Fresh off its first loss of the year, Yale will host No. 8 Fordham Saturday.

The Rams are 7-0 and are ranked No. 8 in the FCS in scoring offense (40.6 ppg), while averaging just under 500 yards per game.

QB Michael Nebrich leads the nation, completing 74.2 percent of his passes and completed 20 straight throws in last week’s win against Georgetown. RB Carlton Koonce is averaging 111 yards per game on the ground and the Rams are huge up front.

Defensively, Fordham is fast and athletic. Everything expected for the No. 8 team in the country. The Rams get off blocks well and their LBs play downhill. Junior DB Jordan Champman, of Southington, is a tough matchup because of his size and speed at 6 foot 1. They are aggressive in the blitz game and bring the pressure, whether in zone or man.

Fordham has wins over No. 11 Villanova, No. 16 Lehigh and knocked off Temple of the FBS.

UCONN TIES

Former Huskies have played a critical role in the Rams success this season.

For starters, head coach Joe Moorhead served as UConn’s offensive coordinator in 2009-10.

Nebrich played for UConn as a freshman, throwing for 69 yards on 5 of 14 passing. Also, top receiver Tebucky Jones (son of former Syracuse and NFL player Tebucky Jones Sr.) played in 16 games for the Huskies. He has 50 catches for 601 yards and three touchdowns this season.

There’s also another local tie on the Fordham roster. Former Sheehan standout Brett Biestek. The DL has 28 tackles and three sacks on the season. Look for a story on Biestek later in the week.

SMITH UPDATE

WR Chris Smith went down with a knee injury in the second quarter of Saturday’s 20-13 loss to Dartmouth and did not return. He is listed as day-to-day.

Tony Reno said he did not get the results of the MRI. Smith wore a brace on his left leg and did not participate in Tuesday’s practice.

Also, K Kyle Cazzetta injured his ankle during Tuesday's practice. He is listed as day-to-day as well.

RENO ON DARTMOUTH LOSS

“It was a game of missed opportunities,” Reno said. “Plays we made in the first three weeks, we just didn’t make them Saturday. When you look at the end of the game and you lose the turnover battle, you lose third down, you lose total yards and field position, you’re not going to win. But I think our guys will be ready to play.”