The Duke Blue Devils are still alive for an ACC Championship and potential College Football Playoff berth, but first Manny Diaz’s squad has to travel to Hartford to face UConn. Can coach Jim Mora continue UConn’s rise from the basement of FBS?
Duke vs. UConn Details
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025
- Game time: 3:30 pm ET
- Location: Rentschler Field | East Hartford, CT
- Predicted weather at kick: overcast, high 50’s temperature
- How to watch: CBS Sports Network
Duke vs. UConn Head-to-Head Record
UConn went to Duke last year and played a very close, competitive game, but ultimately lost 26-21. They also played in 2023, with Duke winning much more convincingly, 41-7.
Duke vs. UConn Grades
- Duke: 85.2 (B)
- UConn: 73.8 (C)
- Duke: 73 (C)
- UConn: 71.4 (C-)
- Duke: 81.5 (B-)
- UConn: 70.3 (C-)
- Darian Mensah, Duke: 94.9 (A)
- Joey Fagnano, UConn: 90.7 (A-)
- Nate Sheppard, Duke: 82.9 (B-)
- Cam Edwards, UConn: 72.6 (C-)
- Cooper Barkate, Duke: 82.9 (B-)
- Skyler Bell, UConn: 83.6 (B)
- Jeremiah Hasley, Duke: 79.5 (C+)
- Juice Vereen, UConn: 74.2 (C)
- Wesley Williams, Duke: 77.2 (C+)
- Donovan Branch, UConn: 66.1 (D)
- Aaron Hall, Duke: 82.1 (B)
- Vincent Carroll-Jackson, UConn: 75.4 (C)
- Luke Mergott, Duke: 73.1 (C)
- Bryan Parham, UConn: 76.7 (C)
- Chandler Rivers, Duke: 85.3 (B)
- Cam Chadwick, UConn: 74.4 (C)
- Caleb Weaver, Duke: 76.7 (C)
- D’Mon Brinson, UConn: 82.9 (B-)
Duke vs. UConn Prediction
Manny Diaz’s Duke Blue Devils travel to Hartford to face the UConn Huskies. This game may not get a lot of national attention, but it’s worth keeping an eye on due to how tricky a spot it is for Duke.
The Blue Devils are fresh off a crazy 46-45 comeback win at Clemson. Momentum and vibes are high in the Duke locker room, and all eyes are focused on a massive home showdown against Virginia, which could decide who has the upper hand in the ACC Championship race.
But in a unique scheduling, Duke has to face UConn on the road the week before the big Virginia game. It is an interesting non-conference game thrown into the middle of the season.
With three losses, it’s pretty much guaranteed that Duke has to win the ACC Championship in order to make the College Football Playoff. This random non-conference matchup against UConn is essentially meaningless to them, and you wouldn’t blame anyone in that locker room if they were completely focused on the season-deciding showdown against Virginia in one week.
The spot itself screams that Duke could get caught looking ahead in this game, but there are also some angles in this matchup that lean in the Huskies’ favor.
For one, Duke is not necessarily equipped to take advantage of UConn’s defensive weakness.
The UConn defense has been weak against the run this season, ranking outside the Top 100 in defensive success rate against the rush. But Duke is a pass-heavy offense behind QB Darian Mensah, and while they will attempt to run the ball, that is not their strength.
They will try to move it through the air against a Huskies defense that has been much better this season at defending the pass.
On defense, Duke has been much better at stopping the run. But UConn is coming in with an offense that is clicking on cylinders right now with QB Joe Fagnano — who has 25 touchdowns and zero interceptions!
The Huskies have scored 35 points or more in four straight games and are led by a stellar passing attack. Duke’s defensive weakness has been defending teams that have success through the air–like giving up 45 points to Illinois, 33 points to NC State, and 45 last week to Clemson.
Expect the Huskies’ offense to move the ball on this struggling and banged-up Duke secondary, while also being able to get some stops on defense by taking away Duke’s deep ball.
On the field, UConn can hang around in this game. Duke is getting more of the attention nationally — and rightfully so — but I think UConn can continue clicking against a Duke team that has bigger fish to fry in the coming weeks.
These Blue Devils are still fighting for a chance at an ACC Championship and a spot in the Playoff. It’s all eyes ahead to Virginia when they come to Durham on Nov. 15. I just don’t know how focused Duke will be on this sleepy road non-conference spot. I think Duke looks to keep their players healthy and escape with a close win.
Prediction: Duke 33, UConn 28
