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Radio: UConn Sports Network from Learfield - ESPN 97.9  Affiliates - WAVZ 1300 AM (New Haven), WGCH 1490 AM (Greenwich), WILI 1400 AM/95.3FM, (Willimantic); WICH 1310 AM/94.5 FM (Norwich) Online: The Varsity Network App

Game Notes:  UConn  Rice

Quick Hits...

The UConn Huskies head out on the road in search of their first win over the 2023 season as they head to Rice University for a first-ever match-up against the Owls on Saturday afternoon.  The game will be available on ESPN+

This is the first-ever meeting between the two schools and UConn's third match-up against a team from their former conference, the American Athletic Conference.  Since leaving the conference after the 2019 season, the Huskies lost a pair of games in 2021, on the road at UCF and at home to Houston.  UConn will match-up against the league again on October 21st when they welcome USF to Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field.

The Huskies closed a three-game homestand last weekend falling to 0-5 on the season after a heartbreaking 34-33 loss to the visiting Utah State Aggies.  UConn r-junior Jelani Stafford plunged into the end zone from a yard out with 40 seconds remaining, but Utah State's Ike Larson came up with a block on the game-tying extra point attempt to deliver the Aggies a 34-33 win.

The Huskies had their best offensive outing of the season, totaling 473 yards of offense with 218 coming on the ground and 255 through the air.  UConn built a 17-0 lead late in to the first half and were dominating with 254 total yards to 22 for Utah State while holding the ball for 24:06.  The Aggies scored a late touchdown right before the half that ignited their offense, scoring on six-straight drives into the fourth quarter.

Offensive Finds Some Rhythm... The Huskies had their best offensive day to date in last Saturday's loss to Utah State.

- The offense put up a season-highs for points (33), total yards (473), rushing attempts (45), rushing yards (218), total plays (77), yards per play (6.1) and first downs (26).

- Quarterback Ta'Quan Roberson completed a career-high 23-of-32 and threw for 255 yards, also a career-high.

- In his second game, Cam Edwards ran for a career-high 73 yards on 13 carries.

- Victor Rosa carried the ball a season-high 15 times for 92 yards and also caught a career-best three passes in the loss.

- Wide Receiver Cam Ross caught a season-best seven passes for 70 yards, also a season-high.

- Tight End Nick Harris caught the first pass and touchdown of his career.

- Wide Receiver Geordon Porter had his first touchdown catch as a Husky while also ripping off a 34-yard rush.

Stafford Two-Way Threat... R-junior Jelani Stafford has been a force on the Husky defensive line and of late become a threat in the UConn short yardage running game.  Stafford is fifth on the team and leads all defensive linemen with 19.0 tackles on the season with a team-high 6.5 tackles for a loss.  He ranks 31st in the NCAA in tackles for loss and averages 1.5 per game.  In last Saturday's match-up with Utah State, Stafford carried the ball five times for 11 yards in short yardage situations, and scored a pair of touchdowns. He also caught a pass out of the backfield for 10 yards.  Stafford scored the game's first touchdown as the Huskies would go on to build a 17-0 first half lead.  He plunged in again late from a yard out to cap a 9-play, 85 yard drive that pulled the Huskies within 34-33.  On the season he has 8 carries for 18 yards in short yardage, picking up five first downs, and has a team best three touchdowns.

Scouting the Owls... The Rice Owls got back in the win column last weekend thanks to a 24-17 win at home over ECU in an AAC match-up.  The Owls are 1-1 in the American, having lost on the road at USF the week before, 42-29.  Rice has one of the top-passing offenses in college football behind graduate quarterback JT Daniels, a transfer from West Virginia whose also had playing stints at Georgia and USC.  Daniels has completed 98-of-157 passes for 1469 yards and 13 touchdowns and is 12th nationally in passing yards, 14th in yards per game (293.8), 17th in yards per completion (15.0) and 11th in passing TDs.  He is tops in the American in all passing categories as well.  The Owls rank 13th in the NCAA in passing offense (307.0) and 45th in scoring offense at 33.0 ppg.  Daniels favorite target has been r-junior Luke McCaffrey who has hauled in 23 passes for 414 yards and four touchdowns.  He is averaging 18.0 yards per catch and he ranks 28th nationally in touchdown catches, 28th in receiving yards and 33rd in yards per game (82.8)

UConn vs. The American...  UConn is 0-2 against teams from the American Athletic Conference since becoming an independent starting in the 2021 season.  The Huskies dropped two games against the league in 2021, falling at UCF 49-17, and falling at home to nationally ranked Houston, 45-17.  The Huskies were a member of the AAC from 2013 through 2019.  UConn has three games scheduled next season against UAB, FAU and Temple from the league.