University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
5-3 , 0-0
Rice
4-4 , 1-3
Huskies Clipped in Double OT on the Road at Rice
10/25/2025 7:24:00 PM | Football
HOUSTON, TX – The UConn Huskies suffered their third defeat in overtime this season, falling on the road at Rice, 37-34, in double overtime in front of 21,122 at Rice Stadium Saturday afternoon.
The Huskies saw their four-game win streak come to an end and are 5-3 on the season with all three losses coming on the road in overtime.
UConn quarterback Joe Fagnano completed 32 of 48 passes for 344 yards and threw three touchdown passes in the loss. Cam Edwards contributed with 59 rushing yards on 16 carries, an overtime touchdown and added a touchdown reception with 24 receiving yards on three catches.
Wideout Skyler Bell led the receiving corps with eight receptions for a career-high 158 yards, including a touchdown. On defense, Bryun Parham recorded a career-high 15 tackles to anchor the team.
In overtime, Rice had the ball first and Quinton Jackson's 6-yard touchdown run put Rice ahead 31-24 after Enock Gota's extra point. UConn responded swiftly as Cam Edwards scored a 5-yard rushing touchdown, tying the score at 31-31. UConn's Freeman later nailed a 41-yard field goal, giving UConn a 34-31 lead but Rice's Jackson answered with a decisive 23-yard touchdown run, securing a 37-34 victory for Rice.
The Huskies opened the game scoring on their very first play from scrimmage, a Fagnano to Bell 80-yard catch and run for six. In a dynamic second quarter, the Owls took their first lead as Jackson broke free for a 73-yard touchdown run at the 11:08 mark, to make it 10–7.
The Huskies responded with a drive, culminating in a 12-yard touchdown reception by Edwards from Fagnano, putting UConn ahead 14–10 after Chris Freeman's successful PAT. The Owls quickly countered with a 75-yard touchdown pass from Chase Jenkins to Jackson, reclaiming a 17–14 lead. UConn had the final word before halftime, as Juice Vereen caught a 34-yard touchdown pass from Fagnano with just 49 seconds left, and Freeman's extra point set the halftime score at 21–17 in favor of UConn.
In the third quarter, UConn maintained a lead over Rice with the only points of the quarter, a 45-yard field goal by Chris Freeman at 6:06. In the fourth quarter, Rice's D'Andre Hardemann fueld their scoring drive with a 17-yard rush to the UConn 38-yard line, setting the stage as Hardemann later capped the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run, leveling the score at 24-24 at 11:46. UConn's ensuing possession saw Fagnano lead the the Huskies in to scoring position, completing a 17-yard pass to Oliver Lundberg Coleman, but the drive stalled and Freeman's 46-yard field goal attempt missed after the kicker slipped on the wet turf. As time wound down, neither team could break the deadlock, resulting in a final score of 24-24.
Quinton Jackson led the offensive charge for Rice, rushing 21 times for 168 yards and three touchdowns. He also contributed in the passing game with three receptions for 80 yards and a receiving touchdown. Chase Jenkins was efficient through the air, completing 17 of 22 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing 17 times for 57 yards.
The Huskies return home for three-straight starting next Saturday, November 1st when they host UAB at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field.
Game Notes:
The Huskies are now 2-1 all-time against Rice and are 5-4 against teams from the American Athletic Conference since the Huskies left the conference in 2020.
UConn scored on their first play from scrimmage, a Joe Fagnano to Syler Bell 80-yard hook-up. The last time UConn scored on their first play of the game was last season at UMass, a Fagnano to tight end Louis Hansen 55-yard score.
For Bell, it matches his career-long of 80 yards for a catch, set in the season opener this year against Central Connecticut. It is Bell's eighth TD this season and the fifth-straight game catching a touchdown.
Bell hit the 100-yard mark for the fifth time this season and the ninth time in his career at UConn.
RB Cam Edwards caught his first touchdown of the season and scored on the ground as well, giving him nine total TDs on the year.
QB Joe Fagnano finished the game without an interception, extending his streak to 9-stragiht games without a pick dating back to last season. His three touchdown throws on Saturday marks his fourth game this season with three-plus TD throws. His 344 yards makes it three-straight games and four this season going over 300-plus yards passing.
PK Chris Freeman's third quarter 45-yard field goal make was the 12th-straight make, setting a new UConn school record.
Team Stats
CON 7, RIC 0
CON - Bell,Skyler 80 yd pass from Fagnano,Joe (Freeman,Chris kick) 1 plays, 80 yards, TOP 00:13
CON 7, RIC 3
RIC - Gota,Enock 38 yd field goal 10 plays, 52 yards, TOP 05:00
CON 7, RIC 10
RIC - Jackson,Quinton 73 yd run (Gota,Enock kick), 3 plays, 80 yards, TOP 01:21
CON 14, RIC 10
CON - Edwards,Cam 12 yd pass from Fagnano,Joe (Freeman,Chris kick) 13 plays, 77 yards, TOP 04:45
CON 14, RIC 17
RIC - Jackson,Quinton 75 yd pass from Jenkins,Chase (Gota,Enock kick) 1 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:13
CON 21, RIC 17
CON - Vereen,Juice 34 yd pass from Fagnano,Joe (Freeman,Chris kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:46
CON 24, RIC 17
CON - Freeman,Chris 45 yd field goal 5 plays, 18 yards, TOP 02:16
CON 24, RIC 24
RIC - Hardemann,D'Andre 10 yd run (Gota,Enock kick), 12 plays, 91 yards, TOP 05:40
CON 24, RIC 31
RIC - Jackson,Quinton 6 yd run (Gota,Enock kick), 5 plays, 25 yards, TOP 00:00
CON 31, RIC 31
CON - Edwards,Cam 5 yd run (Freeman,Chris kick), 3 plays, 25 yards, TOP 00:00
CON 34, RIC 31
CON - Freeman,Chris 41 yd field goal 4 plays, 3 yards, TOP 00:00
CON 34, RIC 37
RIC - Jackson,Quinton 23 yd run (), 2 plays, 25 yards, TOP 00:00
