2025 Schedule

[shizzle787]

We have 11 games. We need one more.

We already have an FCS game and six home games but only two P4 games so a road half of a home/home with a P4 school is preferred.

P4 schools with opening:
Baylor
Vanderbilt
Pitt
SMU
Stanford
Northwestern
Rutgers
Notre Dame (only team where taking one final pay day game is worth it)

We can play the home half in 2028 when we only have one P4 home game that year.

 

[freescooter]

I heard Temple. They have an opening and it’s an easy trip. They need another Home game. 2 is probably the right number of P4 games anyway.

FWIW, 2026 is totally nuts. We are 0-6 and the season is 2 years away.

 

[shizzle787]

I heard Temple. They have an opening and it’s an easy trip. They need another Home game. 2 is probably the right number of P4 games anyway.

FWIW, 2026 is totally nuts. We are 0-6 and the season is 2 years away.

To kill the fanbase, sure. We are playing 4 P4 games this year and are likely to go 8-4 with two close P4 losses. 6 P4 home and home games with an FCS game and 5 low-end Pac-12, AAC, or MW schools and UMass is the way to go.

 

[freescooter]

To kill the fanbase, sure. We are playing 4 P4 games this year and are likely to go 8-4 with two close P4 losses. 6 P4 home and home games with an FCS game and 5 low-end Pac-12, AAC, or MW schools and UMass is the way to go.

Losing records is what kills the fan base. Look at the G5 teams in the Top 25.
#12 Boise St. 9-1. 1 P4
#18 Army. 9-0 1P4
#20 Tulane 9-2 2P4
#23 UNLV 8-2 2 P4
#25 Washington State 8-2 2 P4.

You can pretend UConn is Notre Dame, but it is not true. We are a G5 program whether you like that or not. Our best play is to play a G5 schedule and win 7-10 games year in year out. Do that and we are going to be respected and we’ll even show up in the Top 25 sometimes. We’ll be a good bowl attraction too. Often we will get our 3rd P4 game in our bowl game.

You don’t like watching UConn football then stay home. We have 1 win in our last 11 P4 games. The idea that somehow we win 3-4 out of 6 is beyond wishful thinking.

 

[Jetskies]

We have 1 win in our last 11 P4 games.

P4 is a broad definition. I believe we are going to be good enough, soon, to beat the dukes/WF's of the world.
Ole Miss? Notre Dame? no.

but i would not mind or be afraid of a stanford/Northwestern/Vandy on our 2025 schedule.

point is - we are getting better, and JM is not only ready, he is thankful for NIL/Portal, which is the fast track to reviving us. If we schedule mid P4s and stay away from the Tennessee's/Ohio States, then we have a good chance to win, but also to keep our dignity by avoiding a 89-0 loss to a top 5 program, and all the bad press & twitter jokes that come with that.

 

[shizzle787]

Losing records is what kills the fan base. Look at the G5 teams in the Top 25.
#12 Boise St. 9-1. 1 P4
#18 Army. 9-0 1P4
#20 Tulane 9-2 2P4
#23 UNLV 8-2 2 P4
#25 Washington State 8-2 2 P4.

You can pretend UConn is Notre Dame, but it is not true. We are a G5 program whether you like that or not. Our best play is to play a G5 schedule and win 7-10 games year in year out. Do that and we are going to be respected and we’ll even show up in the Top 25 sometimes. We’ll be a good bowl attraction too. Often we will get our 3rd P4 game in our bowl game.

You don’t like watching UConn football then stay home. We have 1 win in our last 11 P4 games. The idea that somehow we win 3-4 out of 6 is beyond wishful thinking.

No we won't because we don't have a bowl contract. Washington State plays a quasi-P4 schedule, and the others are ranked by default: the best AAC and MW programs are going to be ranked by virtue of beating the rest of the leagues. We won't be ranked if we are 8-2 or 9-1.

 

[shizzle787]

P4 is a broad definition. I believe we are going to be good enough, soon, to beat the dukes/WF's of the world.
Ole Miss? Notre Dame? no.

but i would not mind or be afraid of a stanford/Northwestern/Vandy on our 2025 schedule.

This. Low to medium-tier P4s should be the goal. I am not advocating for body bag games. I don't like those. However, home and homes with schools like Virginia and Boston College are good.

 

[shizzle787]

Losing records is what kills the fan base. Look at the G5 teams in the Top 25.
#12 Boise St. 9-1. 1 P4
#18 Army. 9-0 1P4
#20 Tulane 9-2 2P4
#23 UNLV 8-2 2 P4
#25 Washington State 8-2 2 P4.

You can pretend UConn is Notre Dame, but it is not true. We are a G5 program whether you like that or not. Our best play is to play a G5 schedule and win 7-10 games year in year out. Do that and we are going to be respected and we’ll even show up in the Top 25 sometimes. We’ll be a good bowl attraction too. Often we will get our 3rd P4 game in our bowl game.

You don’t like watching UConn football then stay home. We have 1 win in our last 11 P4 games. The idea that somehow we win 3-4 out of 6 is beyond wishful thinking.

You like mediocrity. Go root for a MAC program. You are afraid of schools like Wake and Duke. We get it. It's fans like you with inferiority complexes that need to leave.

 

[maple]

FWIW, 2026 is totally nuts. We are 0-6 and the season is 2 years away.

Losing mentality. Let's wait until we actually play the games first. There's absolutely wins to be found there, especially if we keep trending up.

 

[Jetskies]

You like mediocrity. Go root for a MAC program. You are afraid of schools like Wake and Duke. We get it. It's fans like you with inferiority complexes that need to leave.

I did not interpret Free's post as loving mediocrity. I see it more so as just valuing wins and records over getting flashy opponent names on our schedule. I agree with us playing level competition, as we are indeed an aggressively mediocre G5 program right now. I disagree with staying entirely away from P4, but again I get free's concern with our 1-11 record the last few years. the truth IMO is we need a balance - mostly G5 but some P4s to show we are keeping up with the top of the market. it's a necessity to show the Big 12.

Cincy, Houston, UCF all had flagship seasons to show the Big12 before they got in. I have no reason to believe we won't also need a cinderella season or season(s) to get into the dance, too. Maybe we get an exception in football because of how nasty our basketball is (i'm hoping for that) - but still, I suspect we need to show a pulse (i.e. at least some wins) against the P4 before the doors open.

The hopeful jetsky in me is thinking that behind closed doors, Dave Benedict and Brett Yormark have already shaken hands and Yormark and his univ presidents are like "dude... just get this thing aliveeeeee for goodness sake - we want u".

 

[Blades]

We have 11 games. We need one more.

There should be options out there with all the CR and scheduling changes going on. Like mentioned above no need for the body bag game$ at this point of moving the program forward (which has already been taken care of for 2025 with the Ohio St. buyout)
Other than the top half of the P-4, that term is overused IMHO and there are plenty of competitive games to be had vs. middling and lower "P-4's" as long as Mora's vision trends upwards. With 7 at home this year, who knows if it'll be a road or not, once it's announced.

 

[Waquoit]

The casual fan is aware of Temple, more so than a Rice or Dayton. It's usually a good game. I have no problem.

 

[uconntailgater]

For the the 4-6 years we need to be a consistent winner to be ready for the next round of conference realignment. If Temple is available for next year definitely put them on the schedule. It's a drivable game to watch and in a great recruiting area (New Jersey-Pennsylvania).

 

[freescooter]

No we won't because we don't have a bowl contract. Washington State plays a quasi-P4 schedule, and the others are ranked by default: the best AAC and MW programs are going to be ranked by virtue of beating the rest of the leagues. We won't be ranked if we are 8-2 or 9-1.

Stop worrying about the bowl contract. That’s a red herring. Win and you are in a bowl. If you have a good enough record you’ll be ranked, too. Not top 5 but 20-25ish.

As to Washington State, I doubt you even looked at their schedule. Their “quasi P4” schedule is 8 Mountain West games, 4 win Oregon State, Texas Tech and Washington and an FCS game. Pretty much the standard good G5 schedule. Played Boise St (MW) but missed the other top MW teams. As I said, 2 actual P4 games. Hardly a quasi-p4 schedule. Our schedule was closer to a quasi-p4 than Washinton State’s.

 

[LoyalFanCT]

Vandy!

 

[LetsGoUC]

I am all in on playing Temple. Should be a W and local geographical opponent

 

[ZooCougar]

No we won't because we don't have a bowl contract. Washington State plays a quasi-P4 schedule, and the others are ranked by default: the best AAC and MW programs are going to be ranked by virtue of beating the rest of the leagues. We won't be ranked if we are 8-2 or 9-1.

Bowl contract or no. It doesn't matter who you beat. Beat 5 P4s and lose everything else, (not likely ever) you are still not going to bowl.

We should play like two P4s and then play an FCS and G5s. This the smart play. Anything else is extra and not at all extra credit.

 

[Patman]

Losing records is what kills the fan base. Look at the G5 teams in the Top 25.
#12 Boise St. 9-1. 1 P4
#18 Army. 9-0 1P4
#20 Tulane 9-2 2P4
#23 UNLV 8-2 2 P4
#25 Washington State 8-2 2 P4.

You can pretend UConn is Notre Dame, but it is not true. We are a G5 program whether you like that or not. Our best play is to play a G5 schedule and win 7-10 games year in year out. Do that and we are going to be respected and we’ll even show up in the Top 25 sometimes. We’ll be a good bowl attraction too. Often we will get our 3rd P4 game in our bowl game.

You don’t like watching UConn football then stay home. We have 1 win in our last 11 P4 games. The idea that somehow we win 3-4 out of 6 is beyond wishful thinking.

if you can't do half bad against the P4 there is no hope. Scheduling the top of the p4 is a mistake. Scheduling 6 of them is not, just a matter of which six.

 

[Hskies4Ever]

I think both winning record AND name brand matter for fan support. How many people have you heard question our 7-3 record because we haven’t beaten anybody casual fans have heard of?

I want mid/low level P5s or a high level G5. Not entirely that mix, but if we aspire to be a power conference team, we need to schedule like one. 4 to 5 power conference games, 4 to 5 decent g5, and then maybe 4-5 cupcakes.

This year we had a good mix of P5s, but too many low level G5s. It’s hard to predict because games are contracted so far out in advance, but we’ve made progress and we’re not going backwards again. We can take on more challenge going forward.

 

[Hskies4Ever]

I actually love the look of the 2026 schedule. It’s tough but doable. Need to fill it out with a cupcake as it’s light on those.

 

[UCFBfan]

Gotta keep building the fan base and playing a team that we have a good shot of building and is a name that fans are familiar with is not a bad thing. Plus it increases visuals and presence in the PA/NJ area for recruiting both HS and transfer. I think Temple fits the bill nicely.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

I am all in on playing Temple. Should be a W and local geographical opponent

In 2025, Temple needs 1 more home game. With UConn’s current 6 H and 5 A games scheduled for 2025, our Huskies could accommodate Temple’s need (Edit 1: … if an Owls team still exists in North Philly).

Edit 2: If Temple football shuts down football, target one of their canceled 2025 opponents.?

 

[Kowalski]

We have 11 games. We need one more.

We already have an FCS game and six home games but only two P4 games so a road half of a home/home with a P4 school is preferred.

P4 schools with opening:
Baylor
Vanderbilt
Pitt
SMU
Stanford
Northwestern
Rutgers
Notre Dame (only team where taking one final pay day game is worth it)

We can play the home half in 2028 when we only have one P4 home game that year.

Agree, we need another P4 on next year’s schedule. If it has to be a road game, I’d schedule any of the more eastern teams on your list or Northwestern.
But I’d take a pass on scheduling anything with Notre Dame. Just let the ‘09 win & perfect record against them stand as is.

 

[Waquoit]

But I’d take a pass on scheduling anything with Notre Dame. Just let the ‘09 win & perfect record against them stand as is.

And especially since everyone beats them these days.

 

[Coult]

Rumor is that UMass is pushing their '25 game with BC to the 2030s, would love to fill the gap in the schedule next year with the first of a multi-game series with Boston College. Benedict and BC's AD clearly already were able to work something out for the past couple years, time to run it back. Would also still take a matchup with PItt or Rutgers, but have not played them in forever so not sure how much of a relationship there is between decision makers.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Rumor is that UMass is pushing their '25 game with BC to the 2030s, would love to fill the gap in the schedule next year with the first of a multi-game series with Boston College. Benedict and BC's AD clearly already were able to work something out for the past couple years, time to run it back. Would also still take a matchup with PItt or Rutgers, but have not played them in forever so not sure how much of a relationship there is between decision makers.

Pitt in '27 and '28. Have a feeling Rutgers would rather ignore UConn.

 

[shizzle787]

As far as I am concerned, we have 10 games that are locked in. The UMass game is now in peril because they have scheduled a home game against Temple. They are already rumored to be dropping BC (we will get back to them) and will have to drop one more of us, Missouri, or Iowa (all road games).

The following programs have an opening but have not yet scheduled an FCS opponent:
Baylor
Pitt
UL Monroe
Kennesaw State

The above schools are not likely to feature on our schedule next year.

The following programs play in the MW and get to play 13 games if they play Hawaii on the road or are Hawaii:
Hawaii
Utah State
Fresno State
SDSU
Wyoming

I would play anyone of those five but I don't think any will reciprocate.

The following are schools that have an opening and already have an FCS game scheduled or don't usually schedule one:
Boston College
SMU
Air Force
Notre Dame
Southern Miss

If UMass drops us, we will need two games (at least one will need to be a home game).

I want BC. We can play them on the road as part of a home and home with the home game either in 2026 or 2027.

I actually think that is the most likely scenario if UMass stays on our schedule and drops BC.

If UMass is off the schedule, I would want BC (road) and Air Force (home). We need to avoid playing 2 FCS teams.

 

[Waquoit]

I hate BC but I don't care if we play them in a home-and-home.

 

[shizzle787]

IMO we should be playing both Syracuse and BC home and home rotating on a yearly basis towards the end of the season.

 

[AllHusky]

Looking at 2025 as it stands, Beat Syracuse in week 2 and holy cow, skies the limit for the season. I wouldn't add body bag game next year. Err on the less rather than more competitive game(s) to fill in the holes. Syracuse and Duke ok for now, one more winnable P4 would be great.