Saturday, September 5, 2026. Kickoff noon ET at Rentschler Field. Televised in Connecticut on WFSB.
Jason Candle coaches his first game at UConn after 11 seasons and 81 wins at Toledo, taking over a program that went 9 and 4 last year and played Army in the Fenway Bowl. The opponent is Lafayette, a Patriot League program in its 145th season that already opened at Georgetown last week.
| Kickoff | Noon ET · 11 a.m. CT · 10 a.m. MT · 9 a.m. PT |
| TV | WFSB Channel 3 and WWAX in Connecticut; no national TV |
| Streaming | Check UConn Athletics for the out of market stream on game day |
| Venue | Rentschler Field, East Hartford, Connecticut |
| Line | Lightly posted. Where a line exists, UConn is favored by four touchdowns or more. |
Prediction and Odds
Lafayette played two FBS teams last year and has a game of rhythm on UConn, but the Huskies return a nine win core and add a coach who won three MAC titles at Toledo. Candle’s offenses have always been quick starting, and a Patriot League defense at Rentschler in the noon heat is the right setup for a comfortable debut.
Our pick: UConn 38, Lafayette 10. UConn wins comfortably.
Why This One Matters
UConn hosts Maryland next Saturday on CBS Sports Network, the highest profile home game of the year, and a sloppy opener would take the shine off Candle’s arrival. For Lafayette, the trip is the lone FBS date on a schedule that leans on a nine game Patriot League slate.
How to Watch Without Cable
This one is not on a national network. In Connecticut, WFSB is the local CBS affiliate and is free over the air. Elsewhere, UConn Athletics typically posts a stream link on game day. For the rest of Saturday’s slate see our streaming guide.
The Bottom Line
Lafayette at UConn kicks off at noon ET Saturday, September 5 at Rentschler Field, on WFSB in Connecticut. UConn is our pick in Jason Candle’s debut. Result on our live scoreboard.