After the bye, Syracuse heads back on the road this weekend to face UConn, and the Huskies still feel very much like a team in the middle of sorting itself out. That’s the picture painted by Aman Kidwai of The UConn Blog, who broke down what first-year head coach Jason Candle has changed, where the roster stands, and what Syracuse can expect on Saturday.
Candle’s biggest fingerprints, according to Kidwai, are on recruiting and balance. Unlike Jim Mora, who had pulled back from high school recruiting and leaned into a run-heavy, pro-style identity, Candle has pushed hard on the high school trail while trying to build something more even-handed on both sides of the ball. That shows up in the backfield committee, in the investment on defense, and in the repeated emphasis on “complementary football.”
One of the more notable additions around the program has been Nunzio Campanile, a familiar name for Syracuse fans. Kidwai pointed to Campanile’s track record of sticking around through coaching changes at Rutgers and Syracuse, plus his experience as an interim head coach.
He also highlighted the recruiting value Campanile brings, especially with Candle’s Ohio roots, along with his offensive background and history working with quarterbacks. UConn’s roster overhaul has been massive, too: 70 new players came in this offseason through transfers and high school recruits.
Offensively, the Huskies are working with a very different cast than last season. Kaileb Osborne brings more true dual-threat ability than Joe Fagnano, but UConn has had to replace a lot of production around him.
Skyler Bell, a Biletnikoff finalist in 2025, is now with the Buffalo Bills, while last year’s top running back, Cam Edwards, is at Michigan State after suffering a season-ending injury. That has left UConn searching for answers at running back, receiver, and tight end, with no one yet separating from the pack on a consistent basis.
The line up front has also been a problem spot. Kidwai said this group is less seasoned than the units UConn has fielded in recent years, and that penalties and pressure have become recurring issues.
On the defensive side, the Huskies have had trouble defending the pass, and Kidwai sees experience as a major reason. The secondary is younger than the front seven, and the yards have come in different ways.
Maryland picked apart UConn with short throws and yards after the catch, while Miami (Ohio) found success pushing the ball deeper. An injury has also affected the secondary, and that side of the defense is starting to look like the clear weak point.
Asked for one player on each side of the ball to watch, Kidwai kept it simple on offense: Osborne. He’s been UConn’s leading rusher in every game and still profiles as a calm pocket passer with a strong arm.
There isn’t an obvious stand-out at receiver, tight end, or running back yet, though Kenji Christian and Cyncir Bowers both have the kind of ability that can turn into a big play. On defense, he singled out middle linebacker K’Von Sherman, calling him “an absolute dude, stud at middle linebacker.”
As for Saturday, Kidwai thinks Syracuse has the edge. He believes the Orange may have enough defensively to handle a UConn offense that is still trying to find itself, even if Syracuse’s own attack hasn’t been overwhelming. His read is that the game stays close early before Syracuse pulls out a 31-24 win, unless, as he put it, “the Angeli Interception Machine fires up again.”
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