If we didn't hold up our end of the bargain and prove that we can have an electric stadium with some meaningful home games each year there's probably no way we get in. Geography is #1, by far, but showing that we can have a stadium packed to brim and loud like on Saturday certainly did not hurt things.
I've followed UCONN football for a good number of years now, and besides for the Michigan game I can't recall any games where the stadium came across on TV like it was a big time atmosphere. And even then with the Michigan game it never felt like it was because of UCONN fans.
Win, win, and win. Keep scheduling good opponents. Fill up that stadium with UCONN fans. Someone will take notice.