The 2026 UConn football schedule is officially out, and there’s plenty for Huskies fans to get excited about-especially if you’re planning to spend your Saturdays at Rentschler Field. With seven home games on tap, including visits from three Power Four programs, the upcoming season offers a mix of marquee matchups, regional rivalries, and a fresh start under new head coach Jason Candle.
Let’s start with the headline: North Carolina is coming to East Hartford on November 7, and with them comes one of the most iconic names in football-Bill Belichick. The longtime NFL mastermind, now in his second year at the helm of the Tar Heels, returns to New England in what promises to be a must-watch game. While Belichick didn’t coach North Carolina in their 2024 Fenway Bowl loss to UConn, that 27-14 win by the Huskies still lingers-and you can bet the Tar Heels will be looking to flip the script.
That’s just one of three Power Four showdowns at home. UConn also hosts Maryland on September 12, marking the Terps’ first trip to Rentschler Field since 2013.
Maryland got the better of UConn in their last meeting, a 50-7 rout to open the 2024 season, and leads the all-time series 3-1. But this is a new era for the Huskies, and with the home crowd behind them, they’ll be looking to even the playing field.
Then there’s the October 3 clash with Syracuse-another ACC matchup with some extra juice. The Orange edged UConn in overtime last season, 27-20, in a game that could’ve gone either way.
Syracuse finished just 3-9, but rivalry games like this often come down to grit, not records. Expect a physical, emotional battle when these two meet under the lights.
Outside the Power Four, UConn’s schedule still packs plenty of intrigue. The season kicks off on September 5 against Lafayette, a Patriot League team that went 8-4 last year.
The Huskies haven’t faced Lafayette since 1984, a game they lost, but since moving up to the FBS in 2022, UConn is 22-2 against FCS opponents. This opener should give fans an early look at how Coach Candle’s system is settling in.
On October 24, UConn reignites its rivalry with UMass. The all-time series is dead even at 38-38-2, but the Huskies have had the upper hand in recent years, winning five of seven at the FBS level-including a wild 47-42 shootout in 2024. UMass is coming off a winless 0-12 season and ranked last in ESPN’s FBS power index, but rivalry games have a way of throwing records out the window.
The final stretch of the home slate ramps up the difficulty. On November 14, UConn hosts James Madison, fresh off a 12-2 season and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
The Dukes have dominated the all-time series with a 5-1 record, and their recent rise makes them one of the toughest opponents on the schedule. The Huskies’ only win in this series came back in 1993-so if they want to make a statement, this is the game to do it.
UConn closes out its home schedule on November 21 against Old Dominion. The Monarchs are coming off a strong 10-3 campaign and share a conference with James Madison. This will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs, and it’ll be a chance for the Huskies to end their home slate on a high note.
As an independent program, UConn has the flexibility to build a schedule heavy on home games, and they’ve taken full advantage this year. Seven home games give fans plenty of opportunities to see the team up close, while the road slate-still awaiting official confirmation-is expected to include trips to Miami (Ohio), Temple, Air Force, Wyoming, and FIU.
After back-to-back 9-4 seasons-the first time in program history UConn has posted nine wins in consecutive years-the Huskies are aiming to keep the momentum going. They haven’t had three straight winning seasons since 2008-2010, when they strung together three 8-5 campaigns. With a new coach, a packed home schedule, and a roster hungry to build on recent success, 2026 could be another big step forward.
Season tickets for the seven-game home slate are available now at UConnHuskies.com/football. If you’re a Huskies fan, this fall is shaping up to be one you won’t want to miss.