The countdown clock for the UConn football season is mercifully winding down.

Three regular season games remain for the Huskies.

While UConn (1-8, 0-5) is trending down, losing six straight, Southern Methodist (4-5, 3-2) is heading in the opposite direction after upsetting No. 16 Houston 45-31 last week.

The Huskies and Mustangs meet in an American Athletic Conference game at noon on Saturday at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.

"They're a team that's playing good football right now," UConn coach Randy Edsall said. "They're a really good team. They have a lot of experienced players and guys playing at a high level coming off their win over Houston."

SMU has a familiar face on the sidelines. Rhett Lashlee, who spent last season as Edsall's offensive coordinator, has the same role for the Mustangs.

Under Lashlee's guidance, junior quarterback Ben Hicks has thrived. He earned offensive player of the week honors after throwing for 318 yards and four touchdowns passes in last week's win. He's piled up more than 300 passing yards in a school-record 10th time in his career.

The Huskies have never defeated the Mustangs, losing all four meetings. And that losing streak is unlikely to end on Saturday.

Victories down the stretch will likely come in form of individual performances, especially with the younger Huskies who continue to gain valuable experience.

Take freshman defensive tackle Travis Jones.

Jones has made huge strides in his development while appearing in nine games, starting six. He's led UConn's defensive linemen in tackles in two games this season and has 33 tackles overall.

"Travis is getting better each and every week," Edsall said. "Like the approach that he's taking. He's as raw as raw can be. But he comes from Wilbur Cross High School to being thrown in the fire. I give the young man a lot of credit for doing what he's doing and improving the way he is. He's going to be fine."

Jones credits his improved quickness and ability to get off the line faster to dropping some weight. He's working with a nutritionist. He weighed in earlier this week at 341 pounds, down from his roster weight of 350.

"I feel good," Jones said.

Freshman Oneil Robinson, a freshman defensive back out of Capital Prep in Hartford, is another promising young Husky. He has 40 tackles, two for losses, and an interception.

He says he's motivated by teammate Eli Thomas, whose season ended after suffering stroke.

"Eli's situation just made me realize that this isn't forever," Robinson said. "You're not guaranteed another snap. So every snap I have I just have to play my hardest."

Robinson stood out in last week's 49-19 loss at Tulsa, ringing up a career-best and team-high 15 tackles.

"He's learning how to play the game at football and playing it at the level that we want him to, and to be physical," Edsall said. "Love his attitude and love the way he works. Love exactly what he's doing."

Eddie Hahn, a redshirt sophomore linebacker, has seen both Jones and Robinson experience a growth spurt.

"When they started, they weren't as confident as they are now," Hahn said. "You take Oneil, for instance. The kid just flies around and has fun doing it. As a redshirt sophomore, I feed off his energy. ... And Travis is physical specimen. You see him in the weight room and he's pushing so much weight. He's strong guy.

"Those two are definitely going to be good football players throughout their careers here."

g.keefe@theday.com