EAST HARTFORD – The UConn football team had been looking for a performance like it had in Saturday’s 51-10 win over Florida International at Rentschler Field.
On defense, the Huskies had five takeaways – two more than their season total – and held FIU to 304 total yards and a season-low 10 points. On special teams, they blocked a punt and made every kick. And the offense took advantage of its opportunities as quarterback Joe Fagnano registered 355 passing yards, his new UConn career-high, and four touchdowns with a 79% (22-for-28) completion percentage.
Five different receivers accounted for at least 49 yards and star running back Cam Edwards went for 80 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries as the Huskies pulled away quickly in their homecoming and cancer awareness game before an announced crowd of 27,310.
UConn reached the midpoint of its season with a 4-2 record, both losses coming in overtime, and will have a bye week before another regional road trip to Boston College (1-4) on Oct. 18.
UConn defender Matt Hoffman takes down FIU running back Anthony Carrie during the first half of the Huskies’ win on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025 at Rentschler Field. (Courtesy of UConn)
Saturday’s game got off to a scary start as FIU’s Dwight Nunoo was put on a stretcher and carted off the field after a collision along his own sideline during the opening kickoff. Nunoo was brought to a local hospital and was in stable condition, an FIU spokesperson said.
The Panthers, shaken up by the scene, went three-and-out on their opening drive.
UConn’s offense got off to the fast start it had been looking for. Fagnano went 6-for-6 through the air on the opening drive, including the finisher to a wide-open Skyler Bell (six receptions, 63 yards, 2 TDs) from 18 yards out. It was the first of two touchdowns in the game for Bell, who is up to a team-best eight on the season.
The Huskies forced their fourth turnover of the year when DL Cleto Chol ripped at the hands of FIU’s Devonte Lyons and Bryun Parham picked up the fumble.
Both teams went three-and-out before Fagnano connected with John Neider for a 45-yard gain down the sideline and Edwards finished the minute-long drive with his seventh rushing TD of the season, knocking down a referee in the process.
UConn stressed complimentary football all week and Parham did his part by stripping FIU quarterback Keyone Jenkins and recovering his second fumble of the game, which led to a 43-yard field goal from Chris Freeman and a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter.
UConn’s Skyler Bell (1) gets a leaping congratulations from teammate Cam Edwards (0) after Bell’s 18-yard reception got the Huskies on the board in first-half action vs. FIU on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025 at Rentschler Field. (Courtesy of UConn)
The Panthers got on the board with a 26-yard field goal after getting inside the Huskies’ 15-yard line with some big runs and being stopped on three-consecutive plays, including a sack, by linebacker Amir Renwick.
UConn’s special teams unit got in on the action as Portland, Conn., native Teddy Williams dove to get a finger on an FIU punt. But the Huskies had their first offensive turnover of the season two plays later as Bell lost possession of the ball while he was brought to the ground after a medium gain.
The Huskies continued to pour it on, scoring twice in the final minute of the half as FIU failed to convert on fourth down near midfield and Fagnano found a wide open Reymello Murphy for a 61-yard touchdown connection. Then defensive back Cam Chadwick leaped for his first interception of the season, UConn’s third takeaway of the game, and Freeman tacked on a 36-yard field goal to make the score 27-3 at halftime.
Victor Rosa showed off his sprinter’s speed as UConn continued to roll after the break with the Bristol native catching a pass in the flat and taking it 65 yards into the end zone. Freeman tacked on a 28-yard field goal and Fagnano found Bell again, this time from eight yards out, for their second touchdown connection of the game.
UConn carried a 44-3 lead into the fourth quarter before linebacker Amir Renwick tipped a pass to himself and returned the interception down to the FIU 2-yard line, setting up a 1-yard rushing TD for freshman Oliver Lundberg-Coleman. FIU finally found the end zone on a running play with about six minutes left in regulation.
UConn’s Oliver Lundberg Coleman rumbles down the sideline during the first half of the Huskie’s win over FIU on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025 at Rentschler Field. (Courtesy of UConn)
