University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
University of Illinois
Illinois Comes to The Rent for First Time
9/6/2019 8:49:00 PM | Football
Game Notes | Learfield Rosters
THIS WEEK'S CONTEST
UConn hosts Big Ten foe Illinois on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 3:30 p.m. at Pratt & Whitey Stadium at Rentschler Field. Saturday's game is being televised on CBSSN with Dave Ryan (PxP), and Corey Chavous (Analyst) on the call.Â
UCONN VS. ILLINOIS HISTORYÂ
Saturday's game will be the first-ever meeting between UConn and Illinois on the gridiron. The matchup is the first of a home-and-home series between the Huskies and Fighting Illini with a trip to Urbana-Champaign scheduled for September 12, 2020.Â
HUSKIES VS. NON-CONFERENCE FOES SINCE 2002
The Huskies boast a 52-37 record against non-conference opponents in the regular season since making the move to the FBS in 2002. The Huskies have won 25 of  their last 43 regular season non-league games overall. UConn has posted the following records in non-conference regular season games: 6-6 (2002), 9-3 (2003), 4-1 (2004), 3-1 (2005), 3-2 (2006), 4-1 (2007), 4-1 (2008), 4-1 (2009), 3-2 (2010), 2-3 (2011), 3-2 (2012), 0-4 (2013), 1-3 (2014) and 2-2 (2015), 2-2 (2016), 1-3 (2017). 1-3 (2018) and 1-0 in 2019.
UCONN VS. THE B1G TEN
UConn plays a pair of Big Ten teams in 2019 with matchups against Illinois and Indiana. The Huskies last played a Big Ten opponent in 2013 with games against three current Big Ten foes (Maryland, Michigan and Rutgers). UConn is 14-26 all-time against current Big Ten teams. Indiana (2-0), Maryland (1-2), Michigan (0-2) and Rutgers (11-22).Â
GROUND AND POUND
The Huskies won their season-opening game against Wagner, 24-21, behind a strong running attack from Kevin Mensah and Art Thompkins. Mensah rushed for 144 yards and one touchdown on a career-high 36 carries. It was the sixth time in the junior's career that he rushed for 100-yards or more.
The Worcester, Mass. native currently leads The American Athletic Conference in rushing yards after week one.
In his UConn debut, Thompkins rushed for 91 yards and a score.Â
GETTING TO THE QB
The Huskies racked up four sacks in their season opener against Wagner. Lwal Uguak (2.0 sacks), Pierce DeVaughn and Dillon Harris all registered their first career sacks. UConn only sacked the quarterback on 11 occasions in 2018 and did not record a four-sack effort.
#RAISETHEBAR
There are already signs of improvement for the 2019 Huskies on opening night against Wagner. Coming off a rough year defensively in 2018, theÂ
defense forced six three-and-outs vs. the Seahawks. UConn forced 17 three-and-outs during the entire 2018 campaign.Â
The Huskies limited big yardage plays against Wagner, giving up only seven play for 10 yards or more. In last year's matchup with FCS opponent, URI, UConn gave up 24 plays of 10 yards or more.
PENCILING IN PEART
Redshirt senior Matt Peart has started all 37 games that he has played since stepping on the UConn campus. The offensive lineman redshirted in 2015 and since then has been a fixture in the starting lineup. Peart is part of an experienced offensive line that helped the Huskies rush for 234 yards on Thursday against Wagner.
