UConn football couldn't handle the Air Force option attack, allowing 366 rushing yards in a 35-26 loss to fall to 4-4 on the season. Air Force QB Kemper Hodges ran for 200 yards and four touchdowns as the Falcons dominated the second half on their way to victory after starting the game with a 14-0 lead.
The Huskies hit some big plays across the day but didn't get enough chances with the ball as Air Force drained over 20 minutes off the clock in two touchdown drives. On the day, Air Force converted 5-of-6 fourth-down attempts, notching 23 first downs along the way.
After falling behind early, UConn made some stops and gained a touchdown in the second quarter with two sustained drives that saw QB Kalieb Osborne connect deep in big moments. In the third quarter, Air Force kept a drive alive with a fake punt and scored a touchdown to push the lead back to 14.
UConn nearly closed in with a couple of big plays, a 55-yard touchdown pass to TE Alex Godavitarne and a 46-yard run by Kenji Christian. A missed extra point after the long TD pass pushed UConn to go for two after the Christian run. Osborne was sacked on the attempt, making it 28-26.
Air Force closed out the game with an 11:37 touchdown drive that had three third-down conversions and two fourth-down conversions, including the Hodges touchdown run from one yard out to go up by nine.
With its last-ditch effort, the defensive pressure was too much for UConn as four passes fell incomplete to effectively end the game. Air Force reached bowl eligibility with its sixth win of the season.
Next up, UConn faces North Carolina at Rentschler Field. The game kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.
