The UConn football team never lost focus after dropping its first two games against FBS opponents in overtime and getting off to an underwhelming 1-2 start.
There were clear issues with how the team finished games, both on offense and defense as they failed to shut the door in back-to-back weeks. But the Huskies responded and held off a late comeback bid to beat Ball State, then went to Buffalo and executed a game-winning drive in the final minute, before blowing the doors off of FIU to carry a three-game winning streak and a 4-2 record into the midseason bye week.
UConn is ranked No. 72 in the FBS by ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) rating, and No. 68 by SP+.
The Huskies’ offense is No. 17 in the nation in total yards per game (470.3) and tied for 25th in scoring at 37 points per game. They have the 14th-best turnover margin in the nation after turning the ball over for the first time this season last week while also making five takeaways. The defense played its best full game last week and is steadily rising in the rankings to No. 83 in total yards allowed per game (377.8) and No. 61 in scoring (22.67 points allowed per game).
Dom Amore: Jim Mora has uplifted UConn football. His players returned the favor after his 100th win
Here are five things we learned through the first half of the season:
Transfer portal success continues
So far, Jim Mora’s efforts in the transfer portal are paying off for the second year in a row.
The Huskies had to replace eight starters on defense and are seeing it come together through some experienced transfers, like former Washington linebacker Bryun Parham, who leads the team with 47 total tackles, is ranked third in the nation with 6.5 sacks and leads the FBS with three fumble recoveries. Tyquan King, a West Haven native who came over from Temple, has also been a valued addition to the linebacker room with his 35 tackles and three sacks.
The all-new defensive line of Ben Smiley (Virginia), Vincent Carroll-Jackson (Nebraska) and Stephon Wright (Texas Southern) has shown week-to-week improvement and really disrupted opponents in recent weeks.
Offensively, Notre Dame transfer Ty Chan has been part of an offensive line unit that has only allowed seven sacks, 1.17 per game, which ranks No. 28 nationally. Receivers Reymello Murphy (Arizona) and Chris Parker (Central Michigan), and tight end Javonte “Juice” Vereen (NC State) have all emerged as options in the pass game to compliment star Skyler Bell.
Playmakers living up to the hype
While the defense was relatively an unknown coming into the season, UConn knew before even the start of fall camp that it had key playmakers coming back and would be deeper at the skill positions than it has been in a while.
The hype has proven to be warranted.
Bell, who gave the Huskies a massive win when he rejected Michigan’s pursuit in the portal, had his second multi-touchdown game of the season last week and is ranked sixth in the nation in receiving yards (562) and third in touchdowns (6). Edwards, the emergent running back from Norwalk, is well on pace to reach his goal of a 1,000-yard season as he sits fifth in the nation with 637 rushing yards through six games and tied for seventh with seven rushing touchdowns.
UConn quarterback Joe Fagnano (2) looks to pass during the second half of an NCAA football game against Delaware on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in Newark, Del. Delaware won 44-41 in overtime. (AP Photo/Mike Buscher)
Fagnano is only getting better
In his seventh year of college football, quarterback Joe Fagnano continues to prove he has more to offer.
The third-year Husky keeps answering every question.
Can he have a dynamic pocket presence? Check. Can he throw on the run? Connect on deep routes? Take care of the ball? Check. Check. Check.
Fagnano had a career day on Saturday, recording 355 passing yards – a new career-high in a UConn uniform – and four touchdown passes, all while completing 22 of his 28 passes for a UConn career-best 78.6% completion rate. The Williamsport, Penn. native is seventh in the nation with 1,556 passing yards and is one of only two quarterbacks in the nation (Illinois’ Luke Altmyer) with at least 1,500 yards and zero interceptions.
Offense can reach full potential if…
It can build off of Saturday’s performance.
There weren’t many negatives to take away from Saturday’s 51-point effort against FIU, but Mora and offensive coordinator Gordie Sammis will find them. For example, the Huskies have the 33rd-best red zone offense in the nation, scoring on 92.6% (25-for-27) of their trips, but eight of those drives within the opponent’s 20-yard line have resulted in field goals.
Mora wasn’t happy with the way the Huskies ran the ball in the first half on Saturday and they could use another back to step up as the compliment to Edwards after losing Mel Brown to a broken collarbone. Bristol’s Victor Rosa has stepped up, making plays mostly catching passes out of the backfield and Swedish freshman Oliver Lundberg-Coleman showed he can impact the game on the ground, but an additional consistent playmaker will be key moving forward as the Huskies look to improve their four-minute offense where they need to run time off the clock.
UConn’s Oliver Lundberg Coleman rumbles down the sideline during the first half of the Huskie’s win over FIU on Saturday. (Courtesy of UConn)
Defense: Consistency is key
UConn’s success under Mora has stemmed from having a strong run game and a stout defense.
The latter has been a bit of an issue as the new defensive unit – a mix of transfers and returners in new roles – has gotten to know itself. Carroll-Jackson felt the group hadn’t been all on the same page through the first five games – “a lot of dogs trying to hunt separately,” he said – but he’s felt them gradually become one pack as the weeks have gone by. Saturday’s performance was the best example as the Huskies nearly doubled their season total with five takeaways and allowed a season-low 10 points.
Which defense will UConn get for the second half of the season?
Visiting a struggling Boston College team after the bye week should go a long way toward answering that question. The Eagles, mostly let down by their own defense, have the 11th-best passing offense in the nation at 313.4 yards per game and will pose a true challenge for UConn’s group of defensive backs who have had struggles in coverage.
Multiple different Huskies have remarked that this year’s team may be better than last year’s. Through six weeks, they have the same record. But there are plenty of opportunities left to make that next step if the team can continue getting consistent effort and finishing games.
