Sep. 13—LOCATION — Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham, N.C.
Kickoff: 6 p.m. (ESPN+, ACC Network Extra)
Last game: UConn beat Merrimack, 63-17, Saturday; Duke won at Northwestern, 26-20 (20Ts), Sept. 6.
Series: UConn leads, 2-1, losing last season’s meeting 41-7 in East Hartford
Players to watch: UConn, r-jr. WR Skyler Bell (7 catches, 246 yards, one TD), sr. QB Joe Fagnano (21 for 35, 477 yards, 6 TDs, 1 int.), r-so. QB Nick Evers (6 for 17, 73 yards, 1 int.), r-sr. WR TJ Sheffield (4 catches, 53 yards, 1 TD), r-fr. RB Durell Robinson (17 carries, 128 yards, 1TD, 4 catches, 14 yards), r-so. RB Cam Edwards (11 carries, 47 yards, 1 TD), jr. RB Mel Brown (20 carries, 95 yards), r-sr. LB Jayden McDonald (14 tackles), sr. LB Amir Renwick (12 tackles), r-sr. CB Jordan Wright (9 tackles, 1 sack), r-sr. DT Dal’Mont Gourdine (9 tackles,), jr. DB D’Mon Brinson (6 tackles), Sr. LB Tui Faumuina-Brown (11 tackles, 1 sack)
Duke, so. QB Maalik Murphy (50 for 79, 533 yards, 5 TDs, 2 ints), sr. WR Jordan Moore (18 catches, 233 yards, 1 TD), grad RB Star Thomas (30 carries, 81 yards), sr. RB Jaquez Moore (13 carries, 35 yards, 1 TD), grad WR Eli Pancol (9 catches, 100 yards, 3 TDs), r-jr. WR Sahmir Hagans (8 catches, 76 yards), grad LB Alex Howard (21 tackles, 4.5 for loss, 1 sack), sr. LB Cameron Bergeron (11 tackles, 2.5 for loss), r-jr. LB Tre Freeman (10 tackles), jr. DE Vincent Anthony Jr. (6 tackles, 2 sacks), fr. P Kade Reynoldson (47.0 yards per punt)
Noteworthy: UConn hasn’t beaten a power conference program on the road in 12 years, last winning at Maryland 24-21 in September 2012.
Quotable: “Huge challenge for us to go on the road and play another power conference team in Duke,” UConn coach Jim Mora said. “We’ve got our hands full. Our intent is to remain focused on what we can control and go out there on Saturday night in a tough environment and cut it loose and try to play great football and work as hard as we can to beat a really good team.”
Four down territory
— Duke’s defense has been outstanding through two games. The Blue Devils rank second in the Atlantic Coast Conference in total defense, allowing 214 yards per game, and third in scoring defense at 11.5. They’ve been particularly tough on third down, limiting opponents to a 19.35% conversion rate. They’ve yet to give up a passing touchdown.
— UConn’s defense needs to improve and improve quickly, according to Mora. The Huskies have had too many breakdowns and too many missed tackles. “It’s not easy but it’s very simple. We want to see us do our job on a more consistent basis and not just do our own thing. Defense in football is the ultimate team environment. All 11 have to be on the same page every play.”
— Will opening game starting quarterback Nick Evers or senior Joe Fagnano be behind center on Saturday for the Huskies? If Evers (concussion) is cleared to play, he’ll likely start. Fagnano is coming off a record-setting performance vs. Merrimack, throwing a school-record tying five touchdowns and also running for another score.
— Senior wide receiver Jordan Moore is a player to watch for Duke. He’s started the season with consecutive 100-yard receiving games. He’s tied for second nationally in receptions per game with nine.
Extra points: UConn’s offensive line has yet to allow a sack this season while Duke has given up just two. … First-year coach Manny Diaz served as Penn State‘s defensive coordinator prior to taking over the Duke program. He also spent three seasons as head coach at Miami (2019-21). … Huskies are 7-25 all-time against ACC competition. They’ll also play ACC foes Wake Forest (Oct. 19), and Syracuse (Nov. 23) this season. … RB Victor Rosa (broken finger) will miss the game. … UConn and Duke have agreed to play four more games — 2025 and 2029 in East Hartford, 2026 and 2030 in Durham, N.C.. … Duke players with Connecticut ties: LB Derrick Brown Jr. (Avon Old Farms), LB Nick Morris Jr. (Fairfield). … Up next: UConn will host Florida Atlantic Saturday, Sept. 21 (7 p.m.) in the first of six straight home games.
— Gavin Keefe
