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UConn looks to remain atop Big East vs. Rutgers

Nov 3, 2007 - 10:43 AM Rutgers (5-3) at No. 16 Connecticut (7-1) 7:15 pm EDT

EAST HARTFORD, Connecticut (Ticker) -- Connecticut coach Randy Edsall would love for his team to stick around the rankings for a while.

Ranked for the first time in program history, Edsall's No. 16 Huskies host Rutgers in a Big East Conference contest on Saturday night.

Connecticut (7-1, 3-0 Big East), which joined what was then called Division I-A in 2002, entered the rankings following its 22-15 upset of then-No. 11 South Florida here last Saturday.

Andre Dixon rushed for a career-high 167 yards for the Huskies, who never had beaten a ranked team in their history.

The Huskies, who rank third nationally in scoring defense (13.0 points per game) also intercepted Bulls quarterback Matt Grothe twice and forced him into an incomplete pass on fourth down in the final minute to seal the victory.

UConn, which is the only team undefeated in Big East play, is 5-0 at Rentschler Field this season.

Rutgers (5-3, 2-2) had upset South Florida the previous week but was blown out by West Virginia at home last Saturday, 31-3.

Ray Rice ran for 142 yards - setting a school record with his 20th career 100-yard game - but Mike Teel was intercepted twice in the defeat.

Rutgers has won the past two meetings following a 41-35 home loss in 2004.