The UConn Huskies lost their third consecutive football game on Saturday, 38-21, to North Carolina in front of a season-high crowd of 36,901.

Maybe some were lured by the return to New England of Bill Belichick, who graduated from nearby Wesleyan and, much later, coached the Patriots to six Super Bowl titles.

But Belichick, in his second season in the second act of his career at the collegiate level, didn’t outcoach Jason Candle, in his first season in Connecticut. 

If you glance at the stat sheet to try to figure out just how UConn lost, it isn’t obvious until you get near the bottom of the list. The game came down to execution.

Here are the takeaways from the UConn loss at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.

Ball security was the hallmark of the 2025 Huskies, who finished the season with a 9-4 record and two total turnovers – a lost fumble and an interception. Quarterback Joe Fagnano led the nation in fewest interceptions thrown.

His replacement in 2026 is Kalieb Osborne, a first-year starter who came with Candle from Toledo. Osborne threw two picks in four September games and none in four October games.

But in the first game of November, the Tar Heels (5-4) intercepted Osborne twice and recovered his fumble, with North Carolina taking possession in UConn (4-5) territory on all three turnovers.

All three resulted in scores – three touchdowns and 21 points – in a game marred by on-and-off heavy rain.

The offensive line play has disappointed throughout the season.

Entering the game Saturday, the Huskies were tied for 129th in the Football Bowl Subdivision, averaging 3.12 sacks allowed per game – 25 in all over the first eight games. At least they are keeping company with power-conference schools such as Arizona State and Clemson.

The line’s performance wasn’t any better on Saturday. Osborne was sacked three times for a loss of 32 yards, and North Carolina recorded four tackles for loss for 35 yards.

By contrast, the UConn defense got to North Carolina quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. for just one sack for five yards. Two tackles for loss resulted in six yards.

Edwards finished the day 29-of-38 passing for 255 yards (76.3%) with three TD throws and an interception. Osborne was 17-of-35 passing for 245 yards (48.6%) with the two touchdowns and two picks.

Despite a 17-point loss, Candle and his staff can walk away with two bright spots: the play of the linebackers and a drop in the number of penalties.

Linebackers John Lista, K’Von Sherman and Hayden Pegg were key contributors, as they have been throughout the season. Pegg had 12 tackles and an interception, Sherman chipped in 11 and Lista tallied 10.

UConn entered the game among the most-penalized teams in the nation, ranked No. 131 with 68 penalties for 620 yards – an average of 77.50 yards per game. Only eight teams surrendered more yards.

On Saturday, UConn was flagged just three times for 27 yards.

With three regular season games left, the Huskies will need to win two games to get bowl-eligible for a third straight season.