Multiple sources have confirmed that UConn is in talks that will ultimately see the Huskies open the 2018 college football season at home against UCF at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. The Knights, who captured the AAC East title on Friday and will host Memphis in Saturday’s AAC Championship Game are currently 11-0 and ranked No. 11 in this week’s coaches poll. This would mark the first time UConn has opened a season with a conference game since their upgrade to the FBS level.

Day, time and television are still to be determined, although the Huskies usually open the year at home on the Thursday of Labor Day Weekend. The last time this did not occur for a home opener came against Fordham after Tropical Storm Hanna rolled through in 2011 and forced that Thursday opener to be moved to Saturday. In Edsall’s final season in Storrs, the Huskies did play a Saturday opener at Michigan to open their run to the Fiesta Bowl.

With a win in the AAC Title Game on Saturday, UCF will make an appearance in the New Year’s Six, where they will have a chance to make a statement for the entire conference against a traditional power. Entering next season, the Knights could be under new leadership, as head coach Scott Frost has been linked to the Nebraska opening.

Earlier this year, URI, who was originally scheduled to visit The Rent on Thursday, August 30th, was moved to September 15th, the third week of the season, leaving an opening on the schedule in week one. The move gives the Huskies a marquee game to point to throughout the offseason, which should generate a bit of a buzz heading into 2018 and year two under head coach Randy Edsall. It also gives the team some reprieve after they return home from a cross-country trip to Boise in week two, as they play at the Broncos in Idaho, before returning home to face their loan FCS opponent on the schedule.

Be sure to check back as more information regarding the season opening breaks.

MATT SCHONVISKY / SITE CREATOR