UConn football vs. Ball State Cardinals: How to watch, by the numbers, what to watch for
KICKING OFF: 14:00 clock
TV: ESPN3
CLAIMERS: Jim Barbar (play-by-play), Adam Breneman (color analyst)
RADIO: UConn IMG Radio Network; university network app; 97.9 ESPN Hartford, WGCH 1490 AM, WAVZ 1300 AM, WATR 1320 AM, WILI 1400 AM and 95.3 FM, WICH 1310 AM and 94.5 FM
CLAIMERS: Mike Crispino (play-by-play), Wayne Norman (color analyst), Adam Giardino (side hustle)
RECORDS: UConn (3-4), Ball State (3-3)
LAST WEEK: UConn took to the streets, beating FIU, 33-12; Ball State slipped past Central Michigan 17-16
POINT DISTRIBUTION: Ball Status – 9.5
ABOUT UNDER: 48.0 (odds via DraftKings)
SERIES HISTORY: The UConn Huskies and Ball State Cardinals have met three times on the gridiron. The Cardinals won all three matchups.
DEPTH CHART: UConn; ball condition
PRE-MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE: Ball State head coach Mike New; UConn head coach Jim Mora
WEATHER FORECAST: Muncie, IN
fun with numbers
75: Overall tackles by Jackson Mitchell, second best in FBS
5.00: Average number of UConn penalties per game, 23rd best in FBS
26: Number of UConn wins against MAC schools (26-13)
184.5: UConn’s rushing yards per game, which is the 40th best in FBS
4: Rushing touchdowns from freshman running back Victor Rosa leading the team
What to look out for
When UConn has the ball
UConn football finally appeared to be on offense against Florida International, continuing the trend that began in the second half of Fresno State’s upset win. UConn’s 402 total offensive yards was the most against an FBS team this season, thanks to a dominant rushing attack led by a rising Devontae Houston, who averaged 6.9 yards per carry in that two-game streak.
But UConn will miss Houston, who is out through injury, against Ball State, and true freshman Victor Rosa — a player Mora didn’t expect to get anywhere near as much action as he has in recent weeks — is expected to fill the void. Rosa has proven to be a capable defender, especially given the circumstances, but lacks the breakaway speed and acceleration of Houston, who has accounted for nearly half of all UConn 10-yard plays in the past two games.
Luckily, the UConn passing attack came to life mid-season, led by an unlikely target. Like his running back counterpart Rosa, Justin Joly finished his senior season this time last year, but he has emerged as one of Zion Turner’s favorite targets. He owns the most goals past the line of scrimmage of any UConn pass catcher in 2022 and has had eight receptions for 96 yards in the past two weeks. Joly is listed as a tight end, but is slotted or wide on most of his snaps and is functionally a powerful, athletic receiver and appears to be doing his duty as a third-down target.
Ball State has a reasonably stingy defense, with an emphasis on defending the pass, which would normally play into UConn’s hands with their bulldozer of a rushing attack. If Houston’s absence slows that down at all, UConn will be forced to throw pass defense in the teeth, ranked #2 on the MAC and among the nation’s top 50 in yards per pass attempt allowed. The defensive backfield is led by veteran cornerer Nic Jones, who leads the MAC in pass defenses (9) and has two interceptions – opposing quarterbacks have completed just 10 of 25 passes aimed at him this season.
When Ballstaat has the ball
The Cardinals air the ball at an impressive speed, if not an efficient one. Her 43 passing attempts per game ranks 14th in the country, but her 6.6 yards per passing attempt put her all the way down to 95th in the country. Quarterback John Paddock is pretty accurate, executing 63.8% of his passes, most of them to receptions by the duo of Tyler Yo’Heinz and Jackson Jayshon.
Jackson is the fast, deep threat of the two: He’s only 5-foot-10 but has clinched eight passes for 20 yards this season and is the top touchdown threat on the team. Despite his 6ft 3 height, Yo’Heinz is a surefire target on the first down.
Both will challenge UConn’s pass defense, which appears to have turned a new leaf. Since giving up a total of eight passing touchdowns en route from Syracuse to NC State, UConn Secondary has faded out Fresno State and FIU in that category, conceding just 413 passing yards in those two games combined. Tre Wortham, in particular, has recently had a resurgence in UConn secondary school. After being selected in games against Michigan and NC State, Wortham has three interceptions from eight goals in the past two weeks.
Part of UConn’s success on defense as a whole could be down to turnover luck – it’s very hard to win back three turnovers in every game you play – so the Huskies will get their chance to prove they can The past few years have won their new life weeks is real against a productive ball state passing attack.