UConn looks to beome bowl eligible for the second time in three years with a win in their last home game of 2024.
KICKOFF: 7 p.m.
TV: CBS Sports Network
ANNOUNCERS: Jordan Kent (play-by-play), Logan Ryan (color analyst), Keiana Martin (sideline)
RADIO: UConn IMG Radio Network; Varsity Network App; 97.9 Fox Sports, WGCH 1490 AM, WAVZ 1300 AM, WILI 1400 AM and 95.3 FM, WICH 1310 AM and 94.5 FM; Sirius/XM online streaming, XM 380 (UConn)
ANNOUNCERS: Mike Crispino (play-by-play), Wayne Norman (color analyst), Adam Giardino (sideline)
RECORDS: UConn (5-3), Georgia State (2-5, 0-4 Sun Belt)
LAST WEEK: UConn held off Rice late in a 17-10 win; Georgia State gave up the final eight points to lose to App State, 33-26.
POINT SPREAD: UConn -7.5 (odds via DraftKings)
O/U: 48.5
SERIES HISTORY: This is just the second time that the Huskies and Panthers have faced each other with Georgia State spanking UConn, 35-14, last season.
DEPTH CHART: UConn; Georgia State
PREGAME PRESS CONFERENCE(S): UConn head coach Jim Mora; Georgia State head coach Dell McGee
WEATHER FORECAST: East Hartford, CT
Fun With Numbers
6: This is the sixth straight home game for UConn and their final home game of the 2024 season.
37: Georgia State has been called for only 37 penalties on the season which is 14th in the nation.
72.3: The Husky defense has a stop rate (the percentage of a defense’s drives that end in punts, turnovers, or a turnover on downs) of 72.3%, allowing just 1.36 points per opponent drive. This ranks them 18th out of 134 teams.
5: The Panthers have recovered five fumbles this season which is 33rd best in FBS.
178: UConn’s defense gave up just 178 yards of total offense in the win over Rice.
0; The Huskies have not beaten an opponent from the Sun Belt Conference as they are 0-3 all-time with losses to Georgia State, James Madison, and Marshall.
132: Durell Robinson rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown in the win over Rice. The touchdown came on a 68-yard run.
4: Dal’mont Guardine blocked a career-high four passes in the win over Rice.
.254: UConn’s defense is ranked second in the country on third down conversions at .254 and is eighth in fourth down conversion percentage at .333.
50: Georgia State only allowed 50 yards rushing to UConn in their 2023 win over the Huskies
What to Watch For
Make it Happen
UConn’s last three games have not been pretty but getting two wins over that period is a great sign of the resolve of this team. It does not matter how down in the FBS dumps those opponents may be, the Huskies have not been 5-3 in a long time, and on a Friday night at home on Senior Night they have a chance to secure bowl eligibility.
Head coach Jim Mora has said he is not talking about this possibility with his team at all. They also have a chance, if they can win two out of their remaining four or five games (Georgia State, UAB, Syracuse, and UMass, possibly a bowl game), to win the most games by a Husky squad since 2010.
These stakes may not make a huge difference in the events on the field, but they certainly matter to everyone in the program and to the growing audience of fans taking in games at Rentschler Field. Hopefully, the home slate of what has been a positive season can end with a bang.
Run Durell, Run!
Every year a new star seems to break out in the Husky backfield. This season it’s Durell Robinson. The former four-star BC commit who transferred from Charlotte has emerged as a transformative every-down back capable of making game-changing plays, as he did against FAU, Buffalo, and Rice. His continued growth and playmaking are going to be crucial for the Huskies as they look to avenge the beating Georgia State put on them last year.
Defense wins
Make no mistake, UConn is winning games thanks to a much-improved defense under new DC Matt Brock, who has also benefitted from an influx of transfer talent this year but also has guys like Jelani Stafford, Dal’mont Gourdine, and Pryce Yates, who just returned from an injury, thriving. This stout unit is the reason the Huskies have a chance in every game the rest of the season, and should be a big part of Friday night’s victory effort as well should the home squad prevail.