When: 2:30 p.m. today

Where: Notre Dame Stadium (80,795/grass), South Bend

TV: NBC

Radio: 1450 AM, 1510 AM, 107.3 FM

Line: Notre Dame by 6

Records: Notre Dame 6-4; Connecticut 4-5

Series: First meeting

On the Web: For video preview of game, go to www.journalgazette.net

Notre Dame

Offensive statistics

Points per game: 29.3 (46th in NCAA)

Yards per game: 452.2 (9th)

Passing yards per game: 321.3 (5th)

Rushing yards per game: 130.9 (84th)

Defensive statistics

Points per game: 23.3 (T-50th)

Yards per game: 390.5 (83rd)

Passing yards per game: 237.3 (85th)

Rushing yards per game: 153.2 (72nd)

Keys

Top 3 offensive players: Jimmy Clausen, QB, eighth nationally in total offense with 298.2 yards per game, has 21 touchdown passes with four interceptions; Golden Tate, WR, fourth in average receiving yards with 117.2 and has scored 14 touchdowns; Sam Young, OL, will break school record today with his 49th consecutive start

Top 3 defensive players: Kyle McCarthy, S, leads team in tackles (78) and interceptions (5); Darius Fleming, LB, leads team in tackles for loss (11 1/2 ); Brian Smith, LB, second on team in tackles (58) and has 5 1/2 tackles for loss

Key to victory: Notre Dame needs to play the first three quarters as it has the last quarter this season. The Irish outscored Pittsburgh and Navy 33-9 in the fourth quarter, but they still lost both of those games.

Injury: TE Kyle Rudolph (shoulder) out

Connecticut

Offensive statistics

Points per game: 29.7 (42nd in NCAA)

Yards per game

: 408.9 (38th)

Passing yards per game: 241 (39th)

Rushing yards per game: 167.9 (45th)

Defensive statistics

Points per game: 23.6 (58th)

Yards per game: 366.1 (68th)

Passing yards per game: 232.1 (76th)

Rushing yards per game: 134 (52nd)

Keys

Top 3 offensive players: Jordan Todman, RB, team-high 12 touchdowns, averages 91.8 rushing yards; Andre Dixon, RB, seven touchdowns, averages 81.1 rushing yards; Zach Frazer, QB, part of 2006 Notre Dame recruiting class, has thrown for 815 yards with four touchdowns and seven interceptions

Top 3 defensive players: Lindsey Witten, DE, 10 1/2 sacks, tied for second in nation with 1.2 sacks per game; Lawrence Wilson, LB, leads team with 97 tackles and has nine tackles for loss; Robert McClain, CB, four interceptions and three pass breakups

Key to victory: Connecticut needs to take advantage of Notre Dame’s slow starts. In Notre Dame’s four losses, the Irish have been outscored 57-27 in the first half, and in the last two games, both losses, they have been outscored 24-3 in the opening half.

Injuries: QB Cody Endres (shoulder), RB Robbie Frey (shoulder) out; RB Andre Dixon (leg), RB Meme Wylie (arm), LB Sio Moore (ankle) probable

tkrausz@jg.net