The University of Connecticut Huskies football team plays 12 games in 2026, including 7 home contests at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut.
The season begins Saturday, September 5, 2026, against Lafayette and concludes Saturday, November 28, 2026, at Wyoming.
Table of Contents
2026 UConn Football Schedule Overview
The Connecticut Huskies operate as an FBS Independent program for the 2026 season. Jason Candle enters his first year as the 33rd head coach in program history after joining from Toledo in December 2025.
Complete Game Schedule Table
| Date | Opponent | Location | Venue | Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, September 5, 2026 | Lafayette | Home | Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field | Patriot League |
| Saturday, September 12, 2026 | Maryland | Home | Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field | Big Ten |
| Saturday, September 19, 2026 | Southern Miss | Away | M.M. Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg, MS | Sun Belt |
| Saturday, September 26, 2026 | Miami (OH) | Away | Yager Stadium, Oxford, OH | MAC |
| Saturday, October 3, 2026 | Syracuse | Home | Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field | ACC |
| Saturday, October 10, 2026 | Temple | Away | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA | American |
| Saturday, October 24, 2026 | UMass | Home | Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field | Independent |
| Saturday, October 31, 2026 | Air Force | Away | Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, CO | Mountain West |
| Saturday, November 7, 2026 | North Carolina | Home | Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field | ACC |
| Saturday, November 14, 2026 | James Madison | Home | Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field | Sun Belt |
| Saturday, November 21, 2026 | Old Dominion | Home | Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field | Sun Belt |
| Saturday, November 28, 2026 | Wyoming | Away | War Memorial Stadium, Laramie, WY | Mountain West |
Home vs Away Games Breakdown
The Huskies play 7 home games and 5 road games in 2026. No neutral-site contests appear on the schedule.
| Game Type | Total Games | Win-Loss Record |
|---|---|---|
| Home Games | 7 | 0-0 |
| Away Games | 5 | 0-0 |
| Neutral Site | 0 | 0-0 |
UConn Home Games at Rentschler Field 2026
Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field hosts all 7 Connecticut home games during the 2026 season. The stadium, located in East Hartford, Connecticut, serves as the official home venue for the University of Connecticut football.
Home Opponents and Dates
- Saturday, September 5, 2026: Lafayette Leopards (Season Opener)
- Saturday, September 12, 2026: Maryland Terrapins (Big Ten Conference)
- Saturday, October 3, 2026: Syracuse Orange (ACC)
- Saturday, October 24, 2026: UMass Minutemen (Rivalry Game)
- Saturday, November 7, 2026: North Carolina Tar Heels (ACC)
- Saturday, November 14, 2026: James Madison Dukes (Sun Belt)
- Saturday, November 21, 2026: Old Dominion Monarchs (Senior Day)
Rentschler Field Venue Details
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field |
| Location | East Hartford, Connecticut |
| Seating Capacity | 40,000 |
| Surface Type | FieldTurf |
| Owner | State of Connecticut |
| Operator | Oak View Group |
Notable Matchups in the UConn Football Schedule
Power Conference Opponents
The Huskies face three Power 4 conference opponents in 2026, all at home.
Maryland (Big Ten Conference) – Saturday, September 12, 2026
The Terrapins make their first visit to Rentschler Field since 2013. Maryland competes in the Big Ten Conference and represents the earliest Power 4 opponent on the schedule.
Syracuse (Atlantic Coast Conference) – Saturday, October 3, 2026
The Orange and Huskies renew their regional rivalry at Rentschler Field. Syracuse participates in the ACC and maintains historical ties to Connecticut through former Big East Conference membership.
North Carolina (Atlantic Coast Conference) – Saturday, November 7, 2026
The Tar Heels replace a previously scheduled Duke matchup. North Carolina’s 2026 roster operates under head coach Bill Belichick, adding national interest to this contest.
Regional Rivalry: UConn vs UMass
The Connecticut-Massachusetts rivalry continues Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. The all-time series stands tied at 38-38-2 entering the 2026 season, making this matchup a potential tiebreaker in the historical series record.
James Madison: Recent College Football Playoff Participant
James Madison visits Rentschler Field for the first time on Saturday, November 14, 2026. The Dukes participated in the 2025 College Football Playoff, representing the Sun Belt Conference.
UConn Away Games 2026 Schedule
The Huskies travel to five road venues across four states during the 2026 campaign.
Road Game Locations
Saturday, September 19, 2026: at Southern Miss
M.M. Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. This game initiates a home-and-home series with the Golden Eagles.
Saturday, September 26, 2026: at Miami (OH)
Yager Stadium, Oxford, Ohio. Connecticut faces the Mid-American Conference opponent in their only September road contest.
Saturday, October 10, 2026: at Temple
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Owls host the Huskies at the NFL venue shared with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Saturday, October 31, 2026: at Air Force
Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, Colorado. The high-altitude venue sits at 6,621 feet, presenting unique environmental challenges.
Saturday, November 28, 2026: in Wyoming
War Memorial Stadium, Laramie, Wyoming. The regular season finale takes place at 7,220 feet elevation, the highest-altitude venue on the schedule.
Jason Candle: First Season as UConn Head Coach
Jason Candle begins his tenure as Connecticut’s head coach with the 2026 season. Candle joined the Huskies in December 2025 after serving as head coach at Toledo.
Roster Composition Under Candle
The coaching transition brought significant roster turnover. Candle added over 70 new players through the transfer portal and recruiting for the 2026 season, representing nearly complete roster reconstruction.
FBS Independent Football Scheduling
Connecticut operates as an FBS Independent program, holding no conference affiliation for the 2026 season. This status provides scheduling flexibility but creates distinct challenges for bowl eligibility and national ranking opportunities.
Independent Status Impact on Schedule
Independent programs construct their entire schedule through individual negotiations rather than conference-mandated games. The 2026 UConn schedule includes opponents from six different conferences:
- Big Ten Conference: Maryland
- Atlantic Coast Conference: Syracuse, North Carolina
- American Athletic Conference: Temple
- Mid-American Conference: Miami (OH)
- Sun Belt Conference: Southern Miss, James Madison, Old Dominion
- Mountain West Conference: Air Force, Wyoming
- Patriot League: Lafayette
- FBS Independent: UMass
Bowl Eligibility Requirements
FBS Independent teams require 6 wins from their regular season schedule to qualify for bowl game selection. Connecticut must win at least half of its 12 scheduled contests to achieve bowl eligibility for 2026.
UConn Football Tickets and Attendance Information
Ticket information for the 2026 season becomes available through the University of Connecticut Athletics website and official ticketing platforms.
Season Ticket Options
Season ticket packages grant access to all 7 home games at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Pricing varies by seating section and package type.
Single Game Tickets
Individual game tickets typically release for purchase after the complete television schedule announcement, which occurs during the summer of 2026.
Television Broadcast Schedule
Specific kickoff times and television assignments remain pending as of February 2026. FBS Independent programs typically receive broadcast assignments from networks including CBS Sports Network, ESPN platforms, and regional sports networks.
Expected Broadcast Partners
UConn home games historically air on CBS Sports Network as the primary broadcaster for Rentschler Field contests. Road games are broadcast through the host school’s conference television agreements.
Historical Context: UConn vs 2026 Opponents
First-Time Matchups
Old Dominion represents the only 2026 opponent Connecticut has ever faced in program history. The Saturday, November 21, 2026, game marks the inaugural meeting between the programs.
Lafayette: Return After 42 Years
The Saturday, September 5, 2026 season opener against Lafayette marks the first meeting between the programs since 1984, a gap of 42 years.
Parking and Gameday Experience at Rentschler Field
Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field provides multiple parking lots for gameday attendance.
Stadium Access
The venue sits in East Hartford, Connecticut, approximately 8 miles east of downtown Hartford. Primary access routes include Interstate 84 and State Route 2.
Tailgating Policies
Parking lots open 4 hours before kickoff for home games. Tailgating occurs in designated lots surrounding the stadium.
Strength of Schedule Analysis
The 2026 UConn football schedule includes matchups against Power 4 conference opponents and recent Group of 5 contenders.
Notable Opponent Achievements
- James Madison: 2025 College Football Playoff participant
- Maryland: Big Ten Conference member
- Syracuse: Atlantic Coast Conference member with bowl game appearances in recent seasons
- North Carolina: ACC program under first-year head coach Bill Belichick
Comparative Schedule Difficulty
Independent programs face varying schedule strength based on annual negotiations. The 2026 slate features 3 Power 4 opponents (Maryland, Syracuse, North Carolina), providing increased strength of schedule compared to typical Group of 5 conference schedules.
Senior Day 2026
The Saturday, November 21, 2026, home game against Old Dominion serves as Senior Day for Connecticut football. This final home contest honors graduating players and fourth-year team members.
Future UConn Football Schedules
Schedule information for 2027 and beyond remains partially complete. Independent status requires Connecticut to continuously negotiate future opponent agreements without automatic conference scheduling frameworks.
Frequently Asked Questions About the UConn Football Schedule 2026
How many home games does UConn play in 2026?
Connecticut plays 7 home games at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field during the 2026 season.
When does the UConn football season start in 2026?
The season begins Saturday, September 5, 2026, against Lafayette at Rentschler Field.
What Power 4 conference teams does UConn play in 2026?
The Huskies face Maryland (Big Ten), Syracuse (ACC), and North Carolina (ACC), all at home.
Where can I buy UConn football tickets for 2026?
Tickets are purchased through the University of Connecticut Athletics official website and authorized ticketing platforms.
What time do UConn games start in 2026?
Specific kickoff times await television broadcast schedule announcements, typically released during the summer of 2026.
Is UConn in a conference for football in 2026?
Connecticut operates as an FBS Independent program with no conference affiliation for the 2026 season.
When is the UConn vs UMass rivalry game in 2026?
The rivalry game occurs Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field.
How many wins does UConn need for bowl eligibility in 2026?
Independent programs require 6 wins from their schedule to qualify for bowl selection.
What is the seating capacity at Rentschler Field?
Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field holds 40,000 spectators.
Who is the UConn football coach in 2026?
Jason Candle serves as head coach, beginning his first season after joining from Toledo in December 2025.
Schedule information accurate as of February 2026. Kickoff times and television broadcast assignments are pending official announcement. Visit the University of Connecticut Athletics official website for updated schedule details and ticket purchasing information.
