Media Coverage

Television: CBS Sports Network (pxp) Jordan Kent (analyst) Logan Ryan (sideline) Keiana Martin

Radio: UConn Sports Network from Learfield Flagship Station -  Fox Sports 97-9 FM (Hartford) (pxp) Mike Crispino (color) Wayne Norman (sideline) Adam Giardino

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  SiriusXM 380 and on the Sirius XM App

Live Stats: UConn.Statbroadcast.com

UConn Game Notes  Georgia State Game Notes

Quick Hits…

The UConn Huskies will play host to the Georgia State Panthers on Senior Night, wrapping up the 2024 home schedule on Friday, November 1 at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field.  Kick-off is slated for 7 pm on CBS Sports Network.

The Huskies and Panthers will be meeting for just the second time on Friday night.  Georgia State took the first meeting last fall, a 35-14 win at home.  This is the Huskies only game this season against a team from the Sun Belt Conference as they look for the program's first win against the league.  UConn went 0-2 last fall losing to the Panthers and James Madison and lost their meeting with Marshall in the 2022 Myrtle Beach Bowl.

UConn is coming off a 17-10 win over Rice last Saturday. The UConn defense led the way allowing just 178 total yards, the fewest yards given up to an opponent this season, including just 88 yards passing. The Huskies forced eight three-and-outs, 11 punts and held the Owls to just two-of-16 on third down while collecting nine tackles for loss, two sacks, and 11 pass break-ups.

The Huskies hit the five-win mark on the season, marking the fastest to five wins in a season since the 2007 and 2008 season when UConn opened 5-0. UConn also improved to 5-1 at home this season with Friday's game to play at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field.  The 5-1 mark matches their home mark from the 2022 season and with a win over GSU can secure the team's most home wins since a 6-0 2010 campaign.  The Huskies are wrapping a six-game homestand and seven-game home slate. Since playing at The Rent in 2003, this is the ninth time the Huskies have played seven home games. UConn was 7-0 in 2007 and 6-1 in 2004.
 

Last Meeting vs. Georgia State

Sep. 9, 2023 - GA State 35 -- UConn 14 - Atlanta, GA

Georgia State quarterback Darren Grainger ran for 142 yards and a score and threw for 144 and a touchdown to lead the Panthers to a 35-14 win over the visiting UConn Huskies Saturday night at Center Pac Stadium. The Panthers ran for 250 yards on the night led by Grainger and running back Marcus Carroll who had 107 rushing with three touchdowns. Georgia State never trailed and carried a 28-0 lead into the fourth quarter before UConn found the end zone. UConn starting quarterback Joe Fagnano was forced out of the game late in the second quarter with an injury and the Huskies would go to r-junior back-up Ta'Quan Roberson the rest of the way. The Huskies put an end to their scoring drought with 9:16 left in the fourth quarter as Roberson hit Kevens Clercius in the back of the endzone from 11-yards out for his first TD pass at UConn. Roberson led a second UConn scoring drive, covering 80-yards in eight plays capped by a diving catch in the endzone by Brett Buckman for a 32-yard scored, cutting it to 35-14 with 3:57 left. UConn finished with just 50 yards on the ground on 31 rushes on the night.  Roberson finished 19-of-30 for 216 yards and a pair of touchdowns with an interception in the loss.  Buckman caught nine balls for 93 yards and his first TD as a Husky.

Scouting the Panthers... The Georgia State Panthers make their first trip to Connecticut this Friday and are looking to end a four-game slide as they come off a 33-26 loss at Appalachian State last week.  The Panthers last win came back on September 14, a 36-32 win over Vanderbilt at home. Offensively, quarterback Christian Veilleux has thrown for 1301 yards while completing 58.42 percent of his passes (118-202). He has tossed nine touchdowns against five interceptions this season. Dorian Fleming has caught 31 passes for 333 yards and two scores while Ted Hurst has hauled in 29 passes for 506 yards and a team-best six touchdowns.  Hurst is averaging 17.5 yards per catch and 72.3 yards per game. His six receiving TDs ranks 19th among NCAA leaders. In the backfield, Freddie Brock has had the bulk of the carries, toting the rock 89 times for 497 yards and two scores.  He averages 5.6 yards per rush.  Michel Dukes is a double threat, averaging 7.3 yards per carry with 232 yards rushing while catching 25 balls for 194 yards. On the defense, linebackers Justin Abraham and Xavier Robinson share the team lead with 39 total tackles while outside linebacker Kevin Swint has a team-best 4.0 sacks.

UConn vs. the Sun Belt Conference... UConn is 0-3 when matched-up against the Sun Belt Conference. The Huskies were 0-2 last season, losing at Georgia State, 35-17, and at James Madison, 44-6.  The first meeting came in the 2022 Myrtle Beach Bowl, a 28-14 loss to Marshall.  The Huskies are 0-2 all-time against Marshall with the previous loss coming when the Thundering Herd was a member of Conference-USA. UConn is 1-5 against JMU all-time and 0-1 against Georgia Southern, dating back to the FCS years.  UConn has future match-ups against the league scheduled with games against Old Dominion (2026-A/2027-H) and JMU(2026-H).

Offensive Notes from Rice... Running back Durell Robinson notched his second 100-yard game of the season, rushing for 132 yards on 15 carries. Robinson ripped off a 68-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to ignite the UConn offense and spark the Huskies victory. It was the longest run of his career and the longest run by a Husky this season...Prior to Robinson's scoring run, the Huskies had run for 30 yards on 23 carries in the early part of the second half.  After his run, UConn went for 151 yards on 21 carries to finish the day with 181 total rush yards...In addition, fellow back Cam Edwards scored the other UConn touchdown as both players now share the team lead with five scores apiece...The Huskies struggled on third down, converting just three-of-16 on the day, a season-low mark...UConn also completed a season-low nine passes as quarterback Nick Evers finished nine-of-24 for 128 yards and an interception...Wideout Skyler Bell had three catches for 47 yards to lead the receiving corp with 34 yards coming on a fourth quarter grab to set up UConn first-and-goal en route to their second touchdown of the day.

Defensive Notes from Rice... The UConn defense turned in a dominating performance against the Owls, allowing just three points to match their season-low (Buffalo - 3)...Rice was limited to 178 total yards, 88 passing and 90 rushing, all season-low marks for a UConn opponent...It marked the second time this season UConn held an opponent to under 200-yards of offense (Buffalo - 198).  It was also the second time holding a team to under 100-yards passing (FAU - 87) and 100-yards rushing (75 - Buffalo)...The Huskies held Rice to 2-of-16 on third down, third best effort behind a 1-for-8 day against FAU and 1-for-14 performance vs. Buffalo...Defensive end Pryce Yates, in his second game back this season, recorded two sacks in the win, a new career-high. UConn has had a sack in seven other eight games this season...The Huskies as a team broke-up a season-best 11 passes against the Owls led by defensive tackle Dal'Mont Gourdine who batted away a career-high four passes...Linebacker Tui Faumuina-Brown led the team with 10 tackles, his third game this season with double digit stops.

Special Teams Notes from Rice... The Huskies were forced to punt a season-high nine times in the win. Punter Connor Stutz punted a career-high nine times and had three inside the 20-yard line, matching his season-best (3 - Duke)...Place kicker Chris Freeman saw his streak of 11-straight field goal makes come to an end with a miss from 53-yards in second quarter. It would have matched-his career-long, set against Wake Forest. Freeman came back and nailed a 30-yard attempt in the fourth quarter...The UConn kick-off coverage gave up their first touchdown since the 2015 season (Houston) when Quinton Jackson brought one back 100-yards in the fourth quarter of Saturday's win.

Husky Rankings... Defensively, UConn ranks second in the country in third down conversion percent (.254) and eighth on fourth down conversion (.333).  The Huskies rank 23rd in passing efficiency defense (113.40) and 31st in passing yards allowed per game (188.9).  The Huskies defense is 26th in first down defense (134), 24th in red zone defense (.760), 30th in scoring defense (20.4) and 32nd in total defense (325.5).  The Huskies also rank 36th in tackles for a loss per game (6.5). Linebackers Jayden McDonald and Tui Faumuina-Brown rank 33rd (8.6) and 50th (8.0) in tackles per game...On offense, UConn is ranked 13th nationally in sacks allowed (1.0 pg) and 25th in tackles for loss allowed (4.13). The rushing game is 33rd at 192.9 yards per game and 48th in total offense (413.9) with back Durell Robinson ranking 53rd in rush yards (565) and 65th in yards per game (70.6). The Huskies red zone offense is ranked 22nd (.923) and 44th in scoring (31.5). UConn is 55th in time of possession, averaging 30:37 per game...On special teams, the Huskies are 11th in kick-off returns at 24.91 per return. The punt return unit is 55th averaging 9.12 yards per return and is led by TJ Sheffield who is 24th with an 8.7 return average. Kicker Chris Freeman ranks 24th in field goals per game (1.50) and 38th in scoring (8.3). Punter Connor Stutz is 46th with a 42.2 punting average.

Three-Headed Backfield Monster... The Huskies have a been able to utilize three running backs to lead the ground game this season.  R-junior Durell Robinson leads the team with 565 yards on 74 carries and is averaging 7.6 yards per carry.  Cam Edwards has 360 yards on 75 carries and averages 4.8 yards per rush while Mel Brown has 357 yards on 79 carries and a 4.5 per carry average. Robinson has five rushing touchdowns, Edwards four with a receiving TD as well, and Brown with one. Robinson is coming off his second 100-yard game this season after he and Brown both went for 156 yards each in the win over Florida Atlantic.