For the first time in 15 years, the UConn football team enters the 2025 campaign following a bowl-winning year.
Connecticut and Central Connecticut State University first met in 2022, resulting in a 28-3 loss for the Blue Devils. Since then, both rosters have changed, adding player depth and making coaching adjustments.
The Huskies welcomed 18 newcomers from the transfer portal, alongside 12 incoming freshmen. However, the program said goodbye to several key teammates who transferred or exhausted collegiate eligibility.
Notable departures include: Durell Robinson, sophomore, running back; transferred to Auburn University. Pryce Yates, senior, defensive line; transferred to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Chase Lundt, offensive line; selected by the Buffalo Bills in the 2025 NFL draft. Valentin Senn, offensive line; signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent. TJ Sheffield, wide receiver; signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent but was recently waived. Malik Dixon-Williams, defensive back; signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent but was later released.
With new faces developing and filling positions, the Huskies’ Head Coach Jim Mora feels good about the finalized decisions.
“Our guys are excited to kick it off on Saturday. It’s been a really productive and long offseason; they worked incredibly hard,” said Mora during Tuesday’s press conference.
“We made a lot of changes with transfers, with freshmen coming in, losing guys … the support has been amazing, the focus of our players has been fantastic,” he added.
Ahead of opening day, Mora named Joe Fagnano as the starting quarterback, with Nick Evers backing him up. In the Fenway Bowl, Fagnano completed 16 of 23 (69.6%) passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns versus UNC.
Alongside the returning senior, Skyler Bell, who solidified wide receiver one, opted out of the portal on Jan. 4, 2025, for one last ride wearing blue and white. The red-shirt senior hauled in 50 receptions for 860 yards and visited the endzone five times in the 2024 campaign. With that being said, seeing the quarterback and receiver duo connecting on Saturday should be a no-brainer.
Offensively, the running game was the key succession for UConn last year, placing No. 21 in the NCAA’s 2024 rankings. Cam Edwards topped the team in rushing, carrying 146 times for a career-high 830 yards and eight touchdowns. With Mel Brown at second-string, who posted 673 yards and crossed the goal line twice in 2024, the hard, passionate scrambling should continue. Along with Bell, Brown was named on the 2026 Panini Bowl Top 300 watch list.
Turning the tables, the Blue Devils moved on from former Head Coach Ryan McCarthy and signed Adam Lechtenberg in Jan. 2023. In 2024, the program logged a 7-6 (.538) ratio, but struggled on the road, claiming two of eight away-game victories.
While advancing down the field last season, Central struggled on third downs, converting 66 of 186 (35%) attempts, while moving the chains 10 of 25 (40%) times on fourth-down tries. Outside of two linemen, CCSU restructured its offensive line, which could solve these problems.
Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Rentschler Field. Husky fans can stream the matchup on ESPN+ or Fox Sports.