Connecticut @ Louisville preview
Cardinal Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 17, 2009 ) Louisville 25, Connecticut 38
Connecticut had plenty of time to prepare for Louisville but will have only a couple days to get ready for life without Cody Endres.
Coming off a bye week, the Huskies take on Louisville on Saturday in a Big East Conference matchup, but they will have to do it without their starting quarterback.
Endres was suspended for the remainder of the season Wednesday for an unspecified violation of a university policy. The suspension will remain in effect through the end of the academic year, according to a release from the school.
It’s not the first time Endres has run afoul of the rules in Storrs. He was suspended in August for about a month but worked his way back into the staff’s good graces and eventually took over for Zach Frazer as the team’s starting quarterback.
Now the Huskies can either go back to Frazer or hand the reins to redshirt freshman Michael Box, who was listed as the backup on the latest depth chart.
With the uncertainty at quarterback, Connecticut (3-2, 0-1 Big East) will need a big game from running back Jordan Todman.
Todman is averaging 152.2 yards per game on the ground with eight rushing touchdowns and he’ll need a big day to take the heat off whomever the Huskies go with under center.
Louisville (3-3, 0-1) is coming off a 35-27 loss to Cincinnati on Oct. 15.
The Cardinals had won two straight and held a 24-14 lead over the Bearcats in the second quarter, but they managed only three points in the second half and were done in by five touchdown passes by Cincinnati quarterback Zach Collaros.
Although Louisville’s secondary has been suspect this season, Connecticut may not be in position to take advantage of it with Endres’ suspension. So, much like the Huskies, the Cardinals will look to lean on their ground game and running back Bilal Powell.
Powell rushed for 209 yards and two touchdowns against Cincinnati, becoming the first player in school history to post consecutive 200-yard rushing performances. He has racked up 898 yards this season and is averaging 149.7 yards per game, good for fourth in the country and second in the conference.
The series is tied, 3-3, with the Huskies winning the last meeting 38-25 last season. UConn has won the last three in the series but will have to reverse its road fortunes to make it four.
The Huskies are 0-3 on the road this season with losses to Michigan, Temple and Rutgers.