Game day at University at Buffalo: 4 keys for the Bulls at Connecticut
The University at Buffalo football team plays at Connecticut at noon Saturday in East Hartford, Conn. Here’s a look at four keys for the Bulls.
1. Slow UConn’s ground game. Much like UB, the Huskies don’t have a bell cow running back. Instead, UConn has three players who have run for at least 151 yards, including running back Durell Robinson (35 carries for 296 yards, three touchdowns) and starting quarterback Nick Evers (34 carries for 151 yards, two touchdowns), and have combined for seven of the Huskies’ nine rushing touchdowns. The Huskies average 241.5 rushing yards per game, and UB’s defense must push for UConn to rely on the pass, where its production has been pedestrian, at best. Evers, a transfer from Wisconsin who missed a game due to a concussion, and Joe Fagnano have combined for 806 yards on 52 completions. But Fagnano has thrown for seven of UConn’s nine touchdowns.
Bulls linebacker Shaun Dolac lines up against UMass at UB Stadium on Sept. 14. Joshua Bessex, Buffalo News
2. Make the pass a priority, on offense and defense. UConn’s rushing defense is its forte, as the Huskies have allowed opponents 169.3 rushing yards per game, and 222.5 passing yards per game. UConn’s running game is its forte on offense. UConn threw for just 135 yards in a 26-21 loss Sept. 14 at Duke, then threw for 121 yards in a rout of Florida Atlantic. But the Huskies ran for an eye-popping 421 yards on 66 plays against FAU, including 156 yards each from Robinson and Mel Brown, and allowed the Owls 163 rushing yards. UConn had only 15 pass plays against FAU. UConn’s offensive line is also sturdy, and the Huskies are one of two teams in the country that have allowed just one sack this season.
3. Create more offensive consistency. UB had 184 offensive yards at Northern Illinois but had only one drive of more than three plays in the first half against the Huskies. Then, the Bulls had two second-half drives of at least 59 yards, including touchdowns of 46 and 36 yards. UB head coach Pete Lembo labeled his team’s offense “a work in progress” and said there’s a sense of urgency to continue to improve. UB needs those explosive plays and lengthy drives through the entirety of a game, not just to play catch-up as it did at Northern Illinois. The defense is carrying its weight, special teams are coming through with clutch plays and now it’s the offense’s turn to show it can sustain itself.
4. Don’t overlook UConn: UB has a bye Oct. 5, then resumes its Mid-American Conference schedule Oct. 12 against Toledo. But the Bulls need to be ready for one more nonconference game against the Huskies, a team that’s shown so far this season that it’s no slouch. The Bulls must do the same. UConn hasn’t had a winning season since 2010, but the Huskies’ two wins in 2024 have come in dominating fashion: 63-17 against Football Championship Subdivision opponent Merrimack and 48-14 against Florida Atlantic. It’s easy for a team to look ahead to the bigger prize, but the final nonconference game is valuable for the Bulls: a tune-up for the MAC schedule, another in-game opportunity to define the offense and refine an already well-tuned defense.
