Last week, we put out an article telling you some of the observations about the University of Connecticut player ratings in the College Football 27 video game that was fully released on Thursday.

Now, we don't pretend to believe that video game ratings are necessarily indicative of on-field capabilities, but there is something about those ratings that could tell us an awful lot about the incoming 2026 season under first-year head coach Jason Candle.

The Huskies have five running backs listed as higher overall ratings than quarterback Jacob Merklinger, suggesting that the strength of this team lies in the backfield.

Kenji Christian (81), Cyncir Bowers (76), Trey Cornist (76), Dashun Reeder (75) and Jaden Hart (75) all appear before Merklinger, who is rated as a 74. He's a transfer from Tennessee.

If Candle agrees with the breakdown of his roster, it means that the Huskies may go from a pass-happy team like they were in 2025 to a run-first team in 2026.

Last season, quarterback Joe Fagnano was one of the most prolific passers in the country, and receiver Skyler Bell earned All-America status for his work on the perimeter before getting drafted by the Buffalo Bills this past April.

Both those players are gone, suggesting a new direction for the offense. And even without running back Cam Edwards, who transferred to Michigan State, that direction may be more toward the ground game.

--A transfer from Toledo, Christian averaged five yards per carry a season ago. He played in 13 games for the Rockets, recording 528 rushing yards and 193 more yards through the air. He had five total touchdowns.

--Bowers spent the 2025 season with the West Virginia Mountaineers, also playing a decent role in the offense. He carried the ball 63 times for 249 yards, also punching in two touchdowns. His longest run was 26 yards. He had eight catches, including a touchdown, and was expected to be the starting running back in 2026. On3 reports that he has two years left of eligibility for the Huskies.

--Cornist is now headed for his third school in three years. He spent the 2024 campaign at Tulane before heading to Central Michigan in 2025. With the Chippewas, he served as a big part of the offense, getting 105 carries for 470 yards. He scored one touchdown as well.

--Reeder played seven games at Northwestern last season, registering 222 yards on just 22 carries. He also had a touchdown and could be a fun weapon for Candle's offense to deploy.

--Hart had 18 carries and 71 yards over two seasons at Syracuse.

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