Storrs Side: UConn, BYU agree to football series for 2014 and 2015

The University of Connecticut reached an agreement Monday with Brigham Young University for a home-and-home series to be played between the two schools’ football programs in 2014 and 2015.

The two teams will open the 2014 season against each other at Rentschler Field on Aug. 28. The second game will be played on Oct. 31, 2015 at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah.

This latest series adds another nationally recognized program to the growing list of non-conference opponents for UConn. In 2013, UConn will complete series with Michigan and Maryland. The program also has agreements in place with Tennessee for the 2015 and 2016 seasons and Virginia for 2016 and 2017.

“We are very excited to bring another nationally prominent opponent to Rentschler Field,” said UConn Director of Athletics Warde Manuel (via uconnhuskies.com). “BYU has a long tradition of football excellence with prominent players that are known around the country. With Michigan playing at UConn in 2013 and Tennessee in 2015, we feel that we have a very strong non-conference schedule for the next several years and plan on continuing that practice.”

Manuel also said that he thinks UConn’s “loyal followers” will enjoy making the trip to Provo, as UConn fans have made a habit of traveling in large numbers to non-conference away games. In recent seasons, the Huskies have played road games at Notre Dame, Michigan and Maryland.

BYU has been a Football Bowl Subdivision Independent program since it left the Mountain West Conference after the 2010 season. Over the past eight seasons, the Cougars are 74-29 and have won six bowl games, one of only seven teams to accomplish the feat.

In comparison, UConn is 52-54 over the past eight seasons and has won two bowl games in four attempts.

According to the release on the UConn Athletics website, game times and television coverage for the two games between UConn and BYU have not yet been determined.