Iowa State @ Connecticut preview

THE STORY: Despite still being a relatively new FBS football program, Connecticut has had success at home against non-conference BCS opponents with a 4-2 record since 2004. That record doesn’t include the Huskies’ 37-20 win over Iowa State when these two schools last met in Ames, Iowa, in 2002.
Iowa State’s quarterback situation is solid in the hands of junior-college transfer Steele Jantz, who has led his team to two comeback victories in his first two starts. Connecticut is less stable at quarterback, where the team has thrown just one touchdown and four interceptions through two games.

TV: ESPN2 LINE: Connecticut -4

ABOUT IOWA STATE (2-0): The Cyclones have certainly had a flare for the dramatic during their first 2-0 start since 2008. Iowa State scored on a final-minute quarterback sneak to beat Northern Iowa in the season-opener, and then won 44-41 in three overtimes over in-state rival Iowa the next week. Jantz was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for 279 yards and four touchdowns to help the Cyclones beat the Hawkeyes for the first time since 2007.

ABOUT CONNECTICUT (1-1): Quarterback John McEntee went 10 of 27 for 99 yards and three interceptions in a loss at Vanderbilt last week, but Connecticut coach Paul Pasqualoni said this week he’ll stick with the junior as his starter. If McEntee struggles early, freshman backups Scott McCummings and Mike Nebrich could push for playing time. The Huskies are 3-1 all-time against Big 12 opponents, with the only loss coming to Oklahoma in last year’s Fiesta Bowl.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Iowa State is 2-6 in its last eight road openers, with the only wins coming at Army in 2005 and at Kent State in 2009.

2. Cyclones coach Paul Rhoads is 12-1 when holding opponents to less than 24 points, and just 2-12 when allowing more than 24.

3. UConn is 41-19 against non-conference opponents since making the move to FBS football in 2002.

PREDICTION: Connecticut 23, Iowa State 21. In the Cyclones’ first road trip of the season, they’ll find it a little more difficult to pull off late-game heroics for the third week in a row.