Location: Rentschler Field, East Hartford

Kickoff: 7 p.m., Friday (CBS Sports Network)

Records: UConn 5-3, Georgia State 2-5

Last game: UConn beat Rice, 17-10, Saturday; Georgia State lost at Appalachian State, 33-26, Saturday

Series: UConn lost the only other meeting, 35-14, last season on the road.

Players to watch: UConn, r-jr. WR Skyler Bell (28 catches, 581 yards, 4 TDs), r-so. QB Nick Evers (72 for 139, 347 yards, 4 TDs, 4 ints), r-sr. WR TJ Sheffield (32 catches, 353 yards, 2 TDs), r-fr. RB Durell Robinson (74 carries, 565 yards, 5 TDs), r-so. RB Cam Edwards (79 carries, 357 yards, 4 TDs), jr. RB Mel Brown (75 carries, 565 yards, 1 TD), r-jr. TE Alex Honing (4 catches, 49 yards, 2 TDs), r-sr. LB Jayden McDonald (69 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 int.), r-sr. CB Jordan Wright (31 tackles, 1 sack), sr. DB Rante Jones (34 tackles, 1 int.), jr. DB D’Mon Brinson (33 tackles), Sr. LB Tui Faumuina-Brown (64 tackles, 2 sacks), r-so. LB Langston Hardy (32 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 int.)

Georgia State, r-sr. QB Zach Gibson (41 for 60, 433 yards, 4 TDs), jr. QB Christian Veilleux (118 for 202, 1,301 yards, 9 TDs, 5 ints), r-jr. RB Freddie Brock (89 carries, 497 yards, 2 TDs), grad RB Michel Dukes (32 carries, 232 yards, 1 TD), so. TE Dorian Fleming (31 catches, 333 yards, 2 TDs), jr. WR Ted Hurst (29 catches, 506 yards, 6 TDs), sr. LB Justin Abraham (39 tackles, 1 sack), sr. DB Gavin Pringle (24 tackles, 1 int.), sr. LB Kevin Swint (23 tackles, 4 sacks), sr. LB Xavier Robinson (39 tackles, 1 sack), sr. DB Jeremiah Johnson (34 tackles), r-jr. DB Jyron Gilmore (33 tackles, 1 int.)

Noteworthy: UConn is closing in on becoming bowl-eligible for the second time in coach Jim Mora’s three seasons in Storrs.

Quotable: “It will not be addressed,” Mora said when asked if he’ll inform his team about what’s at stake.

Four-down territory

• UConn’s defense is coming off an impressive performance. The Huskies allowed a season-low 178 total yards (88 passing, 90 rushing) versus Rice. Defensive end Pryce Yates has provided a spark since returning from an injury.

• Georgia State has undergone significant roster changes since last year’s game. The Panther offense hasn’t been as potent, averaging 21.9 points per game. Zach Gibson replaced Christian Veilleux, who started the first six games, last week at quarterback vs. Appalachian State. They’ve dropped four straight.

Their last win came in mid-September against Vanderbilt (36-32), which stunned Alabama on Oct. 5.

“We don’t look at the record, we look at what we see on film,” Mora said. “And I see a really good football team and a team that beat us soundly last year.”

• Stat to watch: Third-down conversions. UConn struggled in that situation last week, converting a season-low 3-for-16. But the Huskies held Rice to just 2-for-16. Defensively, they are second in the country in third-down conversion percentage at .254.

• Will this be a bounce-back game for redshirt sophomore quarterback Nick Evers? A Wisconsin transfer, Evers will need to be better than last game’s 9-for-24 for 128 yards. He also had an interception. He works on his game about eight hours a day, according to Mora. “He’s still a young developing player who hasn’t played a lot in college ball,” Mora said.

Extra points: Senior appreciation night and home finale for the Huskies, who will be playing their sixth straight game at The Rent where they are 5-1 this season. “I’m sure there will be some emotion and some tears out of moms, but the players need to stay focused on what’s happening after that little ceremony,” Mora said. … Georgia State belongs to the Sun Belt Conference. UConn is 0-3 all-time versus those league opponents. … UConn ranks 13th nationally in sacks allowed per game at 1.0. … The Panthers are 14th in the country in fewest penalties with 37. … Up next: UConn visits Alabama-Birmingham on Saturday, Nov. 9. It is the first of three straight road games to end the regular season.

– Gavin Keefe