UConn QB Joe Fagnano Accepts Shrine Bowl Invite After Stellar Season
Joe Fagnano’s final chapter at UConn is officially written, and it ends with an exclamation point. The senior quarterback has accepted an invitation to the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl, one of the premier college all-star showcases for NFL hopefuls. The game is set for January 27 at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas - the Dallas Cowboys’ world-class headquarters - and will be broadcast nationally on NFL Network.
For Fagnano, this is more than just an invite. It’s a well-earned opportunity to put his name in front of NFL scouts after a standout season that helped elevate UConn football to new heights.
A Season to Remember
Fagnano didn’t just lead the Huskies - he rewrote the playbook on what leadership from the quarterback position looks like in Storrs. Starting all 12 games this season - the first UConn QB to do that since 2018 - he guided the program to a 9-3 record and a second consecutive bowl appearance. That kind of consistency and production hasn’t been common in recent years for the Huskies, and Fagnano’s fingerprints were all over it.
Statistically, he was lights-out. Fagnano completed 285 of 413 passes for 3,448 yards, 28 touchdowns, and just a single interception.
That’s not a typo - one interception across an entire season. That kind of efficiency (161.03 passer rating) speaks to a quarterback who not only understands the offense, but controls it.
He had six games with over 300 passing yards, and seven games with at least three touchdown throws. His season finale?
A career-best performance: 33 completions, 446 yards, and a win at Florida Atlantic.
That’s how you finish strong.
Recognition Earned
The accolades followed. Fagnano was named the New England Gold Helmet Player of the Year and the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston Offensive Player of the Year - both honors that reflect his dominance not just statistically, but in terms of leadership and impact on the field.
He was the engine behind a UConn offense that found rhythm, balance, and big-play potential week in and week out. And with the Huskies making back-to-back bowl appearances for the first time in over a decade, it’s clear his presence under center made a tangible difference.
Career in Review
Fagnano’s UConn career spanned 24 games, during which he completed 423 of 654 passes for 5,252 yards, 48 touchdowns, and just six interceptions. That touchdown-to-interception ratio is elite, and it places him firmly in the program’s record books: fourth all-time in touchdown passes, fifth in passing yards and completions.
But when you zoom out and look at his full collegiate career - including his time at Maine - the numbers jump off the page. Across 51 total games, Fagnano has thrown for 10,926 yards, 94 touchdowns, and only 18 interceptions. That’s a body of work that demands attention from NFL evaluators.
What’s Next
With his college career officially in the books, Fagnano now shifts his focus to the 2026 NFL Draft. The Shrine Bowl will be his next big stage - a chance to showcase his arm talent, decision-making, and leadership in front of scouts, coaches, and executives from all 32 NFL teams.
For a quarterback who’s quietly built a résumé full of production, poise, and perseverance, this is the next step in a journey that’s far from over.
Joe Fagnano may have played his last down in a Huskies uniform, but don’t be surprised if you hear his name again - this time on Sundays.