The UConn football program announced its full schedule for the 2026 season, which has seven home games and three against power conference opponents, including a showdown with Bill Belichick’s North Carolina at Rentschler Field on Nov. 7.
It should be a competitive slate for Year One of the Huskies under new head coach Jason Candle after they went 9-3 last year against the fifth-weakest regular season schedule in the country, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index metrics.
The most anticipated game of the year will likely be on Nov. 7, when legendary coach Bill Belichick leads his second North Carolina team into Rentschler Field. UConn beat the Tar Heels in the 2024 Fenway Bowl, 28-14, as Belichick was set to take over the program. The programs haven’t met in East Hartford since 2009.
The Candle era will begin at Rentschler Field with a visit from FCS opponent Lafayette on Sept. 5. UConn has played at least one FCS school in each season since moving up to FBS in 2002 and is 22-2 overall in such games.
The Huskies will then welcome Maryland, their only Big 10 opponent, to East Hartford for the first time since 2013 on Sept. 12. UConn visited Maryland to open the 2024 season and lost, 50-7.
Southern Miss. was the last opponent added to complete the schedule. It will be the first-ever matchup between the programs as UConn travels to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on Sept. 19 for the first of three matchups against teams from the Sun Belt Conference this season. UConn and Southern Miss are scheduled for a return matchup at The Rent during the 2029 season.
The Huskies will visit Miami (OH) on Sept. 26 for their first-ever meeting with the Red Hawks, who are familiar with Candle from his time at Toledo competing in the Mid-American Conference.
UConn is set to host Syracuse on Oct. 3 after losing in overtime to the Orange last fall, then travel to Temple on Oct. 10 and have a bye week before hosting UMass on Oct. 24, reviving the regional rivalry after a year break. The Huskies will also travel to Air Force to complete a home-and-home series on Oct. 31.
UConn will close its season with three of its last four games at home as perennial Group of Five power James Madison and Old Dominion will each visit on Nov. 14 and Nov. 21, respectively. The season-finale will take place at Wyoming on Nov. 28.
Game times and TV information will be announced at a later date.
2026 UConn football schedule
Sept. 5 – vs. Lafayette
Sept. 12 – vs. Maryland
Sept. 19 – at Southern Miss
Sept. 26 – at Miami (OH)
Oct. 3 – vs. Syracuse
Oct. 10 – at Temple
Oct. 24 – vs. UMass
Oct. 31 – at Air Force
Nov. 7 – vs. North Carolina
Nov. 14 – vs. James Madison
Nov. 21 – vs. Old Dominion
Nov. 28 – at Wyoming