports in 2026, and football in 2031, have been growing for a couple of weeks now. The staff at Duck on a Rock Sports will have more on that later.
This is the best possible news for UConn fans who care about all teams in a power conference, the financial stability of the university, and the football team not being left in the conference realignment abyss. Even if it is an SMU to the ACC-like deal, for UConn football this is what their biggest fans, and Coach Mora have wanted. And for those who think they do not deserve it based on on-the-field results, attendance, or other metrics…look at the majority of teams who have gained entry into power conferences in the last few years.
So get ready to drive to East Hartford for seven home games between next weekend and November 1, and maybe look at Avelo flights to someplace warm around the holidays.
And if you’re not going to do any of that, at least bet the over on wins.
