The UConn Huskies are back in the postseason for the second time in three years and have accepted an invitation to play in the third annual Wasabi Fenway Bowl on December 28.
The Huskies will take on the North Carolina Tar Heels from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) at historic Fenway Park in Boston. Jointly produced by Fenway Park Events and ESPN Events, this year's game is scheduled for an 11:00 am kick-off and will air nationally on ESPN and simulcast on ESPN+.
"We're excited to represent UConn at this year's Wasabi Fenway Bowl, and to have the opportunity to compete at such an iconic venue against a quality opponent like North Carolina," stated UConn head coach Jim Mora. "The chance to play in Boston will give our players, Marching Band, Cheer Squad, students, fans and all of UConn Nation the chance to share in an unforgettable experience close to home. We are excited to take the field at Fenway Park, where the rich history and electric atmosphere provide a perfect stage for us to close out our season"
Tickets can be purchased in the UConn section by visiting UConnBowl.com. We encourage fans to buy through UConn to directly support the bowl experience for our student-athletes and show the nation how UConn bleeds blue! Fans who cannot attend the game, but still want to support the Huskies, can donate tickets to local charities in the Boston area by visiting UConnBowl.com.
Under head coach Jim Mora, in his third season at the helm, led the Huskies to an 8-4 record this fall, the best regular season for the program since 2010 while also securing the first winning season since that campaign. The Huskies enjoyed a five-win turnaround from last season and returned to their winning ways at home at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field, posting a 6-1 record on their home turf this fall.
The Huskies are 3-4 in their previous seven bowl appearances. Mora will be coaching in his sixth postseason bowl game. Prior to taking over at UConn, Mora led UCLA to the postseason in each of his first four seasons on the sidelines for the Bruins. Mora's UCLA teams were 2-2 in bowl games.
This will be UConn's second time playing at historic Fenway Park. The Huskies took on Boston College as part of the Fenway Gridiron Series on November 18, 2017, falling to BC, 39-16.
UConn and North Carolina have met three times with the Tar Heels taking all three meetings. The two schools last met during the 2009 season, a 12-10 win for a nationally ranked UNC team at Rentschler Field. The two schools met for the first time during the FBS era in 2008, a 38-12 loss on the road in. The first ever meeting took place back in 1990.
The Tar Heels finished the 2024 regular season 6-6 and qualified for a bowl game for the sixth consecutive season, which is the second-longest streak in Carolina football history. Star RB Omarion Hampton became a two-time Doak Walker Award finalist and finished the season second nationally in rushing with 1,660 yards, while OL Willie Lampkin was tabbed the Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner, which goes to the ACC's Most Outstanding Blocker. Carolina's explosive offense averaged 32.3 points per game during the regular season and racked up 432.4 yards per game. Defensively, the Tar Heels finished eighth nationally in sacks with 39.
