Known primarily as a basketball school, UConn has quietly undergone a transformation on the football field. The school with 18 basketball national championships recently capped off a 37-34 upset win over Duke, as the faithful fans at Pratt and Whitney Stadium stormed the field. This win was indicative of the team as a whole as the Huskies have started off the year 8-3 in one of their most successful seasons yet.
Current head coach Jim Mora has brought success back to Storrs with a 26-23 overall record. This may not seem that impressive, but before arriving the Huskies had won just four games combined in their previous three seasons. Last year in his 3rd season at the helm, the Huskies won their first bowl game since 2009 when they were in the Big East, a conference that no longer exists. Mora, who came most recently from the broadcast booth, had accumulated much success in the NFL and PAC 12 before making his way to the Northeast.
Joe Fagnano has had an unconventional path to success. The seven-year college quarterback started his career all the way back in 2019 as a member of the Maine Black Bears as a walk-on. After an injury to the starting QB, Fagnano had his opportunity and never looked back. In his four years under center he amassed over 5,600 yards passing and 46 touchdowns. He transferred after the 2022 season where up until this year injuries had kept him off the field for a large part of both of his two seasons. Finally healthy, Fagnano has dazzled in his last year, throwing for over 25 touchdowns and over 2,900 yards so far, respectively 3rd and 6th in the nation. Most impressively he has only thrown a single interception in 343 attempts. These efforts have led to serious support for him to become a Heisman trophy candidate.
The last major piece for UConn’s success offensively is 5th year WR Skyler Bell. Bell transferred from Wisconsin where he saw limited playing time in the Big Ten, only having 755 yards in his 3 seasons. In his second year at UCONN, the Connecticut native has blossomed, leading the NCAA in receptions and touchdowns while also standing at 2nd in receiving yards.
The transfer portal has been beneficial on the other side of the ball too. On defense Byrun Parham has made a massive impact on his 3rd college team. After transferring from San Jose State to Washington after a strong 3 years, he caught headlines for deciding to redshirt for the majority of the 2024 season to keep his eligibility. The switch across the country was a perfect change of scenery. He has amassed 10.5 sacks and 108 total tackles, proving his decision correct.
While the Huskies may not have the historical program of other teams or the highest rated recruits, they have taken a chance on players previously given up on. A bright future is in store for the program as it continues to develop and build year by year.
