No. 20 Houston Cougars vs UCF Knights Live Updates, Box Score
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The No. 20 Houston Cougars are taking on the UCF Knights in their Big 12 conference home opener at TDECU Stadium.
Houston enters with a 3-1 record and a 42-28 win over Georgia Southern in Week 4. Meanwhile, UCF also comes in with a 3-1 record and a Big 12 win over TCU in their first conference game at home. This is the Space Game matchup and has become a rivalry of sorts between Space U and Space City.
Coogs vs Knights
Houston has unveiled new helmets for this game that will go along with its blue uniforms. This is also UH's annual Houston Blue game. The hand-painted helmets are uniquely related to space and the solar system with all eight planets along with the Sun and Pluto represented.
Houston is just 4-8 against UCF in series history, but the Cougars won the last matchup in Orlando, Florida, 30-27. Houston is also 2-3 against UCF at home, and hasn't faced the Knights at TDECU Stadium since 2020.
Kickoff was underway at 11 a.m. on ESPN 2. We will be right here with live game updates as the action unfolds.
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | FINAL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Houston | 0 | 0 | 14 | 13 | 27 |
UCF | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
Follow along for live game updates as the game progresses.
UCF received and went 75 yards down the field in six plays. The Knights converted a third-and-goal from the 13-yard line.
UCF 7, Houston 0
The Cougars respond with a 12-play drive that took up more than five minutes. However, they only went 35 yards and got set back with a holding penalty.
Change of Possession
UCF somehow picked up one first down on a wild catch, but then punted.
Change of Possession
Houston had another promising drive that went 67 yards down the field all the way to the one-yard line. The Cougars weren't able to punch it in on fourth-and-goal.
Change of Possession
UCF went three-and-out back near its own end zone and punted 50 yards to the Houston 41-yard line. Senior wide reciever Trent Walker returned it 33 yards to the UCF 26-yard line. The Cougars seemed poised to punch it in this time. However, it was another stop on fourth down.
Weigman's pass was incomplete on fourth-and-two.
Change of Possession
UCF once again went three-and-out.
Change of Possession
Houston started its next drive at the UCF 44-yard line. The Cougars quickly picked up multiple first downs, but redshirt junior tight end Patrick Overmyer fumbled at the UCF seven-yard line and it was then recovered by the Knights in the end zone for a touchback.
Change of Possession
This time, UCF was able to move the ball and it picked up multiple first downs. That also included a 35-yard completion. The Knights settled for a 30-yard field goal.
UCF 10, Houston 0
Houston was only able to pick up one first down and then had to punt in disappointing fashion.
Change of Possession
UCF took it to halftime.
The Cougars received to start the second half and only picked up one first down before punting.
Change of Possession
UCF took a commanding 17-0 lead after a long 71-yard drive that took up almost six minutes. Senior quarterback Keyone Jenkins ran in for a five-yard touchdown and put on a nice move to escape the defender.
UCF 17, Houston 0
The Cougars finally put it together and quickly moved down the field 75 yards in seven plays. It took just over two minutes for senior quarterback Conner Weigman to break the barrier for Houston on an impressive 19-yard rushing touchdown.
UCF 17, Houston 7
The momemtum instantly flipped when senior linebacker Latreveon McCutchin intercepted Jenkins at the UCF 19-yard-line on a tipped pass and returned it 17 yards to the two-yard line.
Change of Possession
Houston got it in on two plays thanks to a one-yard touchdown sneak from Weigman. Just like that, it became a three-point game in just under five minutes.
UCF 17, Houston 14
The Cougars defense quickly forced a three-and-out as UCF was forced to go to their third-string quarterback as Jenkins got hurt when McCutchin intercepted him.
Change of Possession
Houston went on a massive drive that gave it the first lead of the game. It was an 11-play, 62-yard drive that resulted in Weigman's third rushing touchdown of the game. It was from one-yard out again.
The Cougars took a 21-17 lead just 10 minutes later after being down 17-0.
Houston 21, UCF 17
While Jenkins came back into the game, Houston's defense stood tall and senior defensive tackle Khalil Laufau got the sack.
Change of Possession
Houston got the ball back and converted a key third-and-seven on a 43-yard catch and run by senior wide reciever Trent Walker. The Cougars ultimately settled for a 40-yard field goal from kicker Jonathan Dimas.
Houston 24, UCF 17
Houston's defense put together another great series. The group made all the tackles and got a massive fourth-down stop at the UCF 31-yard line.
Change of Possession
The Cougars settled for a 46-yard field goal from Dimas which was perfect. It was just three yards gained on the drive. It put the game away.
Houston 27, UCF 17
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Maanav Gupta is a staff writer for Houston Cougars on SI. He graduated from the University of Houston in the summer of 2025 with his bachelor’s in journalism and a minor in Spanish. Gupta spent three years at the student newspaper, The Daily Cougar, and also covered the 2025 Final Four and National Championship as Houston beat writer for College Basketball Review. He also has his own YouTube channel, Maanav’s Sports Talk, where he has interviewed professional athletes and broadcasters like Jim Nantz, Jose Altuve, J.J. Watt, Rich Eisen, and Alperen Sengun. Gupta was also a contributor to the Houston athletic program as a student. You can find Gupta on X, Instagram and TikTok @MGSportsTalk.