The rivalry started in men's basketball while both schools were members of the Big East conference, and is slowly grew across other sports.

In November 2015, after the teams met in the Bahamas, both Kevin Ollie and Jim Boeheim expressed interest in renewing the rivalry.

[4] In 2004 UConn joined the Big East conference as a football member starting an annual meeting with Syracuse.

In the schools first meeting at the Carrier Dome in 2004, UConn quarterback Dan Orlovsky completed a school- and Big East-record 39 passes for a school-record 445 yards, in a 42–30 loss.

[8] Former UConn head coach Randy Edsall and former offensive coordinator Frank Giufre both played football at Syracuse.

UConn won the game 82–51, finishing the season with a record of 38–0 while capturing their fourth straight national championship.