ESPN College Football

No one in the Big East has a more unusual opening game than Connecticut.

Rather than open at home like everyone else with a nonconference game is doing, the Huskies will travel to a non-BCS school's turf. Here's what lies ahead in Week 1 for UConn.

Team: Ohio Bobcats

Coach: Frank Solich (22-26, fifth year)

2008 record: 4-8 (3-5 Mid-American Conference)

Returning starters: Offense: 6/Defense: 8

About the Bobcats: Ohio had its moments last year, such as playing Ohio State tough before losing 26-14 and staying within eight points at Northwestern. But the Bobcats still finished with a losing record for the first time since 2005.

Most of the offensive skill players return, including starting quarterback Boo Jackson, who set a school record with 2,355 yards passing. He will be pushed, however, by Theo Scott, who missed all of 2008 with an injury. Leading rusher Chris Garrett is back, but he had only 529 yards last season and the team averaged a paltry 128.5 yards per game on the ground. Garrett had a good spring, and Solich is hopeful that the running game will be improved this season to add balance to the offense.

The defense lost two of its best players in the secondary but brings back middle linebacker Noah Keller, who recorded 104 tackles. The Bobcats gave up 27.2 points per game last year and will have to deal with Connecticut's new no-huddle attack.

Random factoid: The last time UConn opened on the road against a non-BCS team was 2000, the first year the Huskies were in Division I-A. They lost 32-25 at Eastern Michigan.

Totally unscientific odds of Connecticut winning this game: 84.5 percent. There's no doubt that the Huskies have the better, deeper, more talented team. But playing on the road in the first game at a place that will be fired up for the opportunity presents its fair share of risks.