BYU, UConn agree to home-and-home football series

PROVO, Utah (March 4, 2013) — Brigham Young University and the University of Connecticut today announced the schools have agreed to a home-and-home football series for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. 

The Cougars and Huskies will meet at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn., on Aug. 28, 2014 with the second game being played at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Oct. 31, 2015. The series marks the first-ever meetings between the two schools in football.

“We are grateful to UConn for the opportunity to play this home-and-home series and look forward to the games,” said BYU Director of Athletics Tom Holmoe. "The Huskies have played great football as an FBS member, winning league titles and earning numerous bowl invitations.  Scheduling this game in the northeast gives our fans traveling to the game opportunities to visit places they may not have been before. We are also excited to welcome UConn to Provo for its first-ever visit to LaVell Edwards Stadium.”

The University of Connecticut first fielded a football team in 1896 but did not move to the Football Bowl Subdivision as a full member until 2003. UConn’s rise to the next level of football has been highlighted by five bowl appearances and two league championships. UConn played in its first-ever BCS game in the 2011 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and boasts wins during its FBS era over Notre Dame, South Carolina, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, West Virginia and Baylor among others.

“We are very excited to bring another nationally prominent opponent to Rentschler Field,” said UConn Director of Athletics Warde Manuel. “BYU has a long tradition of football excellence with prominent players that are known around the country. With Michigan playing at UConn in 2013 and Tennessee in 2015, we feel that we have a very strong non-conference schedule for the next several years and plan on continuing that practice.

“I also think UConn fans will enjoy making the trip to Provo in 2015. Our loyal followers have established a tradition of travelling well to national non-conference contests and I think this will happen again when we go to BYU.”

UConn head coach Paul Pasqualoni is entering his third year as the Husky head coach and has led teams to nine bowl games during his collegiate career.

“The series with BYU is a great opportunity and challenge for our football program,” said UConn head coach Paul Pasqualoni. “A strong non-conference schedule puts our team on the national stage and also prepares the team for league play. Everyone in college football knows about the proud heritage of BYU football.”

BYU was founded in 1875 and played its first season of intercollegiate football in 1922. Since Hall of Fame coach LaVell Edwards first took over the program 40 seasons ago, the Cougars rank No. 5 among all FBS programs in total wins with 357 victories and have appeared in 31 bowl games. BYU won the 1984 National Championship and boasts seven College Football Hall of Fame members and 15 winners of major national awards, including the Heisman Trophy, Davey O’Brien Award, Sammy Baugh Trophy, Outland Trophy and Doak Walker Award.

Under head coach Bronco Mendenhall, BYU has posted a record of 74-29 (.718) the past eight seasons, which ranks No. 12 nationally in total victories. The Cougars have earned a bowl berth each year under Mendenhall and are one of only seven programs to achieve six bowl wins in the past eight years. The Cougars set a school record with bowl victories each of the last four seasons.

“We are excited to add another quality opponent in UConn to our upcoming schedules,” Mendenhall said. “Coach Pasqualoni does a great job with his teams, so we know it will be a challenging series. We look forward to the opportunity to play the Huskies and expect the games will be great for our teams and our fans.”

Game times and television coverage for the two games will be announced at a future date.