STORRS, Conn. – The UConn Huskies are back in the postseason for the second time in three years, accepting an invitation to play in the third annual Wasabi Fenway Bowl on Dec. 28.

The Huskies will face the North Carolina Tar Heels of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) at historic Fenway Park in Boston. Co-produced by Fenway Park Events and ESPN Events, the game is scheduled for 11 a.m. this year and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN and simulcast on ESPN+.

“We are excited to represent UConn in this year’s Wasabi Fenway Bowl and have the opportunity to compete against a quality opponent like North Carolina at such an iconic venue,” said UConn head coach Jim Mora. “The opportunity to play in Boston gives our players, marching band, cheer squad, students, fans and the entire UConn Nation the opportunity to experience an unforgettable experience close to home. We look forward to taking the field at Fenway Park, where the rich history and electric atmosphere provide us with the perfect stage to conclude our season.”

More information on ticket sales at the UConn seating block will follow tonight. We encourage fans to shop through UConn to directly support our student-athletes’ bowl experience 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 Boston-area charities. Further information about ticket donations will follow soon.

Under head coach Jim MoraIn his third season at the helm, he led the Huskies to an 8-4 record this fall, the program’s best regular season since 2010, while securing its first winning season since that season. The Huskies experienced a five-win turnaround from last season, returning to their winning ways at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field and posting a 6-1 record on home turf this fall.

The Huskies are 3-4 in their last seven bowl appearances. Mora will coach in his sixth postseason bowl game. Before taking over at UConn, Mora led UCLA to the postseason in each of his first four seasons on the Bruins’ sideline. Mora’s UCLA teams were 2-2 in bowl games.

This will be UConn’s second time playing at historic Fenway Park. The Huskies faced Boston College in the Fenway Gridiron Series on November 18, 2017 and lost to BC 39-16.

UConn and North Carolina met three times, with the Tar Heels winning all three meetings. The two schools last met during the 2009 season, a 12-10 victory for a UNC team at Rentschler Field. The two schools met for the first time during the FBS era in 2008, losing 38-12 on the road. The first meeting ever took place in 1990.

The Tar Heels finished the 2024 regular season 6-6 and qualified for a bowl game for the sixth consecutive season, marking 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 named the winner of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, which goes to the ACC’s most outstanding blocker. Carolina’s explosive offense averaged 32.3 points per game and gained 432.4 yards per game during the regular season. Defensively, the Tar Heels ranked eighth nationally with 39 sacks.

For the latest information on the Huskies’ bowl trip, visit UConnBowl.com.

MEDIA INFORMATION:

Wasabi Fenway Bowl Media Day will be held on Friday, December 27th at 11 a.m. at The 521 Overlook at Fenway Park with team head coaches and captains as well as Wasabi Fenway Bowl representatives. Both teams will also participate in special events while in Boston.

Further information will be announced in the coming weeks. Members of the media interested in applying to cover community events, Media Day and the Wasabi Fenway Bowl game must complete a media credential application form here.

Wasabi Fenway Bowl

3rd season

Fenway Park – Boston, MA

STORY:

2023 – Boston College 23 – #17 SMU 14

2022 – Louisville 24 – Cincinnati 7

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UConn Huskies Bowl History

2004 Motor City Bowl

Detroit, MI – December 27, 2004

Ford Field

UConn 39-Toledo 10

2007 Meineke car care tray

Charlotte, NC – December 29, 2007

Bank of America Stadium

Wake Forest 24-UConn 10

International Bowl 2009

Toronto, Ontario – January 3, 2009

Rogers Center

UConn 38-Buffalo 20

2010 PapaJohns.com Bowl

Birgmingham, AL – January 2, 2010

Legion field

UConn 20 – South Carolina 7

2011 Tostito’s Fiesta Bowl

Glendale, AR – January 1, 2011

University of Phoenix Stadium

Oklahoma 48 – UConn 20

2015 St. Petersburg Bowl

St. Petersburg, FL – December 26, 2015

Tropicana field

Marshall 16-UConn 10

2022 Myrtle Beach Bowl

Conway, SC – December 22, 2022

Brooks Stadium

Marshall 28 – UConn 14