The 2026 UConn Huskies football team represents the University of Connecticut (UConn) as an independent during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team will be led by first year head coach Jason Candle, replacing Jim Mora who left to take the head coaching job at Colorado State. The Huskies play at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut.
Schedule
Game summaries Lafayette (FCS)
Statistics LAFCONN First downs 19 29 Plays–yards 72–209 73–671 Rushes–yards 30–64 40–301 Passing yards 145 370 Passing: comp–att–int 21–42–0 25–33–2 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 28:18 31:42 Team Category Player Statistics Lafayette Passing Daniel Lipovski 16/33, 102 yards RushingMalachi Gamble 6 carries, 28 yards Receiving Nick Bierman 4 receptions, 30 yards Defense Dhonte Jackson8 tackles UConn Passing Kalieb Osborne 19/26, 265 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Kalieb Osborne 8 carries, 90 yards, 2 TD Receiving Javon Brown 6 receptions, 92 yards, TD Defense K'von Sherman 5 tackles, 1 sack
Maryland
Statistics MDCONN First downs 27 12 Plays–yards 78–475 52–223 Rushes–yards 36–125 31–67 Passing yards 350 156 Passing: comp–att–int 35–42–0 10–21–0 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 35:31 24:29 Team Category Player Statistics Maryland Passing Malik Washington 34/41, 347 yards, 2 TD Rushing Iverson Howard 14 carries, 55 yards, TD Receiving Na'eem Abdul-rahim Gladding 8 receptions, 130 yards, TD Defense Sidney Stewart 6 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF UConn Passing Kalieb Osborne 10/21, 156 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kalieb Osborne 13 carries, 30 yards Receiving Shamar Porter 3 receptions, 62 yards, TD Defense Zion Paret 12 tackles
at Southern Miss
Statistics CONNUSM First downs 24 21 Plays–yards 71–436 78–401 Rushes–yards 46–213 27–102 Passing yards 223 299 Passing: comp–att–int 18–25–0 29–51–2 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 34:04 25:56 Team Category Player Statistics UConn Passing Kalieb Osborne 16/22, 214 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Cyncir Bowers 11 att, 84 yards, 1 TD Receiving Shamar Porter 2 rec, 50 yards, 1 TD Defense Hayden Pegg 8 tackles Southern Miss Passing Landry Lyddy 14/25, 194 yards, 1 TD Rushing Steven Robinson 18 att, 72 yards, 1 TD Receiving Mario Sanders 7 rec, 81 yards Defense Michael Robinson III 10 tackles
at Miami (OH)
Statistics CONNM-OH First downs 17 20 Plays–yards 62–377 61–414 Rushes–yards 30–162 29–89 Passing yards 215 325 Passing: comp–att–int 17–32–1 22–32–0 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 27:18 32:42 Team Category Player Statistics UConn Passing Kalieb Osborne 17/32, 215 yards, 1 TD Rushing Kalieb Osborne 13 att, 84 yards, 1 TD Receiving Shamar Porter 2 rec, 61 yards Defense Hayden Pegg 8 tackles Miami (OH) Passing David McComb 19/29, 312 yards, 2 TDs Rushing David McComb 3 att, 33 yards, 1 TD Receiving Brendan Loftus 3 rec, 72 yards, 1 TD Defense Malcolm McCain 9 tackles
Syracuse (rivalry)
Statistics SYRCONN First downs 29 28 Plays–yards 85–509 74–499 Rushes–yards 48–174 34–181 Passing yards 335 318 Passing: comp–att–int 27–37–2 20–40–0 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 35:27 24:33 Team Category Player Statistics Syracuse Passing Amari Odom 27/37, 355 yards, 5 TDs Rushing Tylik Hill 28 att, 140 yards Receiving Umari Hatcher 12 rec, 152 yards, 3 TDs Defense Chris D'appolonia 9 tackles UConn Passing Kalieb Osborne 19/39, 314 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Cyncir Bowers 16 att, 163 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Ryder Treadway 3 rec, 57 yards Defense K'von Sherman 12 tackles, 1 sack, 2 FFs
at Temple
Statistics CONNTEM First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics UConn Passing Rushing Receiving Temple Passing Rushing Receiving
UMass (rivalry)
Statistics MASSCONN First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics UMass Passing Rushing Receiving UConn Passing Rushing Receiving
at Air Force
Statistics CONNAFA First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics UConn Passing Rushing Receiving Air Force Passing Rushing Receiving
North Carolina
Statistics UNCCONN First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics North Carolina Passing Rushing Receiving UConn Passing Rushing Receiving
James Madison
Statistics JMUCONN First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics James Madison Passing Rushing Receiving UConn Passing Rushing Receiving
Old Dominion
Statistics ODUCONN First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Old Dominion Passing Rushing Receiving UConn Passing Rushing Receiving
at Wyoming
Statistics CONNWYO First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics UConn Passing Rushing Receiving Wyoming Passing Rushing Receiving
Personnel Roster
Coaching staff additions Name Previous Position New Position Jason Candle Toledo - Head Coach UConn - Head Coach Nunzio Campanile Syracuse - Quarterbacks UConn - Offensive coordinator Rod ChanceOregon State - co-defensive coordinator UConn - pass game coordinator and corners Ryan Manalac Pittsburgh - Linebackers UConn - Defensive coordinator John Morookian Michigan - Offensive Line UConn - Offensive Line Pat Cashmore Washington State -Special teams coordinator UConn - Special teams coordinator Nate Cole Toledo - running backs UConn - running backs Marquel Blackwell South Carolina - Running backs UConn - Co-offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks Kerry Dixon II Kent State - Wide Receivers UConn - Wide Receivers Max Wray Toledo - assistant offensive line coach UConn - tight ends Robert Weiner Toledo - co-offensive/quarterbacks UConn- associate head coachJunior CollinsMount Union - offensive coordinatorUconn - Wide receiversMickey JacobsDuquesne - Defensive CoordinatorUconn - LinebackersBo ButtermoreTennessee - graduate assistantUconn - Assistant Linebackers
Coaching staff departures Name Previous Position New Position Jim L. Mora UConn - Head Coach Colorado State - Head Coach Gordon Sammis UConn - Offensive coordinator TCU - Offensive coordinator Matt Brock UConn - Defensive coordinator Mississippi State - Defensive coordinator/Linebackers Doug Shearer UConn - Special teams coordinator Virginia Tech - Special teams coordinator Pryce Tracy UConn - Quarterbacks/pass game coordinator Colorado State - Offensive coordinator Kashif Moore UConn - Wide receivers Colorado State - Pass Game Specialist/Wide receiversKenny McClendon UConn - Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Line Colorado State - Assistant Head Coach / Co-Defensive Coordinator / Defensive LineChristian Pace UConn - Offensive Line Colorado State - Associate Head Coach / Run Game Coordinator / Offensive Line
Transfers out Name Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown New school Cooper Ackerman DL 6'4 245 Freshman Shrewsbury, MA Holy Cross Kobi Albert DB 5'11 180 Sophomore Fairfield, AL Southern Miss Bryce Anderson TE 6'5 230 Freshman Killingworth, CT Marist Jayden Bass OT 6'6 315 Sophomore Springfield, MA Rhode Island Trace Bratten WR 6'2 185 Freshman Littleton, CO Delano Brown DL 6'3 288 Freshman Olney, MD Southeast Missouri State Mel Brown RB 5'8 176 Graduate Student Stone Mountain, GA Colorado State Nykobi Brown EDGE 6'3 250 Freshman Valdosta, GA Colorado State Drew Buckley DB 5'9 190 Sophomore Fairfield, CT Vincent Carroll-Jackson DL 6'5 290 Sophomore Harrisburg, PA Georgia Tech Carsten Casady OL 6'7 300 Sophomore Rolesville, NC West Virginia Cam Chadwick DB 6'1 185 Sophomore Plainfield, NJ Virginia Tech Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman WR 6'0 205 Junior Minneapolis, MN Colorado State Nader Chirchi TE 6'7 265 Sophomore Alexandria, VA Colorado State Cleto Chol DL 6'6 270 Sophomore Salem, MA Colorado State Kervins Choute DL 6'4 295 Senior Coconut Creek, FL Virginia Oumar Diomande LB 6'1 230 Sophomore Bronx, NY Colorado State Cam Edwards RB 5'11 181 Senior Norwalk, CT Michigan State Nick Evers QB 6’3 195 Junior Flower Mound, TX Missouri Ksaan Farrar QB 6'3 215 Sophomore Virginia Beach, VA Colorado State MJ Flowers RB 6'1 220 Junior Cincinnati, OH Tennessee Tech Brady Fodor DL 6'3 270 Sophomore Newtown, CT Holy Cross Chase Fountain DB 5'10 180 Sophomore West Hartford, CT Holy Cross Osiris Gilbert CB 5'9 175 Freshman Duluth, GA UCLA Malichi Greaves RB 5'9 190 Freshman Queens, NY Colorado State Jackson Harper WR 6'2 200 Sophomore Simsbury, CT Colorado State Caden Hillier RB 6'2 200 Freshman Guilford, CT Alex Honig TE 6'7 270 Senior Bavaria, Germany Northwestern Chris Hudson CB 5'10 175 Junior Windsor, CT New Haven Makih Johnson WR 6'2 185 Freshman Tarpon Springs, FL Colorado State Toriyan Johnson OT 6'8 330 Sophomore Boston, MA Colorado State Brandon Kelley EDGE 6'6 235 Sophomore Pottstown, PA Colorado State Charlie Leahy DL 6'5 255 Freshman Westport, CT Oliver Lundberg Coleman RB 5'10 200 Freshman Gothenburg, Sweden Colorado State Aubrey Melvin DL 6'3 300 Freshman Brandywine, MD UMass Tyrece Mills S 6'1 210 Senior Philadelphia, PA Lee Molette III DB 6'1 190 Senior Brentwood, TN Arizona Jon Morris LB 6'2 200 Freshman Fairfield, CT Duke Ben Murawski OL 6'7 335 Junior Harleysville, PA Michigan State Reymello Murphy WR 6'0 185 Senior Fremont, CA John Neider WR 6'2 205 Sophomore Milford, CT West Virginia Kolubah Pewee Jr. DB 5'11 170 Senior Staten Island, NY Shamar Porter WR 6'2 205 Sophomore Nashville, TN Leo Ricci K 6'1 180 Freshman Quakertown, PA Albany Michael Robinson III CB 6'0 190 Junior Columbus, OH Southern Miss Diego Rodriguez OT 6'5 290 Freshman Hillside, NJ Colorado State Victor Rosa RB 5'8 210 Junior Bristol, CT Ohio Terrence Smith Jr. WR 5'11 170 Freshman Aiken, SC Colorado State Dominic Toy TE 6'6 225 Sophomore Chester, PA Colorado State Toluwanimi Tunde OT 6'6 290 Sophomore Kwara State, Nigeria Robert Morris Javonte Vereen TE 6'4 214 Sophomore Havelock, NC Colorado State Brady Wayburn OL 6'5 300 Sophomore Gastonia, NC UCF Stephon Wright DL 6'5 285 Graduate Student Los Angeles, CA Colorado State
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