Typical of bowl games for the last decade, the Wasabi Fenway Bowl has players opting out of Saturday’s game. The difference this year is that some are opting out because they plan to enter the transfer portal when it opens next Friday. The other difference is that the early departures are all on one side of the game. Will the early departures be a key for Army and UConn in the Fenway Bowl?
Fenway Bowl
The Bowl
This is the fourth year for the Wasabi Fenway Bowl, named after a technology company, not the spicy and pungent Asian food condiment.
Played at the home of the Boston Red Sox, the Fenway Bowl is one of the three current bowl games played in a major league baseball park venue (Yankee Stadium and Chase Field are the other two venues). The community tie-in for the game is public education in the New England region, as well as teachers throughout the area.
The bowl game was to have started in 2020, but was cancelled that year and again in 2021 due to Covid. So we are in the fourth official year of the game.
The Matchup
Army comes into the game 6-6 overall and 4-5 in the American Conference. They will face The UConn Huskies are one of two major independents in the country. They finished 9-3 on the season and won their last four in a row.
The two teams have met twice before in the regular season in 2021 and 202, with Army winning both times.
UConn
The Huskies could have held tryouts for positions before going to Boston. They have been hit hard by early departures, the biggest of which is head coach Jim Mora, who is taking the same position at Colorado State. Offensive Coordinator Gordon Sammis will be the interim coach for the bowl game. Toldeo’s Jason Candle will be taking over at UConn after that.
Starting quarterback Joe Fagnano has opted out of the game, as have three other starters. But on the upside, earlier this week, All-American receiver Skylar Bell said he will be playing. Bell had more than 1,200 receiving yards as a candidate for the Biletnikoff Award this season. Starting running back Cam Edwards is also expected to play. He rushed for more than 1,100 yards this season to go with 14 touchdowns.
It is likely that Nick Evers will take over as the starting quarterback. He was the starter for half a dozen games last season.
The Huskies played in the Fenway Bowl last year, beating UNC 27-14.
Army
The Black Knights have the rarity these days. There will be no one leaving West Point as a bowl game opt-out.
Army went 2-2 in the last four games of the regular season, with NONE of the games being decided by more than three points. Just two weeks ago, the Black Knights lost to Navy by one point. It was only the fourth time in the long history of the rivalry that the final margin was just one point.
Head coach Jeff Monken is finishing his 12th year at Army. He has an 88-63 record at Army. This is the second year for Army in the American conference after historically being an independent.
The Black Knights won the Independence Bowl last year over Louisiana Tech. Monken is 5-1 in bowl games at Army.
The Game
It figures to go fast. Army still runs a variation of the triple option offense and looks to control the clock. The Black Knights lead the country in time of possession this season, averaging 34 minutes per game.
Meanwhile, UConn does not give the ball away. The Huskies only lost two turnovers all season and have a turnover margin of +14.
How To Watch
Day/Date: Saturday 12/27/25
Time: 2:15 pm Eastern Time
Location: Fenway Park, Boston, MA
TV: ESPN
