University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
James Madison
UConn Travels to No. 21 JMU
11/9/2023 9:49:00 AM | Football
TV: ESPN+
Radio: UConn Sports Network from Learfield - ESPN 97.9  Affiliates - WAVZ 1300 AM (New Haven), WGCH 1490 AM (Greenwich), WILI 1400 AM/95.3FM, (Willimantic); WICH 1310 AM/94.5 FM (Norwich) Online: The Varsity Network App
Quick Hits..
The UConn Huskies close out three-straight road games with a trip to face the No. 21 nationally ranked James Madison Dukes on Saturday afternoon. Saturday's game kicks-off at 2 pm on ESPN+.
This will mark the sixth meeting between UConn and JMU and first match-up since the 1999 season. All previous five meetings between the Huskies and Dukes took place during the schools time at the FCS level, with JMU leading the all-time series 4-1 with four-straight wins.Â
For the second-straight week the Huskies face a team in the national polls and third time this season. UConn lost at home earlier this season to No. 18/18 Duke, 41-7, and at No. 19/16 Tennessee last weekend, 59-3. UConn's last win over a ranked opponent on the road came in 2012 at No. 19 Louisville, 23-20 in three overtimes. The Huskies have lost 12-straight on the road to ranked teams.
The Huskies take on JMU looking to end a three-game losing streak coming off a 59-3 loss at No. 19 Tennessee last Saturday. The Vols scored three defensive touchdowns and also had three scoring plays of 60-plus yards in the win. UConn's lone points came off the foot of place kicker Noe Ruelas who made his first field goal of the season, a 22-yard attempt in the first quarter.
UConn r-junior quarterback Ta'Quan Roberson finished 24 for 48 for 218 yards with two interceptions. Sophomore tight end Justin Joly caught a career-high eight passes for 89 yards in the loss.
Last Meeting vs. JMU - Oct. 23, 1999 - L, 48-14
James Madison running back Curtis Keaton scored five touchdowns and ran for 237 yards to lead the Dukes to a 48-14 win over the visiting UConn Huskies at Bridgeforth Stadium. UConn struck for the game's first points as Brian Hoffmann hit Taber Small for a 14-yard touchdown to cap a 12-play drive for a 7-0 first quarter lead. JMU responded with four touchdowns in the second quarter, three from Keaton, and opened the second half with Keaton's fourth on the day to blow open the game and lead 35-7. UConn's Small got his second score of the game to close the third quarter but Keaton opened the fourth quarter with his fifth touchdown, tying the JMU single game record. The Dukes finished with 408 yards on the ground while holding the Huskies to just 39 yards rushing. UConn's Hoffmann finished 33 of 49 passing for 278 yards but was sacked four times and intercepted once in the loss. JMU's Mike Connelly joined Keaton in going over the century mark rushing, carrying it 10 times for 120 yards and a score.
Scouting the Dukes...
The James Madison Dukes enter this week's match-up as one seven undefeated teams in FBS at 9-0 and have climbed to No. 21 in the AP and Coaches' Top-25 polls. The Dukes are 6-0 in the Sun Belt after a 42-14 win on the road at Georgia State last weekend. The win was also JMU's eighth against an FBS opponent this season, matching Georgia Southern's 2014 record of most FBS wins in a season by a transitioning team. On offense, quarterback Jordan McCloud had over 400 yards and six touchdowns in the win over the Panthers. McCloud finished 28-of-36 for 307 yards and four scores through the air and ran for a career-high 104 yards with two scores on the ground. On the season, he has thrown for 2,330 yards and 22 touchdowns, completing 67.1 % of his passes. Defensively, the Dukes own the nation's stingiest run defense allowing just 59.7 yards per game. Senior defensive lineman Jalen Green is leading the country with 15.5 sacks this season while the Dukes have 41 total sacks as a team. Â
UConn vs. the Sun Belt Conference...
UConn is 0-2 when matched-up against the Sun Belt Conference with the loss coming earlier this season at Georgia State, 35-17, and in the 2022 Myrtle Beach Bowl to Marshall. The Huskies are 0-2 all-time against Marshall with the previous loss coming when the Thundering Herd was a member of Conference-USA. UConn is 1-4 against JMU all-time and 0-1 against Georgia Southern, dating back to the FCS years. UConn has future match-ups against the league scheduled with games against Old Dominion (2026-A/2027-H), JMU(2026-H)and Georgia State.(2024-H).
