Matchup: FAU (1-2, 0-1 AAC) vs UConn (1-2)
When: Saturday, September 21st, 7:00 PM
Where: FAU Stadium
TV: ESPN+
Radio: FoxSports 640
Opening Line: FAU xx
Weather Forecast: Current conditions in Stamford, CT
The Series: Huskies 1-0
Owl Notes
FAU heads into this matchup following their best performance of the season against FIU, as the Owls saw their backs break through in a big way with 259 yards rushing and their defense bounced back, forcing 5 turnovers and holding FIU to 87 yards rushing on 25 attempts.
The run-game finally breaking through was huge for FAU as not only did it lead to the Owls biggest play of the season to this point, a 72 yard TD for Zuberi Mobley, but also FAU was finally able to churn out positive yardage in early down situations utilizing both Mobley and CJ Campbell, which made for a better day for the offense as a whole.
Mobley led the way in carries with 20 carries for 134 yards and 3 TDs, however Campbell was picking up important yardage right alongside him, finishing with 61 yards rushing and 59 yards receiving and a score. Campbell may have not had the flashy play which Mobley accomplished, however he finished with 45 yards after contact and picked up 5 first downs after only picking up 1 in the first 2 weeks, while Mobley picked up 7 first downs after also only having 1 in the first 2 games with 40 yards after contact.
Alongside the backs, Cam Fancher saw his rushing workload increase back to the level it was against Michigan State, as he finished with 13 carries for 65 yards and a score. Fancher’s bruising style of running was on full display as he finished with 56 yards after contact which averaged to 4.3 yards after contact per attempt, using his will-power to pick up 3 first downs with his legs and power himself into the endzone.
The production of the run game helped the pass game improve in week 3, as although Fancher didn’t have the most dazzling statline, finishing 14 of 26 for 161 yards; he showed a better ability to connect with his receivers, hitting 10 different targets and finishing with his highest YPA of the season to this point at 6.2.
For the first time this season Fancher didn’t attempt a pass longer than 20 yards, however on throws between 10-19 yards he completed 50% of his passes for 60 yards, including completing both of his passes outside of the numbers.
His blockers had the best game of the season so far in protection, recording a team grade of 85.6 in pass-pro, and all lineman who played had an individual grade above 60 for the first time this season. The lineman’s best game came on a night in which their starting blind side tackle Daughtry Richardson fractured his hand in pregame warmups, and utility lineman Alex Atcavage filled in at RT, finding himself as the lead-blocker for Zuberi Mobley’s 72 yard TD run.
It’s baby steps for a passing game which features a starting QB who is dealing with an injury to his throwing hand and the loss of its 2 potential starting WRs just a week before the season and although it is still not the flashiest, the progress is there and this week will be another opportunity to build on it.
In terms of the defense, the unit bounced back in a resounding way following the drubbing at the hands of Army.
Following an opening series in which the defense was torched in just 3 deep-pass plays, the Owls defense showed resilience and didn’t allow any further points until late into the 3rd quarter. FAU found a way to keep their offense in it when they struggled early, forcing a season high 5 turnovers, to now have 9 total on the season which is good for 5th in the nation.
The Owls also found a way to put pressure on FIU QB Keyone Jenkins, getting a season high 13 pressures, with Chisom Ifeanyi accounting for 5 of those and recording the Owls second sack of the season.
In coverage FAU continues to be solid, recording a combined 76.95 coverage grade combined between MSU and FIU, and against FIU, Daedae Hill and Buggs Brown both recorded INTs, continuing to lock down the outside, while Wendol Philord forced a fumble from the slot and has been a consistent contributor in both the run and pass defense.
Behind them, Jayden Williams (photo below, Angelina LaBelle), Phil Dunnam and CJ Heard have combined to be one of the best safety groups in the AAC, with Dunnam recording another INT, his second of the season, Heard recovering Philord’s forced fumble which is the second takeaway he’s been involved in, and Williams finishing with 6 tackles to put him 3rd total on the team through 3 games.
Against the run, FAU proved the struggles were just a scheme issue with Army as they limited FIU to under 100 yards rushing, holding 12 runs to 3 yards or less, with 4 Owls recording at least 2+ tackles of that kind.
Coming into this week the Owls do have a few notable injuries to starters, with RT Daughtry Richardson still suffering from a broken hand and CB Daedae Hill dealing from a high ankle sprain, both are game time decisions and the Owls showed no drop off with Atcavage at RT, however Herman noted there may be a difference should the Owls have to lean on either Michal Antoine Jr. or Cam Goggins at outside CB, however that is more a compliment to the success of Hill rather than a knock on the back-ups.
Cam Fancher continues to nurse an injury to a finger on his throwing hand, as he had it stepped on against Michigan State, and he will play against UConn, however Tom Herman noted that he will need a bye week to fully recover and that there are some throws he has missed due to the injury.
Star Watch: Zuberi Mobley and CJ Campbell Jr
In this matchup against UConn, FAU has to find a way to get the backs involved in a similar capacity they did against FIU and build on their success. Both Mobley and Campbell were able to churn out consistent yardage, setting the offense for manageable situations and creating a rhythm that they hadn’t had all season.
Campbell seemed like a valuable check down target for Fancher and with Herman noting Fancher’s injury to his throwing hand, a short passing game to Campbell could be in order to help the offense and expand on the success they had against FIU.
If FAU can get 4 yards per carry out of their running backs in this one, while also serving as consistent check down targets for Fancher, the Owls will be able to form a bit of an offensive identity and hopefully find that same mojo they had against FIU.
Final Word
Road matchups against opponents you don’t see very often are never easy and this matchup features one of the best UConn squads in quite a while as the Huskies are seeing NIL money trickle into their program alongside basketball and it has led to an influx of talent.
FAU comes into this matchup with a boatload of momentum following a rivalry win and a victory that showed what this team is capable of when everything is clicking. Now, the task is to figure out how to replicate that against a UConn team which will bring more talent than FIU did.
When an offensive line and RB room is having success, there is no reason to lean away from that and in this matchup, FAU needs to stick with what worked in their best game of the season to this point and run that ball.
It doesn’t always have to be pretty as the offense will benefit from just a 4 yard carry to set up easier situations for Fancher to work the pass game in and continue to develop that without having to force it down field.
On the defensive side of the ball, FAU needs to continue to bring pressure like they were able to do against FIU, as 13 pressures allowed for the coverage unit to succeed and it made for a huge day for the defense as a whole, forcing 5 turnovers overall.
This game is going to be a battle, as UConn looks to earn their first FBS win of the season following a close game against Duke, however if FAU is able to run the ball effectively and bring consistent pressure to Nick Evers it will go a long way in helping them secure the victory on the road.
UConn Notes
UConn comes into this game at 1-2, following a 5 point loss at home to Duke, but overall the squad has improved since a week 1 shellacking at the hands of Maryland.
At QB the team started the season with Nick Evers against Maryland and he struggled, completing only 6/17 passes for 73 yards and an INT before eventually leaving due to injury and Joe Fagnano replaced and looked better, getting the start in week 2 with Evers still on the mend.
With Fagano at the helm UConn dominated FCS Merrimack, as he completed 13/28 passes for 328 yards and 5 TDS, however in their week 3 game against Duke with a healthy Evers, Coach Jim Mora opted to go with their original signal caller. Evers improved from his first start, however still struggled as a whole completing 15/29 passes for 137 yards 1TD and 1INT.
Evers will head into this matchup with only 8 quarters of experience under his belt, and may need to rely on some of his other weapons to help him find success.
Those weapons include a dual threat attack at running back, as Cam Edwards and Durell Robinson have combined to form an extremely formidable duo at back to help alleviate things for Evers. Edwards has been the lead back, rushing 32 times for 153 yards and 2 scores, averaging 4.8 YPC, while Robinson has carried it 19 times for 140 yards and a score, good for 7.4 YPC.
At receiver, Skyler Bell has looked like Evers’ go to guy, as the 6 ‘0 185 outside WR has hauled in 14 of 21 targets for 304 yards and a score with 19 of those targets coming in Evers’ 2 starts, and 13 coming against Duke. TJ Sheffiled has been the second most targeted receiver, as the Huskies slot man has hauled in 7 of his 14 targets for 65 yards and a score.
Defensively, UConn has struggled, as the Unit allowed 262 yards rushing against Maryland, 174 to Merrimack and 153 vs Duke. In terms of pass defense, they also have left a lot to be desired, as Maryland rotated in 3 QBs and they completed 27/37 for 381 yards and 3 TDs, Maalik Murphy completed 28 of 43 throws for 267 yards 3 TDs and 1 INT, with their best performance against Merrimack, holding another trio of QBs to 15/26 for 153 yards and a score, no turnovers.
Despite the defensive struggles, UConn handled Merrimack 63-17 and competed heavily with Duke before falling short and a big part of that has been the defenses ability to create pressure on opposing DBs, as the Huskies have recorded 40 total pressures and 8 sacks, with Edge Rusher Jayden McDonald having 5 of those pressures, including 2 sacks, also recording 10 tackles on run plays which go for 3 yards or less.
UConn comes into this game with a ton of talent on both sides of the ball, however both the offense and defense are still finding their mojo, and this game will be an opportunity to do that against a similar caliber opponent and one who is facing similar issues on the offensive side of the ball.
Star Watch: Skyler Bell
As mentioned in the notes, Bell has been a go-to target for Nick Evers, including last game where he was targeted on nearly half of Evers’ attempted passes on the day. In a game where Evers will be looking to put on his best performance yet, it won’t be surprising to see Bell as a big part of that.
Bell has the speed and athletic ability to make a lot of plays that Evers and the Huskies offense will need him to make, as he can make moves in space, but also has a jump ball ability to where if Evers is under pressure, he can make himself a target.
FAU has held outside WRs in check for the most part to start this season, however Bell has been able to find success against talented DBs at both Maryland and Duke and he will be looking to replicate that success against the Owls.
Bell having a big day may be inevitable, as 13 targets during a young QBs first full game is a major show of trust, but it will be up to FAU to limit big plays and force Evers to consistently connect with him, rather than through chunk plays.
Final Word
UConn comes into this game looking like a team that is very close to finding its consistency and turning into a very dangerous team, however there are still kinks on both sides of the ball that need to be ironed out.
Evers will be heading into his second straight start for the first time in his career and will be looking to find consistency against an Owls team which may not be the easiest opponent to do that against as their DBs have been fairly sound to start the season, however an Injury to Daedae Hill could allow for UConn to target his replacement should he miss the game.
Alongside Evers, UConn will need to get both of their backs involved in a big way as both Edwards and Robinson have found success this season. FAU has looked good in 2 games against typical running styles, however the struggles against Army were immense and with 2 very talented backs, UConn will have to try to find a way to get them going to alleviate Evers.
Defensively against the pass, UConn has been able to create consistent pressure, but has struggled in coverage and it has led to big games for their P4 opponents through the air, however this matchup against FAU features a passing game which has struggled to amount much of anything consistent.
UConn’s struggles against then run is what may really hurt them in this game if they are unable to bounce back, as FAU will be looking to ground and pound following their big game in the trenches against FIU, which may not bode well for a Huskies defense which has been porous to start 2024.
Overall, UConn is extremely talented and has been consistently improving each week, and this game they will be looking to capitalize on that improvement and put together a performance like FAU had against FIU last week.
