Syracuse football’s 2026 week-five opponent: Get to know the UConn Huskies

Before Gerry McNamara and the Syracuse basketball team renew their rivalry with UConn on the court, Fran Brown will take the Syracuse football team to East Hartford for a game in early October. This non-conference game comes following a Thursday night game against Pitt and a bye the following week. If issues pop up for the Orange early in the season, there will be time to fix them before facing the Huskies. Speaking of the Huskies, let’s take a closer look at the state of UConn football ahead of the 2026 season.

UConn head coach: Jason Candle

For the third time in its first four games, Syracuse will play a team with a new head coach. Candle took the UConn job after 10 seasons as the head coach at Toledo. That means he spent the last six years employing new Syracuse defensive coordinator Vince Kehres. Candle built a stable and successful program at Toledo. The Rockets finished .500 or better in all 10 of his seasons, going to a bowl game every year except 2019 and 2020. Candle led Toledo to the MAC Championship Game three times, winning the conference title twice. He also left Toledo as the winningest coach in program history.

Last meeting with Syracuse: Syracuse 27, UConn 20 (2025)

Syracuse fans probably remember this as an endlessly frustrating game. The Orange offense looked sluggish most of the day, scoring just two field goals in the first three quarters of the game. But the offense finally came alive in the fourth quarter, with Steve Angeli leading 90- and 80-yard touchdown drives to overcome a 17-6 deficit. Alas, the Huskies made a last-second field goal to force overtime. In overtime, Angeli completed a ridiculous touchdown pass to Justus Ross-Simmons. The Huskies couldn’t match it, with Antoine Deslauriers breaking up a fourth-down pass to give the Orange the win.

Series history

The Orange and Huskies played every season from 2004 to 2012 as members of the Big East. The upstart Huskies won six of those nine games during some dark days for Syracuse. However, the Orange won the final Big East clash in 2012, as well as all five games as non-conference foes since then. Syracuse blew out the Huskies in both 2018 and 2022, with the latter game being played in East Hartford. However, UConn has been competitive in the Dome each of the past two seasons, losing both games by just seven points.

UConn’s 2025 season

The Huskies won nine games for the second straight season in 2025. After losing to Syracuse and Delaware early in the season, UConn had two separate four-game winning streaks, with a frustrating double-overtime loss to Rice sandwiched in between. The Huskies even knocked off ACC teams Boston College and Duke, although they only had one other victory over a team that went to a bowl game, and that was FIU. Nevertheless, the Huskies received an invite to the Fenway Bowl, only to lose 41-16 to Army. Before the bowl game, Jim Mora jumped ship for Colorado State, leaving UConn with a coaching vacancy that Candle ultimately filled.

UConn’s key returning players

A new coach means an almost entirely new roster for the Huskies. There are barely half a dozen players on the two-deep heading into the season who were on UConn’s roster last year. On offense, a few offensive linemen return, as does wide receiver Shamar Porter, who is a projected starter but had just 18 catches for 234 yards in 2025. On defense, backup defensive end Matt Hoffman and reserve corner Kylish Hicks are the only players back in the fold.

UConn’s notable additions

Candle brought in 64 players through the transfer portal. The most important player is Tennessee transfer Jake Merklinger, who is expected to start at quarterback for the Huskies. He attempted just 33 passes over his two seasons in Knoxville, but has the tools to find success at UConn despite a lack of experience. Several transfers from Toledo will be among the receiving corps Merklinger will throw to this season. Oklahoma State transfer Cam Abshire and Syracuse transfer Emmanuel Ross are also players to watch. Kenji Christian, Toledo’s second-leading rusher last year, figures to be a key part of the UConn backfield. He’ll compete with several other power-conference transfers, including former Orange player Jaden Hart.

It’s a similar situation on defense, with the Huskies expected to start all transfers, including several from Toledo. Defensive end Joshua Mickens, a transfer from Ohio State, boasts high upside despite a lack of playing time with the Buckeyes. At linebacker, K’Von Sherman was Toledo’s leading tackler last season, and he’ll be the heartbeat of the UConn defense this year. The UConn secondary also has excellent potential with Michigan State transfer Tracy Revels, Duke transfer Moussa Kane, and Florida Atlantic transfer Zion Paret joining the fray.

UConn’s season outlook

With a new coach and over five dozen transfers, it’s anybody’s guess what to expect from UConn football in 2026. Candle has plucked plenty of players that he recruited to Toledo, so there will be plenty of familiarity. Of course, outside of a few players, most of the Toledo transfers didn’t play a prominent role for the Rockets last year. The Huskies are also hoping a power-conference transfer with minimal experience can step in as their starting quarterback, which can be hit or miss.

Of course, UConn’s schedule is rather favorable, with just three power-conference opponents. Long road trips to Air Force and Wyoming won’t be easy, nor will home dates with James Madison and Old Dominion. There’s a chance that this season is just about Candle laying down a foundation, so the Huskies shouldn’t expect another nine-win campaign. But if things break well and UConn can hold serve at home, a six-win season isn’t out of the question.

When and where does UConn play Syracuse in 2026?

The Orange and Huskies will play at Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, Conn., on Saturday, Oct. 3. The game will start at noon and will be televised on the CBS Sports Network.

Prediction: Syracuse 27, UConn 23

There are many lingering questions about both of these teams heading into the season. Candle is certainly a proven coach, although his roster is a hodgepodge of transfers and his quarterback is unproven. Syracuse, meanwhile, at least has a healthy Steve Angeli to lean on in uncertain times. The Huskies have enough talent to be competitive, but it’s been a while since UConn knocked off Syracuse, and the Orange should have just enough to pull out a tricky road win.

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