Looking to back up its nine-win season in 2024, expectations continue to rise around the UConn football program as it looks forward to a seemingly manageable schedule this fall.

The Huskies are one of just two programs that will compete as an FBS independent for the 2025 season as UMass transitions back to the MAC, leaving just Notre Dame, which has its own scheduling deal with the ACC, as the other. Considered a Group of Five program, UConn’s schedule includes just three power conference opponents – all in the ACC.

According to ESPN’s post-spring rankings based on SP+, a metric that weighs returning production, recent recruiting and recent history, the Huskies’ strength of schedule ranks 124th of 136 FBS programs.

So how many games should the Huskies win?

The Vegas oddsmakers appear to be optimistic.

The Huskies’ over/under win total was set at 7.5 games this week, according to odds on Draftkings Sportsbook, with the under favored at -130 and the over set at +100.

UConn went undefeated against Group of Five opponents last season and has eight such games on the docket for 2025, in addition to the Aug. 30 season-opener against Central Connecticut, which competes at the Division I FCS level. Four of those games (and the CCSU matchup) will take place at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, with Ball State, FIU, UAB and Air Force set to visit.

None of the Huskies’ Group of Five opponents were ranked inside the top 90 on ESPN’s list. UConn came in at No. 84.

A road trip to Buffalo on Sept. 27 figures to be the most challenging among those eight, with the Bulls ranked No. 91 by ESPN. Air Force came in at No. 94, followed by Delaware at No. 110, UAB at No. 112 and FAU at No. 115. Rice (No. 121), FIU (No. 129) and Ball State (No. 134) are projected among the 16 worst teams in the FBS.

Of the three power conference opponents, Duke projects to be the most challenging on the Huskies’ schedule. The Blue Devils are ranked No. 41 ahead of Year Two under head coach Manny Diaz and will be the only Power Four opponent to visit Rentschler Field in 2025. When the teams met last season in Durham, UConn climbed out of a 17-0 hole to carry a lead into the fourth quarter, but stalled as the Blue Devils came back to win, 26-21.

UConn runner Cam Edwards looks to evade the defense of Duke's Terry Moore (1) during the first half of the Huskies' game at the Blue Devils on Saturday night in Durham, NC. (Courtesy of UConn)

Syracuse, another familiar opponent, will play host to the Huskies at the JMA Wireless Dome for the second year in a row. The Orange are ranked No. 56 after a 10-3 season that landed them at No. 20 in the final AP poll in their first year under head coach Fran Brown. UConn kept that game close last year as well, the teams trading touchdowns in the fourth quarter until Syracuse recovered an onside kick attempt and ran out the clock on a 31-24 victory.

Boston College, the last power conference opponent UConn beat before last year’s Fenway Bowl against North Carolina, is back on the schedule after a year off. UConn pulled off a 13-3 victory over the Eagles at Rentschler Field in 2022, its first season under head coach Jim Mora, but came up short in Chestnut Hill during a disappointing 3-9 season in 2023. The Huskies will visit again on Oct. 18 to get their first look at the Eagles under former NFL head coach Bill O’Brien, who is entering his second season with BC ranked No. 62.

UConn’s offseason has been relatively successful as the Huskies were able to reload at several positions, particularly on defense and on the offensive line, where a number of key players departed due to expiring eligibility, some leaving via transfer portal. If the Huskies were able to surround their returning pieces with quality transfers, as they did last year, they seem to have the schedule to take a real shot at the program’s first-ever FBS season with double-digit wins.

Players are set to return to campus and begin fall camp in late July, about a month before the season begins with Central Connecticut at Rentschler Field.

UConn announces kickoff times for home games

CBS Sports Network will be the home for UConn football home games for the fifth straight year, including five games on the 2025 schedule. The Huskies’ home opener against CCSU will be carried on WFSB Channel 3’s sister station WWAX throughout Connecticut and on UConn+, with kickoff scheduled for 2 p.m. Aug. 30.

The CBSSN slate begins with Ball State at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 20. UConn’s next home game, on Oct. 4 against FIU, will also kickoff at 3:30 p.m. The Huskies have a stretch of three-straight home games to start November with UAB making its first trip to Rentschler Field for a Noon kickoff Nov. 1, followed by Duke at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 8 and the program’s first-ever matchup with Air Force at Noon on Nov. 15.

The kickoff time was also set for UConn’s road trip to Syracuse Sept. 6, which will air on ESPN+ and ACC Network Extra at Noon.

Originally Published: May 29, 2025 at 10:13 AM EDT