Houston Survives In Space Game To Defeat UCF: Houston Cougars at UCF Knights Live Game Updates, Box Score
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The Houston Cougars enjoyed their first AP ranking in three years while it lasted, which was unfortunately only for a week after the team lost to an underdog West Virginia Mountaineers team by a score of 45-35.
Now a week removed from their second loss of the year, the Coogs have a chance to turn their season around and perhaps still try for a Big 12 Championship berth when they take on the UCF Knights, a team that got the best of them last time they faced off in the 2023 season.
However, these are two very different teams than the ones that squared off in the regular season finale two years ago.
Coogs vs. Knights
In the 2025 season, the Houston Cougars sit 7-2 on the year with a highly revamped offense thanks to their quadrant of transfers on the offensive side that features quarterback Conner Weigman, running back Dean Connors, wide receiver Amare Thomas, and tight end Tanner Koziol.
The UCF Knights, under head coach Scott Frost for the third season, currently sit at an even .500, at 4-4.
After winning their first three games of the 2025 season, conference play did not start out too kindly to the Knights, going 1-4 in against Big 12 opposition, their one win coming against the very team that knocked off the Cougars last week, the West Virginia Mountaineers, which ended up being a 45-13 manhandling by Frost's squad.
Can Weigman and the Cougars shake off last week's defeat, or will UCF continue to derail the Houston hype train? The two teams kick off from Orlando at 7:00 PM tonight on FS1, and we will be right here with live game updates as the action unfolds.
Follow along for live game updates as the game progresses.
Live Game Updates, Box Score
1st Quarter | 2nd Quarter | 3rd Quarter | 4th Quarter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
UCF | 3 | 21 | 3 | 0 |
Houston | 0 | 17 | 7 | 6 |
First Quarter
The Cougars get aggressive early and go for it on fourth down, but don't get the conversion and instead get an early turnover on downs.
change of possession
The team makes up for their turnover by forcing a three-and-out of the Knights.
change of possession
Conner Weigman gets a 17-yard pass to Amare Thomas, but that is all the offense that the Coogs can muster, and they eventually punt.
change of possession
UCF quarterback Tayven Jackson connects with Dylan Wade for a 24-yard pass play, and then a holding call the very next play causes a 1st and 20. After minimal gains on the ground and an incomplete pass, UCF decides to go for three instead of six.
UCF 3, Houston 0
A deep ball to Amare Thomas falls incomplete, and after Weigman scrambles for a measly two yards, he is intercepted by Phillip Dunnam, Weigman's third interception in two games after only throwing two in his first eight games on the season.
Second Quarter
Thankfully, the Knights are unable to capitalize on the turnover and they go three-and-out again.
change of possession
Weigman is unable to hook up with Harvey Broussard on the third down pass, and Houston is again forced to punt.
change of possession
The struggling offense on both sides continues, as another three-and-out plagues UCF, but Mekhi Mews muffs the punt and it is recovered by the Knights, putting them in elite field position, which results in running back Myles Montgomery punching the ball in for the touchdown.
UCF 10, Houston 0
change of possession
The Houston offense finally comes alive, and Weigman finds Amare Thomas for a 64-yard touchdown.
UCF 10, Houston 7
change of possession
The Houston defense also gets in on the scoring, as Latreveon McCutchin picks off Jackson and takes it 45 yards to the house to take the lead.
Houston 14, UCF 10
change of possession
UCF running back Jaden Nixon fools everyone with a fake handoff and gets an easy 15-yard escort to the end zone to put the Knights back on top.
UCF 17, Houston 14
change of possession
Conner Weigman hits Tanner Koziol for the eight-yard pass, but disaster strikes for the second time on the night, as Weigman is once again picked off by Phillip Dunnam, and this time, Dunnam returns it 43 yards for the pick-six.
UCF 24, Houston 14
change of possession
An 11-yard completion to Tanner Koziol and an 18-yard strike to Koby Young set up Ethan Sanchez boots a 40-yard field goal right before halftime.
UCF 24, Houston 17
Third Quarter
UCF is unable to get any yardage and they go three-and-out to begin the second half.
change of possession
Houston is also unable to produce anything offensively, as it seems that the halftime break has cooled the flames that fueled the second quarter offensive shootout.
change of possession
The battle of punts continues between the two teams as UCF boots another one away.
change of possession
Dean Connors lowers his shoulder to gain 25 yards and get Houston into the end zone, and Weigman goes right back to his running back on a wheel route from nine yards out, and Connors finds the end zone to tie the game at 24.
Houston 24, UCF 24
change of possession
UCF punts it away again despite starting the drive with a 27-yard completion to Jaden Nixon from Tayven Jackson.
change of possession
A trio of solid rushes from DJ Butler and an 11-yard pass to Tanner Koziol give hope to the Cougars, but for the third time on the night Weigman is picked off, and for the third time on the night, it's by Phillip Dunnam.
change of possession
After the offense sputters following a 23-yard reception from Dylan Wade, Noe Ruelas is brought on to attempt a career-high 54-yard field goal, and it's good.
UCF 27, Houston 24
change of possession
Conner Weigman is nearly intercepted for a fourth time in the end zone, but luckily the pass falls incomplete and Ethan Sanchez ties the game back up with a 30-yard kick.
Houston 27, UCF 27
change of possession
No offense for the Knights, and they punt.
change of possession
The Coogs are able to drive down the field and again settle for three points off the cleat of Ethan Sanchez to take the lead with just under three minutes left in the game.
Houston 30, UCF 27
change of possession
With Davi Belfort, son of UFC Hall of Famer Vitor Belfort, now under center at quarterback, the Knights march down field and threaten to steal the win in the Space Game, but Kentrell Webb intercepts Belfort in the end zone with 11 seconds left, and after a kneel down, the Cougars survive in Orlando.
FINAL: Houston Cougars 30, UCF Knights 27
