Huskies Lose Battle With Tar Heels - University of Connecticut Athletics

Saturday, November 7

East Hartford, CT

12:00 PM

University of Connecticut

4-5 , 0-0

North Carolina

5-4 , 2-3

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
North Carolina	7	21	3	7	38
UConn	0	14	7	0	21

Final Stat Book Post Game Quotes

11/7/2026 4:20:00 PM | Football

Box Score

EAST HARTFORD, CT – The North Carolina Tar Heels created three turnovers leading to 21 points on the way to a 38-21 win over the UConn Huskies Saturday afternoon in front of 36,901 at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field.

The Huskies lose their second-straight and fall to 4-5 with the loss. UNC improves to 5-4 with quarterback Billy Edwards Jr throwing for 255 yards and three touchdowns in the win. Linebacker Timir Hickeman-Collins had an interception return for a touchdown and a fumble recovery.

UConn quarterback Kalieb Osborne completed 17 of 35 for 245 yards and two touchdowns but had two interceptions and lost a fumble. Wide receiver Ryder Treadway way had four catches for 82 yards and touchdown.

After a three and out, the Husky defense came up with the game's first turnover. Linebacker Hayden Pegg picked-off Edwards at the UConn 23 yard line and returned it to to the Carolina 48-yard line to set up the Husky offense. The UConn drive stalled out at the 35 but Jack O'Conner's 45-yard field goal try hooked left, keeping it tied at 0-0.

The game's first points came on a turnover, this time a UNC pick-six. Facing a fourth and eight, Osborne looked for running back Kenji Christian in the flat but the pass was just behind him. The ball got tipped to linebacker Timir Hickman-Collins who rumbled up the sidelines for a 62-yard score and 7-0 lead at 5:29.

The Huskies tied up the game early in the second quarter. Set up with good field position around midfield, Osborne took the Huskies down in six plays, hitting Ryder Treadway on an 18-yard strike as he dove into the endzone for his second touchdown on the year, making it 7-7 at 13:42.

The Tar Heels answered right back. Facing a third and nine on the UConn 39, Jaylen McGill broke a handful of tackles and found room up the left sidelines to take it all the way for six, making it 14-7 with 10:05 left in the half. The seven play drive covered 86 yards. The Huskies turned it over again, leading to another UNC score. A fumble recovery deep in the UConn end led to a Edwards to Jordan Shipp six-yard hook up in the back of the end zone for a 21-7 lead with 7:41 on the clock.

UConn used their quick strike offense to pull back within seven. Osborne need five play and just 1:08 to find Cam Abshire with a 24-yard strike to pull within 21-14. The big play on the drive was a 33-yard completion to Julian Allen on the right sideline to set up the score. UNC had their longest drive of the game just before the half to tack on a final score before the break. Edwards put together a 16-play drive that covered 75 yards and ate up 6:09, capped with him hitting his tight end Jelani Thurman for a three-yard score and a 28-14 lead into the locker room.

UConn forced a Tar Heel punt to open the second half and got the ball on their own seven-yard line for their first possession of the third quarter. Osborne hit a pair of long throws to Treadway and Xavier Watson and had a 25-yard scramble to help set up a 13 yard Cyncir Bowers 13-yard score, his eighth touchdown of the season making it 28-21 at 10:01.

The Tar Heels marched down the field on the ensuing drive and put a field goal on the board to extend their lead to 31-21. The eight-play drive covered 66 yards and ended with Rece Verhoff hitting from 27 yards. Verhoff looked to extend the UNC lead again, lining up for a -yard attempt with 8:07 left but pushed it left, leaving the Huskies down 10.

The UNC defense locked down the Huskies from there, keeping UConn off the scoreboard the rest of the way while getting another interception in the fourth quarter. Edwards put the game out of readch with 3:41 to go , capping an eight play drive with a touchdown throw to Thurman on third and goal to make it 38-21.

Thurman finished with seven catches for 64 yards and two touchdowns. Benjamin Hall ran it nine times for 81 yards and a score. Linebacker Peyton Seelman had nine tackles with a pair of sacks.

UConn linebacker Hayden Pegg made a career-high 12 tackles while fellow linebacker K'Von Sherman and John Lista had 11 and 10, respectively.

Up Next: The Huskies are back at home next Saturday, November 14 when they play host to James Madison at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Kick-off is scheduled for 12 noon on CBS Sports Network.