The Huskies were in control most of the way after jumping out to an early lead as they secure bowl eligibility for the second time in three years under Jim Mora.
The UConn Huskies clinched bowl eligibility with a 34-27 win over Georgia State in a contest where they never trailed. They end the season’s home slate with a 6-1 mark at Rentschler Field and will close out their campaign with three road games before a potential bowl appearance.
UConn quickly got on the board first as Mel Brown burst through a hole for a 52-yard run on the Huskies’ first play from scrimmage. Two plays later, Nick Evers hit Louis Hansen on a play-action pass to make it 7-0 early in the first quarter. They drove 59 yards on their second drive, ending in a field goal to make it an early 10-0 lead.
Georgia State bounced back with a touchdown on its third drive. Zach Gibson hit a diving Ted Hurst on a fade route that was called in, making it 10-7 early in the second quarter. After a Durell Robinson fumble, the Panthers added a field goal to tie the game up.
With the ball back and over three minutes left, UConn was looking to take a lead into the break but was forced to punt after going three-and-out. Things started to look bleak before D’Mon Brinson picked off Gibson to give the Huskies the ball back near the red zone with 1:00 left. The Huskies managed a field goal from there to make it 13-10 at halftime.
The Huskies took the ball and promptly drove down for a touchdown thanks to a 46-yard run by Cam Edwards that set up a rushing touchdown by Robinson to make it 20-10. GSU responded with a long field goal drive to get within a score by the end of the third quarter.
After a long Connor Stutz punt flipped the field, the Panthers punted and set UConn up with good field position, leading to the next Husky touchdown, a five-yard run by Evers to make it 27-13. On the ensuing possession, GSU’s backup QB threw a pick to Malik Dixon-Williams, which set up a 31-yard rushing touchdown by Brown to put the game well out of reach at 34-13.
With 11:26 left, GSU took over and faced a 4th and short from its own 45. Instead of ending the game, UConn allowed a 55-yard rushing touchdown up the middle, making it 34-20 and preventing the fans from celebrating anything too early.
But the Huskies held on thanks to staunch defense, a punt downed at the seven-yard line, and a 4th and 2 conversion even though the game was within one score on two separate occasions down the stretch. Brown finished with 138 rushing yards and a touchdown on 14 carries (9.6 ypc) while Edwards averaged 6.8 yards per carry and ran four yards for the game-clinching fourth down.
After the game, Edwards said he asked for the ball in that moment.
Despite being pinned down on its own seven-yard line, Georgia State notched a gritty touchdown drive to remain in contention, converting a 4th down inside its own territory during a 12-play, 75-yard drive.
UConn recovered an onside kick attempt that seemed to go to a Georgia State player in the pile but Jackson Harper recovered. Head coach Jim Mora said Harper earned a game ball for that effort. Four plays later, Edwards converted that fourth down and Evers kneeled it once for a win.
Like in 2022 when the Huskies won six games, UConn does not have any formal bowl ties (that we know of) but should be able to slot into a game once it’s all said and done. They’ll have to wait to see how things shake out at the end of the season, but it did not seem to be a major issue last time around.
Next up, the Huskies head to Alabama for the first of three road games to close out the regular season. They meet UAB at 2:30 p.m. in a game that will be televised on ESPN+.