One of the most dangerous positions to be in as a college football team? Facing a Jeff Monken-led Army team in a bowl game. The Black Knights have thrived in the postseason under the 12th-year head coach, and that remained the case Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park in Boston.
Former independent and current American Conference member Army dominated current independent and former American Conference member UConn, 41-16, as Monken improved to 6-1 in bowl games during his highly-successful tenure in West Point.
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Army became the first team to upend UConn in regulation this year, leaving Indiana as the only program to finish undefeated through four quarters in the 2025 calendar year. UConn drew first blood roughly six minutes into the contest, but Army’s option attack took over afterward, blasting through the Huskies with 368 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.
It was as on-brand of an Army football showing as you could draw up. The disciplined Black Knights refrained from committing a single penalty, frequently moved the sticks in every critical situation (8-of-12 on third down, 2-of-3 on fourth down), and hogged over 36 minutes of clock in the 25-point domination.
But the unexpected part of the Fenway Bowl involved the player basking in the glory. True freshman fourth-string quarterback Godspower Nwawuihe, who transitioned to running back in November, entered the historic ballpark with a résumé of nine carries for 25 yards. Against UConn, Nwawuihe became the star of the show. The freshman powered his way to 171 yards on 12 attempts, securing Offensive MVP honors thanks to 43-yard and 70-yard scampers to the end zone.
Jake Rendina added 87 yards while Carson Smith and starting quarterback Cale Hellums combined for 94 and two touchdowns as UConn’s defense had zero answer for the option offense. The Black Knights turned it over on downs on their opening series and fumbled on their third drive but managed touchdowns on each of their final five opportunities to claim a third-straight bowl win.
UConn entered the contest down starting quarterback Joe Fagnano, and the offense struggled without the passer who generated 3,448 yards, 28 touchdowns, and just one interception in the regular season. Ksaan Farrar got the start for the Huskies, but the freshman only produced 84 yards on an 11-of-17 showing. UConn also lacked All-American wide receiver Skyler Bell. The FBS’s second-leading receiver suited up on the opening drive to earn the start, but that was the only stat he recorded — seen on the sidelines in street clothes as early as the first quarter. Without Fagnano and Bell, running back Cam Edwards carried the bulk of the offense with 108 yards and a touchdown in the Huskies’ first multi-score defeat in 25 games.
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UConn (9-4, Independent) finishes with nine wins for the second-straight year. Nine victories remains a program record for the Huskies since they joined the FBS in 2000, and that feat was attained in 2003, 2007, 2024, and now 2025. Now that head coach Jim Mora Jr. has moved onto Colorado State, UConn starts anew in 2026 with longtime Toledo head coach Jason Candle who secured bowl eligibility in all 10 seasons at his former home.
Army (7-6, 4-4 American) now has won seven of its last eight bowl games after winning only two bowls prior to 2010. The Black Knights have finished .500 or better in six-straight seasons under Monken, overcoming a slow start in 2025 to jump into plus territory. Army claimed its first-ever Fenway Bowl win over the game’s defending champion, bringing back coveted hardware to West Point to wrap up its second season in the American.
