5 Things to Know: 'Cuse at UConn
9/30/2026 4:55:00 PM | Football
The Syracuse football team returns to action after its bye week, heading to UConn for a non-conference matchup. Here's five things to know ahead of Saturday's game.
1. On the Road Again
Syracuse is in the midst of a 35-day stretch between home contests, the second-longest such stretch in the Power 4 (trailing only Stanford – 36 days). This is the result of three road games with a bye mixed in, between the Orange's Sept. 12 game against Cal and their Oct. 17 game vs. Louisville.
The Orange will play four of their final-seven games of the season in the Loud House. Tickets are available at Cuse.com/FootballTickets for an exciting home stretch of the season once the team returns to Central New York.
2. New Look Defense
Syracuse enters Saturday's matchup with the nation's most improved defensive unit from one year ago. Syracuse is allowing only 258.7 yards per game this season, an improvement of 169 yards per game over last season.
Not only is Syracuse's year-to-year improvement atop all FBS programs, its also one of just five teams (and two Power 4 programs) to improve its defense by over 150 yards per game. Syracuse (169.0), FIU (166.7), Duke (162.4), Georgia Southern (156.7) and UMass (150.5) round out the top-five nationally.
3. Defense Ranks Near Top Nationally
Not only has the improvement been significant on the defensive side of the ball, but the unit ranks inside the top-20 nationally of total defense. Syracuse's 258.7 yards per game ranks 18th nationally and fourth in the ACC.
They're also inside the top-20 nationally of passing defense (sixth), passing efficiency defense (eighth), first down defense (eighth), defensive touchdowns (18th) and tackles for loss (20th).
4. Against The Huskies
This is the 15th all-time meeting between the two former conference foes, with Syracuse leading the series 8-6. The margin includes six-straight victories by the Orange.
All 14 prior matchups have occurred in the last 21 seasons. The two programs met annually from 2004-12 as members of the BIG EAST conference. This is the sixth non-conference matchup between programs and third year in a row the two teams have met.
After playing in the Dome in both 2024 and 2025, Syracuse returns to Rentschler Field for the first time since 2022 on Saturday.
5. Cuse/Connecticut Connections
There are a number of connections between the staffs and rosters on Saturday.
UConn offensive coordinator Nunzio Campanile, defensive line coach Joe Schaefer and assistant offensive line coach Phil Guard all previously served on Syracuse's coaching staff under Fran Brown.
Additionally, Syracuse defensive coordinator Vince Kehres, defensive backs coach Perry Eliano and defensive analyst Dan Bolden were on UConn Head Coach Jason Candle's staff at Toledo last season.
The connections continue to the players, where a handful of players on the Huskies roster played at Syracuse last season, while Chris D'Appolonia transferred to 'Cuse from Toledo, where he played for Candle the last-three seasons.
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1. On the Road Again
Syracuse is in the midst of a 35-day stretch between home contests, the second-longest such stretch in the Power 4 (trailing only Stanford – 36 days). This is the result of three road games with a bye mixed in, between the Orange's Sept. 12 game against Cal and their Oct. 17 game vs. Louisville.
The Orange will play four of their final-seven games of the season in the Loud House. Tickets are available at Cuse.com/FootballTickets for an exciting home stretch of the season once the team returns to Central New York.
2. New Look Defense
Syracuse enters Saturday's matchup with the nation's most improved defensive unit from one year ago. Syracuse is allowing only 258.7 yards per game this season, an improvement of 169 yards per game over last season.
Not only is Syracuse's year-to-year improvement atop all FBS programs, its also one of just five teams (and two Power 4 programs) to improve its defense by over 150 yards per game. Syracuse (169.0), FIU (166.7), Duke (162.4), Georgia Southern (156.7) and UMass (150.5) round out the top-five nationally.
3. Defense Ranks Near Top Nationally
Not only has the improvement been significant on the defensive side of the ball, but the unit ranks inside the top-20 nationally of total defense. Syracuse's 258.7 yards per game ranks 18th nationally and fourth in the ACC.
They're also inside the top-20 nationally of passing defense (sixth), passing efficiency defense (eighth), first down defense (eighth), defensive touchdowns (18th) and tackles for loss (20th).
4. Against The Huskies
This is the 15th all-time meeting between the two former conference foes, with Syracuse leading the series 8-6. The margin includes six-straight victories by the Orange.
All 14 prior matchups have occurred in the last 21 seasons. The two programs met annually from 2004-12 as members of the BIG EAST conference. This is the sixth non-conference matchup between programs and third year in a row the two teams have met.
After playing in the Dome in both 2024 and 2025, Syracuse returns to Rentschler Field for the first time since 2022 on Saturday.
5. Cuse/Connecticut Connections
There are a number of connections between the staffs and rosters on Saturday.
UConn offensive coordinator Nunzio Campanile, defensive line coach Joe Schaefer and assistant offensive line coach Phil Guard all previously served on Syracuse's coaching staff under Fran Brown.
Additionally, Syracuse defensive coordinator Vince Kehres, defensive backs coach Perry Eliano and defensive analyst Dan Bolden were on UConn Head Coach Jason Candle's staff at Toledo last season.
The connections continue to the players, where a handful of players on the Huskies roster played at Syracuse last season, while Chris D'Appolonia transferred to 'Cuse from Toledo, where he played for Candle the last-three seasons.
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