When UConn kicked the ball off to Rice on Saturday evening, the Huskies were in a rather exclusive club they desperately needed to escape. Fresh off their first bowl appearance in six years, the Huskies trotted onto the field in Houston as one of three winless teams in the FBS, plagued with an 0-5 record.
Although it looked like those misfortunes would sustain after rapidly falling into a 14-0 hole, UConn climbed out with ease thanks to a pair of pivotal fumble recoveries. From that point on, the Huskies’ offense gained enough rhythm to put away Rice, 38-28, in the first-ever meeting between the geographically distant programs.