UConn vs. Temple football preview

Location: Rentschler Field, East Hartford

Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)

Records: UConn 3-2, Temple 1-4

Last game: UConn beat Buffalo, 47-3, Saturday; Temple lost to Army, 42-14, Sept. 26

Series: UConn trails, 14-6, losing the last meeting 49-17 in Philadelphia in 2019.

Players to watch: UConn, r-jr. WR Skyler Bell (21 catches, 500 yards, 4 TDs), r-so. QB Nick Evers (37 for 72, 347 yards, 2 TDs, 2 ints), r-sr. WR TJ Sheffield (15 catches, 119 yards, 1 TD), r-fr. RB Durell Robinson (43 carries, 369 yards, 3 TDs), r-so. RB Cam Edwards (49 carries, 280 yards, 3 TDs), jr. RB Mel Brown (55 carries, 305 yards, 1 TD), r-jr. TE Alex Honing (4 catches, 49 yards, 2 TDs), r-sr. LB Jayden McDonald (36 tackles, 1 int.), r-sr. CB Jordan Wright (23 tackles, 1 sack), r-sr. DT Dal’Mont Gourdine (18 tackles,), jr. DB D’Mon Brinson (19 tackles), Sr. LB Tui Faumuina-Brown (38 tackles, 2 sacks)

Temple, r-jr. RB Antwain Littleton II (42 carries, 151 yards, 8 catches, 92 yards, 1 TD), r-jr. QB Evan Simon (53 for 82, 680 yards, 9 TDs, 2 ints), r-jr. QB Forrest Brock (42 for 71, 405 yards, 1 TD, 4 ints), grad WR Dante Wright (34 catches, 450 yards, 4 TDs), sr. WR Antonio Jones (9 catches, 72 yards, 1 TD), sr. LB D.J. Woodbury (48 tackles, 1 sack), r-jr. LB Tyquan King (38 tackles, 2 sacks), sr. DB Andreas Keaton (31 tackles),

Noteworthy: UConn’s improvement can be traced to the team’s maturity level, effort and attitude.

Quotable: “I like the way they work,” coach Jim Mora said. “I like their maturity and consistency of effort every day in practice. I like how they don’t seem satisfied at all. I like how they hold each other accountable and to a certain standard. And that is just critical. If you practice that way and think that way, you’ve got a chance. …. It’s all business and no bull.”

Four down territory

• On paper, Temple doesn’t appear to be much of a threat. The Owls have allowed at least 29 points in every game and they’ve scored over 20 points just once. Their only win came over Utah State, 45-29, on Sept. 21.

• UConn’s three-running back rotation of Durell Robinson, Mel Brown and Cam Edwards will have a chance to pile up some yardage against a team that allows an average of 260.2 rushing yards per game.

• It will be a homecoming of sorts for Temple redshirt junior Andrew McIlquham, who’s from Groton. He spent two years at Fitch, playing outside linebacker and wide receiver, before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida in 2020. He started his college football career at Texas Christian.

At Temple, he is the primary long snapper for punts and place kicks.

• Protect The Rent is a rallying cry for the Huskies, who are 3-0 at home for the first time since 2010. They’ve out-scored foes, 158-34, so far. Their point total in the three-game stretch is the highest in the program’s 21 seasons playing in East Hartford.

Extra points: With a win, UConn will top last season’s win total. … Temple hasn’t won a road game since 2021 …. Owls belong to the American Athletic Conference, UConn’s former league home. … Write leads the AAC in receptions per game and receiving yards per game. … UConn ranks 26th in the nation in total offense at 465.4 yards per game. … Mora expects running back Victor Rosa (broken finger) will be cleared and ready to go. … Huskies have a bye week next week. … Owls with Connecticut ties: Tyquan King (West Haven) and Antwone Santiago (Meriden).