Breaking down UConn football’s 2022 schedule: The ‘Husky Revolution’ begins at Utah State on Saturday

The UConn football team has transitioned into game-prep mode with the Aug. 27 season-opener at Utah State less than a week away. It’s the start of what has been labeled the “Husky Revolution,” inspired by an overhaul of the team’s coaching staff and a renewed energy under new leader Jim Mora.

The Huskies have made an unwelcome home near the bottom of almost every FBS statistic over the last several years and compiled a putrid 10-50 record since their last four-plus win season in 2015. Mora, a $1.5 million investment with the potential for an additional $200,000 in incentives for the first season of his five-year contract, hopes to turn the program around.

The Huskies’ 2022 schedule features two opponents in the AP preseason Top 25 and two more that received votes. Based on opponents’ 2021 records, UConn has the 47th most difficult schedule in the FBS, according to Sports Illustrated.

Here is a week-by-week breakdown:

Week One: Aug. 27 at Utah State

The Aggies won the Mountain West Conference after putting together an 11-3 record last season in what was head coach Blake Anderson’s first year. Utah State earned two votes for the AP Top 25 ahead of the 2022 season, and its offense is led by returning seniors Logan Bonner (quarterback) and Calvin Tyler (running back). Bonner completed more than 61% of his passes for 3,628 yards in 2021, while Tyler ran 196 times for 884 yards. The Aggies’ No. 1 receiver in 2021, Deven Thompkins, graduated and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Defensively, the Aggies were ranked 77th in the FBS for yards allowed per game with 392.7.

Week Two: Sept. 3 vs. Central Connecticut State

Many are looking at the CCSU game as not only a must-win, but hope might start to dwindle if it’s not in convincing fashion. The Blue Devils, an FCS team, finished 4-7 last season. Against its only FBS opponent in 2021, Miami, the Blue Devils lost 69-0.

Week Three: Sept. 10 vs. Syracuse

Syracuse, like UConn, is trying to turn its program around. The Orange, competing in the ACC, have had just one season with more than five wins since 2013 (they went 10-3 in 2018). All of the hype in Syracuse surrounds running back Sean Tucker, who came just four yards shy of 1,500 (fourth-most rushing yards in the nation) and led the Orange to a 5-7 record in 2021. If the Huskies can stop the run, this is a winnable game, but UConn’s defense finished 109th in the FBS for rushing yards allowed per game in 2021. ESPN’s football power index gives UConn a 10% chance to beat Syracuse.

Week Four: Sept. 17 at No. 8 Michigan

Michigan is expected to be the most challenging game of the season for UConn. The Wolverines finished 2021 ranked No. 3 in the AP poll with a 12-2 record and ended their season with an Orange Bowl loss to eventual national champion Georgia. Hassan Haskins, the team’s leading rusher with 1,333 yards in 2021, is now a Tennessee Titan, leaving junior Blake Corum with the rushing load for 2022. Corum tallied 952 yards on the ground last season and was also the Wolverines’ primary kick returner.

Michigan is dealing with a quarterback competition of its own between last year’s starter, Cade McNamara, and sophomore J.J. McCarthy, who came in as a five-star recruit. Similar to UConn, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh has said he will let the competition continue until it solves itself. Seven different Wolverine pass-catchers recorded more than 200 receiving yards last season.

Week Five: Sept. 24 at No. 13 North Carolina State

According to ESPN’s football power index, UConn has a measly 2% chance to beat NC State, which finished the 2021 season at 9-3. The Wolfpack have one of the best linebacker groups in the country led by Drake Thomas, and was ranked 22nd in the FBS for rushing defense – which could take away much of UConn’s game plan. NC State’s rushing load, however, will likely fall into the hands of junior Jordan Houston after the team’s top two ball carriers went to the NFL. Quarterback Devin Leary, a redshirt junior, is expected to be a top NFL draft prospect. Leary completed 65.7% of his passes in 2021 for 3,433 yards.

Week Six: Oct. 1 vs. Fresno State

Fresno State earned 32 votes for the AP preseason Top 25. After opening the 2021 season with a 45-0 win over UConn, the Bulldogs went on to a 10-3 record and ended the season with a New Mexico Bowl victory over UTEP. Senior quarterback Jake Haener finished at No. 9 in the FBS with 4,096 passing yards and tied for 11th in passing touchdowns (33). The Bulldogs’ top-two receivers from 2021, Jalen Cropper (899 yards) and Josh Kelly (778 yards), are both on the 2022 roster. Defensively, Fresno State was ranked No. 24 in the FBS against the run and 58th in passing yards allowed for 2021. The team’s leading tackler, defensive back Evan Williams (93 total tackles in 2021), will likely provide issues for the Husky offense.

Week Seven: Oct. 8 at Florida International University (FIU)

FIU has gone 1-16 since 2020, and, like UConn, is getting used to a new head coach. Mike MacIntyre joined the Panthers for the 2022 season after spending the previous two as defensive coordinator at Memphis. He has a 46-65 record over his nine seasons as head coach of both San Jose State (2010-12) and Colorado (2013-18). ESPN’s football power index gives UConn a 28% chance at beating the Panthers. Tragedy struck the program late last week when it was announced that 22-year-old linebacker Luke Knox had died.

Week Eight: Oct. 15 at Ball State

The Cardinals have had just one winning season (2020) under seventh-year head coach Mike Neu. Senior John Paddock is expected to start at quarterback after Drew Plitt signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent. Ball State finished in the bottom third of the FBS for total defense in 2021 (419.4 yards allowed per game). ESPN’s football power index gives UConn a 22.2% chance to win.

Week Nine: Oct. 29 vs. Boston College

Boston College finished at .500 last season (6-6) and went 2-6 in ACC play, beating only Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech. Junior running back Pat Garwo led the Eagles with 1,045 net rushing yards, but the team had one of the worst passing offenses in the FBS last year. Instead, BC’s strength came on the defensive side of the ball as the Eagles finished with the third-best passing defense in the FBS and were ranked No. 28 in the FBS for total yards allowed per game (344.2).

Week 10: Nov. 4 vs. UMass

Defensive-minded head coach Don Brown rejoined UMass in November for his second stint as head coach after the Minutemen put together a 2-26 record over the last three years. UMass has a 20-92 record since joining the FBS in 2012. Brown was at the helm for UMass from 2004-2008 and led the program to two FCS playoff appearances and the best five-year record — 43-19 — in school history. He spent two years, 2011-12, as UConn’s defensive coordinator. Both programs in similar rebuilding situations, UMass is ranked one spot above UConn in ESPN’s football power index rankings – both in the bottom three of the FBS.

Week 11: Nov. 12 vs. Liberty

Liberty, in just its fifth FBS year, is 26-11 under head coach Hugh Freeze who joined the program in 2019. The Flames’ 2021 starting quarterback and playmaker Malik Willis is now a Tennessee Titan, and Athlon Sports reported that QB transfer Charlie Brewer, who played at Utah and Baylor, could fill Willis’ role. Liberty had the sixth-best passing defense in the FBS in 2021 and ranked 11th in total defense for the second consecutive year, though they enter 2022 without key inside linebackers and interior linemen.

Week 12: Nov. 19 at Army

UConn will end the season in similar fashion to the way it started: with a tough test against a strong team coming off a 2021 Bowl win. In this game, played at West Point, ESPN gives UConn a 5.8% chance of winning. Army has a 44-20 record since 2017 and has won three Armed Forces Bowl games in that span. Known for its running game, Army finished second in the FBS behind only Air Force in rushing yards per game (280.6) in 2021. The key here is how worn down UConn’s defense will be at the end of the season – and how much it has actually improved since finishing near the bottom of the FBS in rushing defense last year.