Everything will be in place for a special opening night for the UConn football team.

Expectations are high coming off a surprising six-win season that ended with the program’s first bowl bid in seven years.

Excitement continues to build as the Huskies try to take another step forward in rebuilding the program under second-year head coach Jim Mora.

Fans are getting behind the program. They’ve responded to the school’s social media blitz promoting Thursday’s season opener against North Carolina State (7:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network) as over 30,000 fans are expected to be in attendance at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.

UConn is hoping to do its part to make it a special night.

A productive preseason has given the Huskies another reason to be optimistic.

“They worked very hard through the off-season and this summer to get ready for this,” Mora said. “We’re hoping to go out and play well against a really good football team that had a lot of success against us last year. We want to play to our potential.

“I’m sure there will be some nerves and some anxiety, but that’s OK. I’m really proud of the way these guys have prepared and gotten themselves ready to get back to this point. So, it should be a fun night.”

Both teams have undergone changes since meeting on Sept. 24 in Raleigh, N.C., a game that NC State won 41-10. The Wolfpack went on to post an 8-5 overall record.

UConn has a new quarterback in Joe Fagnano, a transfer from Maine. The Huskies have added what they hope are impact transfers on both sides of the football. They have a better understanding of the offensive and defensive systems and are more connected as a team than last season.

“Even from the first day of camp from last year to this year, you can see the improvement all over the field,” veteran linebacker Jackson Mitchell said. “We’ve brought in more transfers and the young guys have gotten bigger and faster and learned the game a little bit more and gotten more experience. So year two should be good.

“Obviously, we’re in the same system on offense and defense again, which will be really helpful also. I think we have a better understanding of it and it should go well, for sure.”

With the addition of 40 new players, NC State will look a bit different. The Wolfpack have a new offensive coordinator in Robert Anae and new quarterback in Brennan Armstrong, a graduate transfer. They’re reunited after coming from Virginia where Armstrong threw for 9,034 yards and 58 touchdowns in 41 career games.

The Wolfpack’s defense remains strong after being ranked in the top 20 nationally in seven different areas last season.

“They’re a very, very good defense,” Mora said. “They’re solid up front and one of the better defensive lines in the country, in my opinion. They do what they do and they do it well. And they play very fast and aggressive.”

The Huskies face a stiff challenge right at the start of the 2023 season, and that’s fine with Mora and company.

The Huskies believe they’re well-equipped to test themselves against a Power Five program out of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

“I’m excited about our football team,” Mora said. “As a football team, I believe we have improved. But we’ve got to go out and prove it.”

Getting off to a fast start this season is important for several reasons.

With four of their first five games at home, the Huskies are set up for early success.

A strong start also would help build the team’s confidence and bolster the fan base.

In the long run, a winning team will fill the seats faster than a social media blitz.

“I would love for them to come out and support these players that it is so important to, that work so hard, that are running around the field trying to represent our fans and this state with a lot of pride,” Mora said. “But, ultimately, if we can go out and play exciting football and bring fans into the stadium, that’s the thing.

“I’ve said it a lot of times, people spend a lot of money to come to the stadium. We’ve got to earn the right to have them want to open their wallet and spend the money, or take the time on a Thursday night or a Saturday to come and support us.

“We would love it to be packed. But we’ve got to build that. And that’s one of our objectives. Winning, as we all know, is the number one thing you can do to bring fans into your stadium. So we’ve got to win. We were 5-1 at home last year so that’s a decent start. But last year is over. We’ve got to start over.”

g.keefe@theday.com