If you missed UConn football’s 48-20 throttling of Southern Miss, you should know that the final score was closer than the actual game. The Huskies held a 41-6 lead in the middle of the third quarter before allowing their depth to get some action.
With the victory, UConn improves to 2-1 and, in a year with uncertain preseason expectations, has at least proven that it is much better than this low-tier Sun Belt team. It was nice to see them take care of business like this on the road.
They’ll face a slightly
tougher test as they visit Miami of Ohio next week, where they open as 5-point underdogs.
Some other thoughts after the Huskies’ big win.
Kalieb Osborne is Booming
In just his third FBS start, Osborne notched four touchdowns and made things happen, efficiently spreading the ball around in a masterful offensive outing. He’s not always looking to run, but he’s highly capable when he does. His ability to hang in the pocket and scramble to keep plays alive contributed to multiple drive-saving plays or touchdowns, including the first one to Shamar Porter.
“The touchdown on the scramble play, that was a him play. That wasn’t a schematic thing,” Head Coach Jason Candle said when Storrs Central asked about Osborne. “He did a good job playing within the system and what we’re asking him to do.”
He left the game in the fourth quarter with the game well in hand. His scrambling and runs were huge but his throws were also precise. Osborne continues to look more comfortable in the scheme, his coach notes.
“When a quarterback is able to play efficiently, that helps the engine,” Candle said in a post-game interview with Fox Sports Radio 97.9.
The Defense Bounced Back
An interception on the first Golden Eagles drive and multiple three-and-outs highlight UConn’s dominance on both sides of the ball. Shorter fields and a defensive touchdown helped the Huskies push up their score. They didn’t allow a touchdown until the score was 41-6 in the middle of the third quarter. USM had just four yards per play by halftime and made sure the game was out of hand by forcing a turnover on downs in the third quarter, followed by a pick-six that put the game out of reach.
Going forward, UConn should be expected to remain stout enough defensively against upcoming opponents like Miami of Ohio, Temple, UMass, Air Force, Old Dominion, and Wyoming. They may even hold up well against a Syracuse team that is not particularly strong. They have a stronger power-conference opponent in UNC coming up in November and James Madison will also present a tough test the following week.
Balance is the Name of the Game
Candle came to UConn with an offensive background as Toledo’s former offensive coordinator before he became head coach. Still, he’s put together an exciting defensive crew led by DC Ryan Manalac that is not meant to be the side character to a high-flying offense. Head coaches on any side of the ball can sometimes fall into that trap.
On offense, the team is balanced in many ways as well. Osborne presents a true dual-threat. Three different running backs are meaningfully involved, with Cyncir Bowers breaking a big TD run, Kenji Christian leading the crew in total yards from scrimmage, and Trey Cornist thriving in his short-yardage role.
The receiver room has seen balance, in a way, though nobody has greatly stood out. Porter has led them in the last two games with efforts of 62 and 50 receiving yards. JD Willoughby has made some big plays, and Javon Brown has been quiet after a big day against Lafayette in the season opener. Ryder Treadway led UConn with three receptions against USM, going for a modest 29 yards. Xavier Watson has proven to be a capable target at tight end.
Costly Penalties
Three games into Connecticut’s 2026 season, a common denominator in each outcome has been penalties. In Saturday’s clash, several penalties helped Southern Miss advance the field and create scoring opportunities.
“We’ve got to eliminate some of the penalties and some of the holding calls, but I think for the most part, really efficient,” Candle said in an interview with Storrs Central.
