UConn Outmatched in 35-10 Loss to BYU

It wasn’t pretty for Bob Diaco’s first game as UConn’s head coach. Simply said, the defense went missing, and the Huskies couldn’t contain BYU’s dynamic offense in a 35-10 loss.

BYU quarterback Taysom Hill provided 405 yards of the Cougars’ 513 total yards on offense. Hill was able to expose the young UConn defense and showed off why he is a capable candidate for the Heisman Trophy, finding nine different receivers on his way to throwing three touchdowns and no interceptions.

It was a struggle early for the Huskies, as their first drive consisted of just 15 seconds after a fumble by Max DeLorenzo on 1st-and-10.

One play later, Hill had his second touchdown of the day and a two touchdown lead—just five minutes into the first quarter.

Quarterbacks Casey Cochran and Chandler Whitmer both saw action in the Friday night loss. Cochran won the starting job, but it was Whitmer who took the team down for its first touchdown drive of the game and he looked to have a better connection with wide receiver Geremy Davis.

Cochran was 17-31 and threw for 171 yards with an interception. Whitmer was 8-17 with 113 yards.

Following the game, Cochran gave his best team-friendly comments about the quarterback position.

“It’s all about this team and it’s all about this offense. I don’t care who’s in.”

Make what you will of the quarterback duo, but Cochran still has the slight nod to start next week’s game vs. Stony Brook.

It could have gotten uglier for the Huskies if it wasn’t for 15 penalties committed by BYU amounting up to 150 yards. UConn still looked in raw form with eight penalties of their own, but the offensive and defensive lines should be in more of a rhythm in the second game of the season.

Despite the final score, the bright spots (or glimpses) of the game for the Huskies included running backs Josh Marriner and Arkeel Newsome. They only combined for 12 touches, but they bring quality depth in the run game. Newsome can spread the field out for any quarterback that is under center and even had a nice 19-yard screen pass thrown his way.

Stony Brook shouldn’t be overlooked for next week, but Diaco has to show confidence sooner or later in a starting quarterback and a more structured and disciplined team. The physicality is there, and it was exciting to watch even in the second half, so it’s up to Diaco to provide a formula for success on both sides of the field.