Image courtesy of ESPN

By Ryan Barry
NEFJ Correspondent

Kickoff: The UMass Minutemen (3-8) welcome the UConn Huskies (2-9) to McGuirk Alumni Stadium on Saturday afternoon for the 77th installment of “The U Game.” Both teams are hoping to end their otherwise disappointing seasons on a high note.

1st Down: The Minutemen should have an edge offensively over the Huskies thanks to a more balanced attack. Quarterback Taisun Phommachanh (121-for-197, 1,277 yards, 5 TDs, 5 INTs) has brought much needed consistency to the position in spite of an early season injury hampering his ability to run the ball. With wide receivers Anthony Simpson (51 receptions, 685 yards, 3 TDs) and Mark Pope (30 receptions, 391 yards, 1 TD) providing reliable options through the air, UMass has added an element to their game that the Huskies did not see in their 27-10 win last season in East Hartford. The Huskies defense has struggled to defend the pass this season where they rank 119th in the FBS in passing yards allowed. They’ve also managed just five interceptions as a defense all season. Phommachanh struggled last week in their 49-25 loss to Liberty, but has an opportune match-up to bounce back against a struggling UConn secondary.

2nd Down: UMass running back Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams (218 carries, 1,106 yards, 10 TDs; 18 receptions, 90 yards) has been the driving force behind this resurgent unit. Against a difficult Liberty run defense he rushed for 92-yards and a touchdown, which helped him become the first Minuteman in the FBS era to score at least 10 rushing touchdowns. Fellow running back Greg Desrosiers Jr. (34 carries, 291 yards, 4 TDs) was quiet against Liberty after a career game against Merrimack two weeks before that saw him rush for 162-yards and three touchdowns. His game breaking speed alongside Lynch-Adams should play a factor against a 73rd ranked run defense that has also struggled this season. UConn linebacker Jackson Mitchell (52 TOT, 1 SACK, 1 INT) and defensive lineman Pryce Yates (38 TOT, 4.5 SACKs) will present problems for the Minutemen, but will have their hands full against a more steady attack.

3rd Down: The UConn offense has been the definition of inconsistent this season. After Maine transfer quarterback Joe Fagnano went down at the beginning of the season, Ta’Quan Roberson (181-for-310, 1,901 yards, 12 TDs, 6 INTs; 40 carries, 84 yards, 2 TDs) has taken over to mixed results. The former Penn State Nittany Lion has had some solid games like his 215-yards and two touchdowns against Rice. He’s also had some forgettable games, such as his losses to ACC sides Boston College and Duke. Even in games against more level opponents there hasn’t been a shining moment for Roberson to hang his hat on, with his seasonal completion percentage hovering below 60 percent. Tight end Justin Joly (50 receptions, 542 yards, 2 TDs) has been a bright spot this season, as has wide receiver Cameron Ross (41 receptions, 500 yards, 2 TDs). The UMass secondary has been one of their most improved units this season, climbing up to 40th in the FBS in passing yards allowed, and registering eight interceptions from seven different players. Roberson may be challenged through the air against the Minutemen, though should he decide to use his legs more he may have some success. UMass has continued to struggle against dual-threat quarterbacks, with Liberty’s Kaidon Salter going for four total touchdowns, 225 passing yards, and 118 rushing yards in their win last week.

4th Down: The one area the Huskies have failed to get going this season is with their run game. Running back Victor Rosa (97 carries, 497 yards, 2 TDs; 12 receptions, 69 yards) has not taken the sophomore step that many were hoping for. Devontae Houston (34 carries, 161 yards) was also expected to take another step this year but has not been with the program since he announced his transfer in late September. Amongst the craziness at the position has been the emergence of Camryn Edwards (104 carries, 516 yards, 2 TDs; 14 receptions, 126 yards, 1 TD) who has picked up the carries that were available after the departure of Houston. His pass catching abilities have also been a bonus, giving Roberson an option when pressured. Despite two stronger performances against Merrimack and Army, the Minutemen relapsed last weekend against Liberty, surrendering 324 rushing yards and four touchdowns. In last season’s match-up Rosa had one of his best games of the season, rushing for 87-yards and two touchdowns. The since departed Houston also had a good game with 84-yards and a touchdown. If Edwards can fill the role that Houston played last year and Rosa can create similar magic, UConn could have a similar formula to move the ball on the Minutemen.

Extra Point: The Minutemen hold a 38-36-2 edge over the Huskies in their all-time meetings. Since UMass joined the FBS in 2012, UConn has won three of their five match-ups, though neither team has been able to win two in a row in that time. While the Huskies are ahead of the Minutemen as far as overall athletic programs are concerned, the gap in football has shrunk over the years. UConn is still a bigger name and overall program, but their flailing success on the field has fallen closer to that of UMass. This isn’t to say it’s because of the Minutemen having more success either, as it’s more an indictment of the hard times the Huskies have fallen on. The energy around last season’s surprise bowl run has completely worn off, with more questions than answers facing a Huskies program that looked like it was ready to turn things around.

Final Drive: These two conference-less teams face an outcome on Saturday that could drastically affect their offseasons. A win for the Minutemen would match their best record in the FBS since 2018. It would also salvage a difficult start to the season and signal to fans and recruits alike that they are on the precipice of finally putting it all together in 2024. A loss could equal more of the same, and that their wins over New Mexico State and Army were more on their opponent than themselves, while also taking the wind out of their sails going into the recruiting period. A win for the Huskies won’t hide the fact that it’s been a disappointing season, but it would still nonetheless be a win over a regional rival that says even if we’ve had a tough year, we still own those guys to the north. On the flipside, a loss would be a painful nail in the coffin to a massive let down of a season, with their bitter rivals being the last one to joyfully hold the hammer. The implications of this game far exceed Twitter trash talk, which often happens in the build up to this game where UMass and Huskies fans point the finger at one another about who has things worse. These two programs recruit similar players in similar regions, doing the difficult job of trying to keep kids in the Northeast, and convincing them why each school is better than the other. A win could tip the scale for a kid in the Tri-State area deciding between the two, and both schools anxiously know that. On the field, the 2023 edition of “The U Game” tips in favor of the Minutemen, who have an all-around better offensive attack than the Huskies. As long as UMass doesn’t turn over the ball and allow Roberson to play above his means they should come away victorious. Though for both programs, that is never a guarantee.

Prediction: UMass 24, UConn 20