The Huskies will visit Southern Miss in their first road game of the season.
The UConn Huskies football team and the Southern Miss Golden Eagles face off Saturday (7 p.m. ET) in the first-ever meeting between the teams, both led by coaches in the first season with their program.
But when UConn’s Jason Candle and Blake Anderson of Southern Miss meet in Hattiesburg, Miss., in the Huskies' first road game of the season, they will be renewing acquaintances.
While at Toledo, where Candle spent 10 seasons as head coach after serving as an assistant, the Rockets defeated Anderson’s former Arkansas State program three times, including in the 2015 GoDaddy.com Bowl.
But when he was the head coach at Utah State, Anderson’s team beat UConn in back-to-back seasons in 2022 and ’23.
Something’s gotta give on Saturday.
Similarities between UConn, Southern Miss
Candle and Anderson have had nearly identical starts to their seasons: 1-1 records achieved in a laugher in the opener against an FCS team, a Week 2 loss to a Power Four program that exposed some weaknesses.
UConn defeated Lafayette 56-7 and lost to Maryland 38-14, both games at home. Southern Miss handled Alcorn State 49-3 in Hattiesburg in Week 1, then lost at Auburn, 43-8.
Both teams are starting from scratch, with new coaches and an influx of new players – 87 for UConn, 74 for Southern Miss. The Huskies return one starter from the 2025 team; Southern Miss has two.
What the coaches said
Both coaches, in their news conferences earlier this week, spoke of the other and their shared experiences. Here's what they had to say.
Candle: “Coach Anderson, Southern Miss. I mean, very familiar there. Played them a couple times when he was at Arkansas State. … We’ve got some familiarity with guys there and they've done a good job in dealing with some of the issues that, you know, having a program for the first year that we're going through as well.
“So, I know it'll be a stiff challenge. They'll play really, really hard. And we got to go handle a road environment that I think will be a good one.”
Anderson: “I know their head coach and have played against him and watched what he did at Toledo, and Jason's a phenomenal ball coach. They’ve built, I think, a really, really good roster. …
“They're well coached. They're playing extremely hard. He's always had sound football teams. Not a lot of crazy mistakes. You know, you got to earn it. You got to beat them. I love that they got to come to us. Don't want to make that trip this week.”
Southern Miss head coach Blake Anderson talks with players after a spring game at M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg, Miss., on April 18, 2026. Ayrton Breckenridge/USA TODAY NetworkUConn and the Sun Belt Conference
UConn has done battle against a team from the Sun Belt Conference – Southern Miss is a member – four times since the 2022 season and has a 1-3 record.
This is the first of three games for the Huskies against conference opponents this season. Still to come: James Madison (Nov. 14) and Old Dominion (Nov. 21), with both visiting Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field.
Team leaders
Offense
Passing
UConn: Kalieb Osborne,
29-of-47 passing (61.7%), 421 yards, 4 touchdowns, 1 interception
Southern Miss: Ethan Hampton, 31-of-50 (62%), 326 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INT
Rushing
UConn: Osborne, 21
carries, 120 yards, 2 TDs; Trey Cornist, 12 for 84, TD
Southern Miss: Steven Robinson, 38 for 174, 3 TDs; Jamarice Wilder, 17 for 101, 2 TDs
Receiving
UConn: Javon Brown, 6
receptions for 92 yards, TD; JD Willoughby, 4 for 76, TD; Shamar Porter, 4 for
73, TD
Southern Miss: Mario Sanders, 9 for 152, 1 TD; AJ Little, 7 for 65, no TD
Defense
UConn: Zion Paret, 15
tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, 1 pass breakup; K’Von Sherman, 14 tackles, 3
tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble; John Lista, 12 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss,
1 sack
Southern Miss: Laquan Robinson, 17 tackles, 1 pass breakup; Mathis Haygood, 15 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks; Michael Robinson III, 9 tackles, 1 forced fumble
Southern Miss quarterback Ethan Hampton (5) looks to pass the ball during the game against Alcorn State in Hattiesburg, Miss., on Sept. 5, 2026. Matt Bush/USA TODAY Network.How to watch UConn at Southern Miss
Game time: Saturday, 7 p.m. ET
Television: ESPN+. Jason Baker will be on the play-by-play call, with Larry Boyd as the analyst.
Radio: FOX Sports 97.9 FM (Hartford) is the flagship station for UConn football. Adam Giardino will handle the play-by-play, with analyst Wayne Norman and sideline reporter Michael Johnson also on the call.
The game is available on SiriusXM 266 and on the app at SiriusXM 975.
Online: The Varsity Network app
