After losing previous head coach Jim Mora in the offseason, the University of Connecticut football program hired Jason Candle as its newest head coach this January.

Candle, fresh off a 10-year run at Toledo, comes to Storrs with a solid resume. He's the winningest coach in Toledo history and won two MAC titles. He also took the Rockets to seven bowl games.

The Huskies are coming off consecutive nine-win seasons under Mora, having earned back-to-back trips to the Fenway Bowl. While the Huskies do not play in a conference and don't have the budget of top programs, they do have opportunities to make noise in any given season.

In 2026, the Huskies are playing a challenging schedule that sees them take on multiple ACC teams (Syracuse, North Carolina), a Big Ten team (Maryland) and a College Football Playoff participant (James Madison). There's going to be a lot on Candle's plate in year one, but what's the biggest question facing him?

That one is pretty simple: The quarterback position.

The strength of a football team lies in its ability - and stability - at the quarterback position. The Huskies had that the last two years in Joe Fagnano, who had transferred in from FCS Maine. The signal caller really elevated his game in 2025, throwing for 287.3 yards per game and 28 touchdowns against just one interception.

Replacing his production and leadership will be a tall task, but it's one that Candle has to get right.

So who are the options to replace Fagnano, who is now a part of the Baltimore Ravens?

A rising redshirt junior from Massachusetts, McDonald played in three games last season, attempting just two passes. He completed one of them for 45 yards against Central Connecticut.

A rising redshirt sophomore from Connecticut, he made one appearance last season, which came in the Fenway Bowl.

A rising redshirt sophomore who appeared in four games for the Tennessee Volunteers in 2025, Merklinger hails from Savannah, Ga. He went 13-of-24 for 173 yards for two touchdowns and no interceptions last season. He played in two games as a true freshman, but earned a redshirt year for it, so he'll have three years of eligibility left in Storrs. He's one of the biggest gets for Candle in the transfer portal and will have a real chance to earn the starting job.

Another candidate to start, Osborne is following Candle from Toledo to Connecticut.

He was a three-star recruit out of Waterford Mott (Mich.) High School in the Class of 2024 and redshirted that season. In 2025, the 6-foot-3, 204-pound Osborne appeared in seven games with the Rockets, completing 32 of 52 passes (61.54%) for 427 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Osborne has three years of eligibility remaining.

A true freshman who is coming in from Indianapolis, Ind., Polston could also make some noise in the quarterback competition.

Polston played his high school ball at Decatur Central High School. Rated as a three-star, he also had offers from Indiana, Liberty, Miami (OH), Minnesota, and West Virginia, among others. On3 lists him at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds.

As a senior this past season, Polston (was) 87-of-132 (65.9%) for 1,059 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also ran the ball 72 time(s) for 411 yards and six more scores. The year prior as a junior is where Polston really took off, throwing 158-of-248 (63.7%) for 2,069 yds, 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions to go along with 301 rushing yards and seven scores.

The Huskies will open up the season on Sept. 5 against Lafayette.

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