Texas Southern
N/A0-0
Connecticut
1st Big East8-4
Texas Southern @ Connecticut preview
Rentschler Field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium
When the bright lights came on to open the season, the University of Connecticut was quick to blink.
And in what seemed to be a blink of the eye, the Huskies were staring at a three-touchdown deficit en route to a confidence-crushing 30-10 defeat at Michigan on Saturday.
Kicking off the season before 113,000-plus fans at the Big House can be a daunting task for any opponent - one which Connecticut (0-1) hopes to apply on a smaller scale to Texas Southern (0-1) in its home opener Saturday.
UConn had been a trendy upset pick by many observers in Week 1 against Michigan, but was carved up by the arms and legs of Wolverines quarterback Denard Robinson.
That the Huskies lost was not the issue. How they lost is what's most unsettling as they prepare for what should be an easy matchup against a Football Championship Subdivision opponent.
Robinson single-handedly torched UConn's defense, completing all but three of his 22 pass attempts and rushing for 197 yards and a touchdown.
The one – and perhaps only - positive from the beat-down? The Huskies certainly won’t be looking past an inferior Texas Southern squad this weekend.
The Tigers also opened their season on a losing note, dropping a 16-14 decision to Southwestern Athletic Conference rival Prairie View.
Like UConn, Texas Southern did not come away from its season debut with many feel-good vibes. The Tigers dominated on both sides of the ball, holding Prairie View to 148 total yards and holding a wide edge in total yards (373-148) and rushing yards (167-22).
However, quarterback Arvell Nelson threw four interceptions, including one that was brought back 72 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown.
Nelson threw a 33-yard scoring pass to William Osborne, who had seven receptions for 73 yards. Marcus Wright rushed for 92 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.
UConn running back Jordan Todman rambled for 105 yards – his sixth career 100-yard game – and a touchdown, but the passing game failed to provide adequate support.
Quarterback Zach Frazer completed less than 50 percent of his attempts, going 18-of-37 for 205 yards. He didn’t blame his struggles on the noise generated by the largest crowd in modern college football history, but he also implored UConn fans to dial up the volume this week.
The Huskies are 6-1 in home openers at Rentschler Field, but that one loss came a year ago in a 12-10 defeat to then 19th-ranked North Carolina.
UConn, which will be meeting a SWAC foe for the first time, has gone 4-1 against non-conference opponents in each of the past three seasons.
And in what seemed to be a blink of the eye, the Huskies were staring at a three-touchdown deficit en route to a confidence-crushing 30-10 defeat at Michigan on Saturday.
Kicking off the season before 113,000-plus fans at the Big House can be a daunting task for any opponent - one which Connecticut (0-1) hopes to apply on a smaller scale to Texas Southern (0-1) in its home opener Saturday.
UConn had been a trendy upset pick by many observers in Week 1 against Michigan, but was carved up by the arms and legs of Wolverines quarterback Denard Robinson.
That the Huskies lost was not the issue. How they lost is what's most unsettling as they prepare for what should be an easy matchup against a Football Championship Subdivision opponent.
Robinson single-handedly torched UConn's defense, completing all but three of his 22 pass attempts and rushing for 197 yards and a touchdown.
The one – and perhaps only - positive from the beat-down? The Huskies certainly won’t be looking past an inferior Texas Southern squad this weekend.
The Tigers also opened their season on a losing note, dropping a 16-14 decision to Southwestern Athletic Conference rival Prairie View.
Like UConn, Texas Southern did not come away from its season debut with many feel-good vibes. The Tigers dominated on both sides of the ball, holding Prairie View to 148 total yards and holding a wide edge in total yards (373-148) and rushing yards (167-22).
However, quarterback Arvell Nelson threw four interceptions, including one that was brought back 72 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown.
Nelson threw a 33-yard scoring pass to William Osborne, who had seven receptions for 73 yards. Marcus Wright rushed for 92 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.
UConn running back Jordan Todman rambled for 105 yards – his sixth career 100-yard game – and a touchdown, but the passing game failed to provide adequate support.
Quarterback Zach Frazer completed less than 50 percent of his attempts, going 18-of-37 for 205 yards. He didn’t blame his struggles on the noise generated by the largest crowd in modern college football history, but he also implored UConn fans to dial up the volume this week.
The Huskies are 6-1 in home openers at Rentschler Field, but that one loss came a year ago in a 12-10 defeat to then 19th-ranked North Carolina.
UConn, which will be meeting a SWAC foe for the first time, has gone 4-1 against non-conference opponents in each of the past three seasons.