Orange Return to Action Against UConn Saturday
9/28/2026 2:40:00 PM | Football
Fresh off a bye, Syracuse hits the road Saturday to battle UConn in Storrs, Connecticut. Kickoff is set for noon on CBS Sports Network. The matchup serves as the 15th all-time meeting between the two schools.
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After a week away from game action, head coach Fran Brown is eager to get his team back on the field and into game week.
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"I'm excited and thankful to get back to a week of football," Brown said. "We get the opportunity to go out and compete and our players get to play. I'm just really excited about the opportunity we have to go out and compete and play some football, just to improve and have a lot of fun. We get to be around each other and be on the field and I'm very thankful for the opportunity to compete against UConn, it's a good football team."
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With the bye in the rearview, Brown is treating UConn as the only thing on the schedule that matters right now.
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"We have a big opportunity ahead of us," Brown said. "We just have to play one game at a time. UConn is on the schedule, that's what we're trying to focus on – being able to go out and compete against UConn."
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Syracuse's defense has been among the nation's stingiest this season under defensive coordinator Vince Kehres. The Orange rank sixth nationally in passing yards allowed per game (134.7) and 18th in total yards allowed per game (258.7). Most recently, Syracuse held Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Heintschel, who is averaging 297.8 yards per game this season, to just 123 yards through the air. Brown said he's pleased with the start the defense has had and looks forward to continued improvement under Kehres as the season progresses.
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"I think we're doing a good job on the defense," Brown said. "I think Coach VK is a great teacher and I think we're going to continue to get better."
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Syracuse's highest-rated recruit in the modern recruiting era, wide receiver Calvin Russell III, is nearing his collegiate debut. Russell suffered an injury during spring practices that has held him out of the first three games, but Brown is looking forward to Russell contributing on the Orange offense in the near future.
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"As much as possible, as much as his body allows him and as much as our training room says he can," Brown said when asked how much fans can expect to see Russell on the field. "I'm really happy and excited about Calvin playing."
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The game comes in the midst of a 35-day stretch between home games for the Orange, among the longest such stretches in the nation this season. Stanford is the only Power Four team with a longer window away from its primary venue, at 36 days.
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Syracuse returns to the JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday, October 17, when Louisville comes to town for an ACC matchup. Tickets are still available! Visit Cuse.com/FootballTickets to secure your spot today!
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After a week away from game action, head coach Fran Brown is eager to get his team back on the field and into game week.
Â
"I'm excited and thankful to get back to a week of football," Brown said. "We get the opportunity to go out and compete and our players get to play. I'm just really excited about the opportunity we have to go out and compete and play some football, just to improve and have a lot of fun. We get to be around each other and be on the field and I'm very thankful for the opportunity to compete against UConn, it's a good football team."
Â
With the bye in the rearview, Brown is treating UConn as the only thing on the schedule that matters right now.
Â
"We have a big opportunity ahead of us," Brown said. "We just have to play one game at a time. UConn is on the schedule, that's what we're trying to focus on – being able to go out and compete against UConn."
Â
Syracuse's defense has been among the nation's stingiest this season under defensive coordinator Vince Kehres. The Orange rank sixth nationally in passing yards allowed per game (134.7) and 18th in total yards allowed per game (258.7). Most recently, Syracuse held Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Heintschel, who is averaging 297.8 yards per game this season, to just 123 yards through the air. Brown said he's pleased with the start the defense has had and looks forward to continued improvement under Kehres as the season progresses.
Â
"I think we're doing a good job on the defense," Brown said. "I think Coach VK is a great teacher and I think we're going to continue to get better."
Â
Syracuse's highest-rated recruit in the modern recruiting era, wide receiver Calvin Russell III, is nearing his collegiate debut. Russell suffered an injury during spring practices that has held him out of the first three games, but Brown is looking forward to Russell contributing on the Orange offense in the near future.
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"As much as possible, as much as his body allows him and as much as our training room says he can," Brown said when asked how much fans can expect to see Russell on the field. "I'm really happy and excited about Calvin playing."
Â
The game comes in the midst of a 35-day stretch between home games for the Orange, among the longest such stretches in the nation this season. Stanford is the only Power Four team with a longer window away from its primary venue, at 36 days.
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Syracuse returns to the JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday, October 17, when Louisville comes to town for an ACC matchup. Tickets are still available! Visit Cuse.com/FootballTickets to secure your spot today!
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