UConn Football Team Profile
UConn logo

UConn Huskies (@UConnFootball)

Jason Candle (1st year) (0-0) #45
Record: 0 - 0   |  Proj: 7 - 5 (#59)  |  SOS: (#118)
Roster  Schedule  Momentum  Game Control  Combo  Drives  Portals  Croots  Map  
UConn logo
Updated Mar 29, 2026Early OffseasonOutlook: Mixed

UConn enters 2026 essentially as a rebuilt team under first-year HC Jason Candle, with 65 new players (58 via portal) and only 3 returning starters — the QB competition between Merklinger and Osborne is the most pressing unresolved question heading into fall. New OC Nunzio Campanile (from Syracuse, not Marquel Blackwell) brings a legitimate passing-game pedigree, which is encouraging, but the sheer scale of roster turnover and Candle's mixed Toledo track record tempers expectations.

Key Storylines

  • QB competition between Jake Merklinger (Tennessee transfer, former 4-star, 6'3", 173 passing yards/2 TDs in 4 games) and Kalieb Osborne (Toledo transfer, dual-threat, 427 pass + 282 rush yards in 2025) — returnee Tucker McDonald also in the mix, with no clear frontrunner identified through early spring
  • Nunzio Campanile hired as OC (not Marquel Blackwell as previously listed) — Campanile brings high-profile passing credentials from Syracuse, where he helped Kyle McCord shatter 24 program records and finish top-10 in Heisman voting in 2024
  • Massive roster rebuild under Jason Candle: 65 new players (58 via portal), only 3 returning starters — 17 of the portal adds came from Toledo, giving the new HC a built-in familiarity core but raising questions about team cohesion
  • Jason Candle era begins with fanbase optimism but a track record that warrants scrutiny — popular hire with 18 wins in 2 years at UConn (as context), but underperformed relative to expectations at Toledo
  • Skyler Bell and Joe Fagnano representing UConn at the NFL Combine signals program is producing talent, but also reinforces the departures contributing to the single-digit returning starter count
UConn's 2026 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/5UConn vs Lafayette-16
Sat 9/12UConn vs Maryland+9
Sat 9/19UConn at Southern Miss-8
Sat 9/26UConn at Miami (OH)+9
Sat 10/3UConn vs Syracuse+3.5
Sat 10/10UConn at Temple+3.5
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/24UConn vs Massachusetts-24.5
Sat 10/31UConn at Air Force+6.5
Sat 11/7UConn vs North Carolina+6.5
Sat 11/14UConn vs James Madison+3.5
Sat 11/21UConn vs Old Dominion+2
Sat 11/28UConn at Wyoming-0
Record Prediction: 7 - 5  #59
Schedule Rating:  #118
Future 2027 Schedule
UConn's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/30UConn vs Central Connecticut-29.5W59–1351.5W59–13OY
Sat 9/6UConn at Syracuse+7.0L20–2757.5L20–27UY
Sat 9/13UConn at Delaware-8.5L41–4452.5L41–44ON
Sat 9/20UConn vs Ball State-21.0W31–2553.5W31–25ON
Sat 9/27UConn at Buffalo-3.0W20–1751.5W20–17UN
Sat 10/4UConn vs Florida International-7.0W51–1052.5W51–10OY
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/18UConn at Boston College-2.5W38–2358.5W38–23OY
Sat 10/25UConn at Rice-10.5L34–3748.5L34–37ON
Sat 11/1UConn vs UAB-10.0W38–1961.5W38–19UY
Sat 11/8UConn vs Duke+7.5W37–3463.5W37–34OY
Sat 11/15UConn vs Air Force-7.5W26–1664.5W26–16UY
Sat 11/22UConn at Florida Atlantic-6.0W48–4564.0W48–45ON
Sat 12/27UConn vs Army+5.5L16–4141.5L16–41ON
2025 Schedule Rating:  #136
2025 Record: 9 - 4 (Ind: 0 - 0)
Spread Record 6 - 5 - 2 | O/U 9 - 4
Opponents: 0 Elite, 0 Good, 2 Avg, 6 Bad, 3 Poor
Reg Season Opponents: 0 Elite, 0 Good, 1 Avg, 2 Bad, 8 Poor

Show Past Schedules
2026 class: 172 points   #107
2025 class: 141 points   #112
2024 class: 134 points   #124
2023 class: 36 points   #177
2022 class: 112 points   #98

Average Class Ranking:   #124
Average Recruiting Points: 119

Four Year Crootin Profile
Consistent Poor G5
4 Year Class:  #122 - Best:  #107 Worst:  #177



CFB Crootin Averages
FBS Independents Class: 236  #57
Group of 5 Class: 169  #101
FBS Class: 198  #70


2021 class: 128 points   #124
2020 class: 139 points   #125
2019 class: 128 points  NR
2018 class: 126 points  NR
2017 class: 122 points   #104

Average Class Ranking:   #71
Average Recruiting Points: 129
 
Transfer Portal Classes
2026 Portal Class  #75 - 56 players, 84 Avg
2025 Portal Class  #89 - 26 players, 83 Avg
2024 Portal Class  #77 - 24 players, 84 Avg
2023 Portal Class  #110 - 13 players, 0 Avg
Transfer Portal Classes
Transfer Portal Classes
2022 Portal Class  #105 - 9 players, 82 Avg
2021 Portal Class NR - players, 0 Avg
2020 Portal Class NR - players, 0 Avg
2019 Portal Class NR - players, 0 Avg
Offensive Coordinator Marquel Blackwell (in his first season) #67
Player NameCOMPATTPCTYDSTDINTYPA
Kalieb Osborne (Tr)325262%427308.2
Jake Merklinger (Tr)132454%173207.2
Player NameCARYDSTDYPCLONG
Kenji Christian10552845.037
Trey Cornist (Tr)10446914.529
Kalieb Osborne (Tr)5128225.533
Cyncir Bowers (Tr)6324924.026
Player NameRECYDSTDYPCLONG
Shamar Porter17219112.956
Kenji Christian17193111.442
Ryder Treadway (Tr)13176313.524
Javon Brown (Tr)8156119.546
(Tr) - new transfer in 2026

Defensive Coordinator Ryan Manalac (in his first season) #68
Top DefTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
K'Von Sherman (Tr)9315561
Esean Carter364331
Luke Murphy (Tr)364001
Anas Luqman (Tr)339452
SacksTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
K'Von Sherman (Tr)9315561
Anas Luqman (Tr)339452
Esean Carter364331
Chamberlain Campbell (Tr)62200
Pass DTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Anas Luqman (Tr)339452
Zakaih Saez (Tr)131102
K'Von Sherman (Tr)9315561
Returning Production
Overall Returning Production: 47%  #134
Offense Returning Production: 46%  #132
Defense Returning Production: 47%  #119
UConn's Official Roster

Transfer Portal
2026 Portal Class  #75
56 Commits, 84.3 Avg Rating
60% of 2026 Roster from Portal, 57% TY
Team Talent
2026 Talent Rating: 623.00  #76
Offense Talent  #72 | Defense Talent  #78
2025  #95 | 2024  #107 | 2023  #111 | 2022  #129


2026 - 2023 Records
2026 Record: 0 - 0
2026 Conf Record: 0 - 0
Spread: 0 - 0 - 0 | Totals: 0 - 0

2025 Record: 9 - 4
2025 Conf Record: 0 - 0
Spread: 6 - 5 - 2 | Totals: 9 - 4

2024 Record: 9 - 4
2024 Conf Record: 1 - 0
Spread: 8 - 4 - 1 | Totals: 8 - 5

2023 Record: 3 - 9
2023 Conf Record: 1 - 0
Spread: 6 - 6 - 0 | Totals: 5 - 7

Four Year Record: 21 - 17
Four Year Record vs. Spread: 20 - 15 - 3
Four Year Conference Record: 2 - 0
2022 - 2019 Records
2022 Record: 6 - 7
2022 Conf Record: 0 - 0
Spread: 9 - 4 - 0 | Totals: 4 - 9

2021 Record: 1 - 11
2021 Conf Record: 0 - 0
Spread: 6 - 6 - 0 | Totals: 7 - 5

2020 Record: 0 - 0
2020 Conf Record: 0 - 0
Spread: 0 - 0 - 0 | Totals: 0 - 0

2019 Record: 2 - 10
2019 Conf Record: 0 - 8
Spread: 5 - 7 - 0 | Totals: 5 - 7

Eight Year Record: 30 - 45
Eight Year Record vs. Spread: 40 - 32 - 3
Eight Year Conference Record: 3 - 8

UConn Recent Bowl History
DateBowlMatchupSpreadTotalResult
2025Fenway Bowl UConn vs Army+5.541.5L 16 - 41
2024Fenway Bowl UConn vs North Carolina+2.053.5W 27 - 14
2022Beach Bowl UConn vs Marshall+11.542.0L 14 - 28
Power Ranking Stats (2025)
 Teams                  Offense PPAOffense ExplOffense SuccessOffense Pts Per OppAvg Start FP3rd Down %4th Down %Defense PPADefense ExplDefense SuccessDefense Pts Per OppOpponent FP
2025.31 (9)1.34 (26)46% (29)4.58 (14)30.4 (36)41%71%.22 (113)1.2 (42)47% (126)3.8 (81)24.9 (-1)
 Teams                  Offense PPAOffense ExplOffense SuccessOffense Pts Per OppAvg Start FP3rd Down %4th Down %Defense PPADefense ExplDefense SuccessDefense Pts Per OppOpponent FP
2024.19 (67)1.22 (99)42% (82)4.09 (51)31.5 (17)37%47%.1 (25)1.18 (26)39% (37)3.36 (26)28.8 (64)



More Stats (2025)
 Teams                  GamesPossession Time1st Downs PG3rd Down %4th Down %Penalties PGPenalty Yds PGOff TO PGDef TO PGTFL PGSacks PGD/ST TDs
20251328:5021.241%71%4.948.30.21.36.12.70
 Teams                  GamesPossession Time1st Downs PG3rd Down %4th Down %Penalties PGPenalty Yds PGOff TO PGDef TO PGTFL PGSacks PGD/ST TDs
20241327:1619.137%47%550.41.21.15.21.62



Overall Stats (2025)
 Teams                  GamesPPGHomeRoadSuccess RatePts PerOppTO1stD PGTotalYds PGRushYds PGPassYdsPGRYPARun Rate  Pass RateRun SuccessPass SuccessHavoc RateTotal PPA
2025 Offense1335.340.333.546% (29)4.58 (14)0.2214491652845.345% (110)54% (25)46% (44)47% (22)12% (11).31 (9)
2025 Defense132719.532.246.6% (126)3.8 (81)1.3 - - - - - 55% (121)44% (18)50% (133)43% (89)15% (91).22 (113)
 Teams                  GamesPPGHomeRoadSuccess RatePts PerOppTO1stD PGTotalYds PGRushYds PGPassYdsPGRYPARun Rate  Pass RateRun SuccessPass SuccessHavoc RateTotal PPA
2024 Offense1331.936.92641.8% (82)4.09 (51)1.2193711841875.254% (39)46% (96)43% (82)40% (84)13% (30).19 (67)
2024 Defense1323.116.334.439.4% (37)3.36 (26)1.1 - - - - - 49% (45)51% (84)42% (63)37% (23)17% (53).1 (25)



Run Game Stats (2025)
 Teams                  GamesRun Play RateRun Play SuccessRush Att PGRush Yds PGRush Yds Per AttRushing TDsRun Pred Pts AddedOL Yds Per Att3rd/4th & ShortFront 7 HavocRun Play Explosivness
2025 Offense1345% (110)46% (44)30.9164.75.326 (36).21 (24)2.93 (69)82% (8)6% (3)1.04 (38)
2025 Defense1355% (121)50% (133) - - - - .21 (123)3.37 (132)67% (32)10% (70)0.95 (65)
 Teams                  GamesRun Play RateRun Play SuccessRush Att PGRush Yds PGRush Yds Per AttRushing TDsRun Pred Pts AddedOL Yds Per Att3rd/4th & ShortFront 7 HavocRun Play Explosivness
2024 Offense1354% (39)43% (82)35.7184.15.222 (55).18 (40)3.07 (58)77% (39)7% (13)1.03 (45)
2024 Defense1349% (45)42% (63) - - - - .05 (29)2.76 (31)63% (18)10% (78)0.89 (28)



Pass Game Stats (2025)
 Teams                  GamesPassPlay RatePassPlay SuccessComp PGAtt PGYds PGYds PAYds PCTDs     Ints     PassPlays PPAPassPlays ExplPassDowns RatePassDowns Succ RatePassDowns PPADB HavocPassDowns Expl
2025 Offense1354% (25)47% (22)23.634.7283.88.21230 (14)1 (1).44 (11)1.6 (48)32% (74)29% (83).48 (14)6% (55)2.5 (1)
2025 Defense1344% (18)43% (89) - - - - - - 11 (55).28 (83)1.6 (68)26% (132)33% (115).4 (113)5% (95)2 (81)
 Teams                  GamesPassPlay RatePassPlay SuccessComp PGAtt PGYds PGYds PAYds PCTDs     Ints     PassPlays PPAPassPlays ExplPassDowns RatePassDowns Succ RatePassDowns PPADB HavocPassDowns Expl
2024 Offense1346% (96)40% (84)15.828.6186.86.511.823 (41)9 (48).23 (85)1.5 (114)30% (47)30% (88).29 (86)6% (87)2 (82)
2024 Defense1351% (84)37% (23) - - - - - - 9 (76).17 (35)1.5 (37)32% (72)26% (17).28 (57)7% (23)2.1 (97)




Overall

Team Info

Power #90SP+ #107
Coaching staff Rank  #67

2025 Record

9 - 4
Ind 0 - 0

Vs Spread6 - 5 - 2Totals9 - 4
One Score Games '25: (4-3)(0-0 under J.C.)

5 Year Profile

Declining Average G5

'26 Profile

Down to Below Avg G5
Performance #33
Special Teams #86

Returning Production

From 2025

49% #129
CONN lost their 25 starting QB
Offense 46% #132
Defense 47% #119
Returning Starters: 3 (Off: 2) - (Def: 1)
Proj Portal Starters: 5 (Off: 1) - (Def: 4)
Exp'd Depth: 2 (Off: 1) - (Def: 1)
OL Prod: 27% #1221 starters, 0 exp'd depth
OL Snaps: 1,806  #116From Portal: 1211 #54
Rush Prod: 70% #60
Rec Prod: 25% #129
Front Seven: 55% #84
Secondary: 36% #132

Roster

Talent Info

Talent #76
Blue Chips (4%) #60
Portal Class  #7556 players (84 Avg)
Crootin '26 Class  #1074 YR Class Rating #122

Talent Profile

Consistent Poor G5
60% of Roster from Portal, 57% TY
102% of '26 Roster are New (Fr + Portals)

(OC) Marquel Blackwell 1

 #67

(DC) Ryan Manalac 1

 #68

2026 Schedule

Information

SOS #118

UConn plays 3 opps off a byeSYR & JMU & ODU
OppsElite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 2, Bad: 6, Poor: 3
2025 Record: 9 - 4 (6 - 5 - 2) (Ind: 0 - 0)
2024 Record: 9 - 4 (8 - 4 - 1) (Ind: 1 - 0)

Win History

Past 5 years 5.4

4 Yr Record (21 - 17)
8 Yr Record (30 - 45)

Notes

Live Team Notes

Vibes: Stable, Candle hire popular, 18 W's in 2 yrs
My take: Candle underperformed badly at Toledo
QB1? Osborne (Toledo) vs Merklinger (Tenn)
52 portal adds, 17 from Toledo, sneaky good
RB 4 portals, none really stand out. Have depth
WR 10 portal adds, 6 from Toledo. Should be good
OL 10 portals, have 3 w starting exp, some depth
DL 11 portals, only 4 have real exp, not sure
DB 9 portals, one starting S and lots of PTers

Roster Experience

Snaps & Starter Info

Snaps Returning

9,743 (49%) #118

55%of Snaps by Upperclass
Offense: 4,644 #116
Defense: 5,099 #107
Players with Starting Exp (21) 10 on Off, 11 on Def

Upperclass

Starters 3 of 22 (13.6%)2-Deep 5 of 44 (11.4%)
Senior/Gr starters: 2 (9.1%) (Off: 1, Def: 1)
Upperclass Two-Deep: 5 of 44 (11.4%)
Upperclass on Roster: 26.7%(28 of 105)

Portals

Top '26 Incoming Portals

K'Von Sherman (LB)3★ (.86)
Terrence Moore (IOL)3★ (.86)
Jake Merklinger (QB)3★ (.86)
Renick Dorilas (CB)3★ (.85)
Raphael Greene-Nyarko (IOL)3★ (.85)
Ryder Treadway (WR)3★ (.85)
Jayden Price (S)3★ (.85)
Matt Ragan (TE)3★ (.85)

Top Players

Top Performers on Roster

K'Von Sherman (LB)93 Tac, 15 TFL (* TR)
Esean Carter (DT)36 Tac, 4 TFL
Anas Luqman (DE)33 Tac, 9 TFL (* TR)
Kenji Christian (RB)528 Yds, 4 TD
Trey Cornist (RB)469 Yds, 1 TD (* TR)
Ky Wilson (WR)0 Yds, 0 TD (*FCS TR)
John Lista (LB)0 Tac, 0 TFL (*FCS TR)
Ty Chan (G)C+ Block Grade

Recruits

Top '26 Incoming Recruits

Jayden Fox (RB)3★ (.87)
Zikhere Leaks (WR)3★ (.87)
James Tilus (EDGE)3★ (.86)
Jayden Jones (LB)3★ (.86)
Cason Dash (CB)3★ (.86)
Logan Barnes (WR)3★ (.85)
Makijah Latiker (EDGE)3★ (.85)
Bo Polston (QB)3★ (.85)

Overall

Four Year Ratings Profile

#122 #74 #65 #99

Offense

Four Year Ratings Profile

#118 #80 #36 #103

Defense

Four Year Ratings Profile

#97 #48 #100 #99
 

Offense

2025 Ratings

Power #98SP+ #107
Profile:Pass heavy Offense 55%, Run: 44%
Off Success #29
Off Expl #26
Run Success #44
Run Expl #38
Pass Success #22
Pass Expl #48

OLine

Run Blk #3Pass Blk #77
OL Yds #69
Stuff Rate #40

Misc

Poss Time #683 & Out #52
Scoring Zone Off #14
TO's #2

Defense

2025 Ratings

Power #89SP+ #108
Def Success #126
Def Expl #42
Run Success #133
Run Expl #65
Pass Success #89
Pass Expl #68

Misc

Havoc #91
Stop Rate #82
3 & Out #115
Pass Rush #96
Cov #48
Run Def #119
Tackle #105
Scoring Zone Def #81
TO's #50

Scoring

Overall: 35 - 27 (8.3)

Home: 40 - 20 (20.8)Road: 34 - 32 (1.3)

Net Efficiency

Overall #21

Pts Per Drive

Offense PPD #15Defense PPD #85

Pts Per Play

Offense PPP #14Defense PPP #70

(OC) Marquel Blackwell 1

 #67

(DC) Ryan Manalac 1

 #68

Records

4 Yr Record21 - 17

20259 - 420249 - 4

Offense

Four Year Offense Pts Per Play

#106 #115 #37 #14

Defense

Four Year Defense Pts Per Play

#86 #103 #45 #70

Overall

Four Year Net Pts Per Play

#107 #114 #38 #21