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After a tough 24-21 loss to Miami (Ohio) last weekend, the UConn Huskies need a big win, a
confidence booster and a shot of momentum to get them through an October and
November stretch that they hope ends in a bowl berth.

A win against
Syracuse on Saturday at Pratt and Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East
Hartford could do just that.

The Orange (1-2,
0-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) are one of three Power Four conference opponents
on the Huskies’ (2-2) schedule. UConn lost soundly to the first one – Maryland –
in Week 2, but beating the Orange could help to dim those memories.

And a victory
also would snap a six-game losing streak against Syracuse, a streak that dates
back to 2012 – the final season that both schools were members of the Big East.

UConn head coach
Jason Candle expressed this week just how key this game is to the rest of the
season.

“We got to
really learn and continue to move forward. I mean, you’re starting to approach
October here,” Candle said.

“You know, all
across the country in college football – this is contenders versus pretenders.
This is the month that separates everybody.”

Syracuse season
to date

The Orange won
their opener on Sept. 5 at home, beating FCS program New Hampshire 66-3.

The following
week, Syracuse launched a four-game road trip, losing 21-18 at Cal, then 27-13
at Pitt.

In the past two
games, Syracuse quarterback Steve Angeli turned in miserable performances,
going 37-of-75 passing for 468 yards with one touchdown and five interceptions.

Despite his
subpar showings, Angeli
is expected to start against UConn.

He had success
against the Huskies last season.

On Sept. 6,
2025, Syracuse defeated UConn 27-20 in overtime at the JWA Wireless Dome. Angeli
finished 34-of-54 passing for a career-high 416 yards and two touchdowns.

Overlooking the
record

Candle isn’t
buying into any thoughts that his team will have an easy time against the
Orange, coached by Fran Brown. Brown is in his third season and has led Syracuse to
a 14-14 record.

Two of those wins
have come against UConn.

“This is a good
football team we’re playing. You know, Coach Brown has done a good job in his
time there of putting a good product and seeing consistent improvement,” Candle
said. “I mean, sometimes it may not show up in the record, but, you know, they
play really hard on defense, very sound schematically on defense.”

What the numbers
say

Candle’s words
about Syracuse’s defense ring true upon a review of the numbers.

The Orange are giving
up 258.7 yards per game, good for 18th in the nation in total
defense. With a so-so rushing defense of 124.0 yards per game given up (tied
for 63rd), the passing defense is stellar. Syracuse ranks sixth in
the nation in that category at 134.7 yards per game.

On the season, UConn
is averaging 422.8 yards of total offense – 181.8 rushing and 241.0 passing.

First-year
quarterback Kalieb Osborne is 62-of-101 passing for 850 yards with seven touchdowns
and two interceptions for the Huskies. He is averaging 212.5 yards per game.

On Saturday in
East Hartford, something’s gotta give.

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