The UConn Huskies have added games against the Central Connecticut Blue Devils and the Lafayette Leopards to their future football schedules, FBSchedules.com has learned.
Copies of contracts for two games each with both Central Connecticut and Lafayette were obtained from the University of Connecticut via a state public records request.
UConn will host Central Connecticut at Rentschler Field in East Hartford on Sept. 3, 2022 and then again three seasons later on Aug. 30, 2025. The Huskies will pay the Blue Devils guarantees of $275,000 for both the 2022 and 2025 contests, according to the copies of the contracts.
In their most recent meeting in 1995, UConn defeated Central Connecticut 54-9. The Huskies also defeated the Blue Devils in 1986 and 1989 and lead the overall series 3-0.
The Lafayette Leopards will travel to East Hartford to take on UConn on Sept. 9, 2023 and Sept. 5, 2026. UConn will pay Lafayette a $285,000 guarantee for the contest in 2023 and $300,000 for the contest in 2026, per the contract copy.
In their first and only meeting on the gridiron back in 1984, UConn traveled to Easton, Pennsylvania, and fell to the Leopards 20-13.
Yesterday, the UConn Huskies officially announced that they will depart the American Athletic Conference following the 2019-20 season. The Huskies will return to the Big East Conference next summer in all sports except football, where they will most likely compete as a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Independent.
The scheduling of games with Central Connecticut and Lafayette, although not out of the ordinary, likely comes as the Huskies prepare for football independence. The Lafayette contract was executed in late April, while the Central Connecticut contracts were executed only eight days ago.
Football Schedules
- Future UConn Football Schedules
- Future Central Connecticut Football Schedules
- Future Lafayette Football Schedules
Any thoughts on potential games if UConn is playing as an independent in 2020? Seems like an awfully short turn around to fill 8 slots.
Agreed….this is going to be a scheduling nightmare even if they do join another league….this doesn’t seem to be a well thought out exit,does it?
Idaho was able to do it on shorter notice than this, and they arguably were in worse shape–the Kibbie Dome isn’t really an ideal place to set up a home schedule as an independent.
Didn’t Idaho go FCS? UConn’s problem isn’t so much a “home” schedule as it is a schedule unless it decides to schedule more than 1 FCS opponent. I wonder how many, if any, American opponents will continue to play UConn?
https://www.theuconnblog.com/2019/6/23/18714341/what-uconn-footballs-schedule-could-look-like-in-2020-as-independent
FBSchedules shows the following still need to announce 2020 non-conference (non FCS) games:
Arkansas / TCU / SMU* / UCF / FIU* / ULL / ULM / Army
(* yet to announce a non conference game versus P5 opponent)
The following yet to announce 2020 non-conference game versus FCS opponent:
Ark / TCU / Sou Caro / Miami FL / Florida St / UCF / Air Force / FIU / Louis Tech / USM / Old Dominion / UAB / ULM / Coastal Carolina
And following still have an option available to play an extra game in 2020 (Hawaii waiver):
Nevada / Boise St / UNLV / NM St
I have to imagine there is a small possibility of keeping an AAC team or two on the schedule and play as a non conference tilt – but they would likely have to travel to do so.
Also UCLA has a Hawaii waiver available for 2020
UCLA would not waste their time on UCONN football and UCONN probably is not interested in getting hammered at the Rose Bowl.
UConn current scheduled games for 2020:
09.03 UMass / 09.12 @Illinois / 09.19 Maine / 09.26 Indiana
2020 Assumptions:
* UConn goes independent
* UConn gains a waiver to play 0 week game on 8.29 and moves Mass and Maine games to later date in season.
* UConn typical preference is to limit travel except for money games, but options are limited.
* UConn could end up playing five home games or adding a second FCS opponent.
* G5 programs wanting an add’l 2020 home game: SMU / FIU / ULL / ULM / NM St
* Expecting a SMU vs. TCU game to be announced (so SMU & TCU unavailable)
Possible 2020 Schedule?:
8.29 Boise St / 9.05 @FIU or @ULM / 9.12 @Ill / 9.19 @Ark / 9.26 Indiana /
10.03 @ULL or @ULM / 10.10 @Army / 10.17 UCF / 10.24 BYE / 10.31 Mass /
11.07 BYE / 11.14 Maine / 11.21 FCS TBA / 11.28 @NM St
Away (6): 9.05 @FIU / 9.12 @Ill / 9.19 @Ark / 10.03 @ULL or @ULM / 10.10 @Army / 11.28 @NM St
Home (6): 8.29 Boise St / 9.26 Indiana / 10.17 UCF / 10.31 Mass / 11.14 Maine / 11.21 FCS TBA
(Future home and home series with Mass / Army / NM St / Boise St / UCF / FIU / ULL or ULM)
What’s the chance of getting a home and home series with UCF and/or Boise St?
Your schedule looks ideal. UCONN had a home and home with Boise a couple years ago.
They also play ARMY quite a bit since they are local. I could see them paying a small G5 school a good chunk of money for a home game.
UCF may be interested with a home and home since they were in the American together. They could also throw in a home and home with basketball as well.