UConn Football Faces Air Force in Week 9 Clash

The UConn Huskies traveled to Falcon Stadium on Saturday, October 31, 2026, to face the Air Force Falcons in a Week 9 college football matchup. Entering the contest in Colorado Springs, Colorado, UConn held a 4-3 record looking to build momentum toward bowl eligibility, while Air Force stood at 5-2.

Air Force entered the game ranked second in the nation in rushing, relying heavily on its signature triple-option offense to average just over 337 yards per game on the ground. Prior to kickoff, UConn head coach Jason Candle emphasized the rigorous preparation required to contain such a specialized scheme.

"I think the triple option stresses your eye discipline, makes you play assignment football and sound football," Candle stated on Monday during his weekly preview. "You got to take on blocks with the correct shoulder. You have to have great hand placement. You got to defeat and destruct blocks at a high level, and then you ultimately have to be a great tackling team, or this piles up on you fast."

The first half showcased the potency of the Air Force ground attack. Falcons running back Kemper Hodges scored three touchdowns before halftime, including a 62-year rushing burst that extended the lead to 14-0 in the first quarter. Despite the early deficit, UConn's offense managed to answer through a one-yard touchdown plunge by Trey Cornist and a two-yard scoring pass from quarterback Kalieb Osborne to Ryder Treadway, leaving the Huskies down 21-14 at the break.

Action intensified in the second half as Air Force utilized a successful fake punt that led to a four-yard touchdown run by Gage LaDue, pushing the advantage to 28-14. The Huskies responded when Osborne connected with tight end Alex Godavitarne on a 55-yard touchdown pass, followed later by a 46-yard rushing score from Kenji Christian that narrowed the margin to 28-26.

As the game entered its final stretch, the Falcons relied on a methodical possession that consumed nearly twelve minutes of the clock, culminating in Hodges' fourth rushing touchdown of the afternoon. The lengthy drive pushed Air Force ahead by nine points as the game entered its closing minutes.

Entering the matchup, sports analysts and oddsmakers favored the Falcons by 1.5 points with an over/under set at 52.5 points. Both programs continue their respective conference schedules as the second half of the college football season unfolds.