Storrs - SMU and UConn have one more football game to play before both programs can focus fully on the future.

The winless Mustangs (0-11, 0-7 American) bring a lame-duck coach and a 13-game losing streak to UConn (2-9, 1-6) today at Rentschler Field (noon, CBS Sports Network), which has just one win over an FBS program this season.

SMU hired Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris this week to take over its program, leaving interim coach Tom Mason in an awkward position as he finishes up his tenure.

"It's as weird a situation as I've ever been in," Mason said after practice Tuesday. "Here, right now, it's over. The hard part is saying goodbye to the kids. That's the real hard part about it because you know Saturday that it's over."

The Mustangs are trying to snap the school's longest losing streak since a 15-game slide that stretched from 2003 into 2004. A loss would leave them winless for the first time since going 0-12 during the 2003 season.

UConn is in its first year under head coach Bob Diaco, who has made no secret that this season was a much about building for the future as it was about wins and losses. UConn has just 60 players on its active roster, and has played between 54 and 57 of them each week.

"Everybody is upset with the record," Diaco said. "I know that during the season that's what everybody is fixated on. I got that. I'm not living in a cave. But the things that we're working on, on a day-to-day basis ... in every single area, we've grown."

Senior tackle B.J. McBryde says the entire team has transformed physically and emotionally since Diaco took over, and he's happy to have been part of the rebuilding process.

"I am jealous of all the freshmen because they get to have Coach Diaco for four or five more years," he said. "At first I was a little upset about it because I won't be around for this great time that is going to be happening because I guarantee that it is going to be great times."

McBryde is one of 14 seniors who will be honored before kickoff, although only six or seven of them are expected to see significant playing time.

They will be the first class since 2003 to leave school without having appeared in a bowl game.

"It's a lesson in perseverance, survival, sadly enough," Diaco said. If you can't be inspired by those players ready to compete Saturday, after all that they've all been through, you're just not paying attention."

Quarterback Casey Cochran, whose career ended in September because of concussions, will be among the players honored. Diaco said Cochran, the ex-New London and Masuk star, is in his third year academically, but is on track to get his degree in the spring.

The Huskies will be without top safety Obi Melifonwu, who underwent shoulder surgery this week for an injury that Diaco said had been bothering him all season. Melifonwu was fourth on the team with 75 tackles this season.