Knights begin tough three-game slate on the road against No. 20 Houston this Saturday

Photo courtesy of Aryah Britt

The Knights are preparing for a tough back-to-back road stretch over the next two weeks. First on the agenda are the No. 20-ranked Houston Cougars, whom the Knights will face this Saturday at noon at TDECU Stadium.

The contest will mark the thirteenth meeting between the two teams all-time. The Knights (3-1, 1-0 Big 12) lead the series 8-to-4, with the first matchup dating back to Nov. 5, 2005, when the Knights won a 31-29 clash.

The two programs last met last season, when UCF hosted Houston in its annual Space Game on Nov. 7, 2025. The Cougars (3-1, 0-1 Big 12) handed the Knights their first-ever Space Game loss, falling 30-27.

The Knights are coming off a more well-rounded offensive performance, starting with senior quarterback Keyone Jenkins, who made program history in completion percentage with 95 percent.

Jenkins finished the day going 19-for-20 through the air for 160 yards and a touchdown.

As for the offense’s identity, head coach Scott Frost told reporters that it is something the team is still learning about themselves.

“I think we’re still learning that, to be honest,” Frost said. “I think we need to continue to be selective with tempo, get the ball in the right guy’s hands, and continue to be as efficient as we can.”

Frost highlighted the low number of offensive snaps the team has had in the last few weeks. In their last matchup, the Knights only had four offensive snaps in the second half.

Those four snaps ended in a punt, a touchdown, a 15-yard penalty killer on first down, and finally only three plays on the last drive to potentially run out the clock.

In trying to maintain offensive efficiency, the Knights have yet to see someone emerge as the clear wide receiver one.

Both senior Josh Derry and sophomore Waden Charles lead the Knights in receptions with ten. Charles leads with two touchdowns, and Derry leads with 119 yards. However, the production amongst the rest of the room isn’t far off.

Derry told reporters that being ‘the guy’ isn’t the focus, but the depth of the room lets everyone contribute every week.

“People try to look for that one guy to take over,” Derry said. “When you have the deepest room that we have where guys can make plays all over the field, you can’t really key on one person.”

On the other side of the ball, the Knights’ defense has gotten off to a strong start this season.

Through the first four weeks, the defense has amassed six interceptions, ten sacks, 26 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles with three fumble recoveries.

The defense has played a huge role in allowing around 15 points per game, and it has held opponents to a combined 15 points in the second half across its first four games.

Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch credited his group’s mental toughness for their second-half defensive production.

“I talk to the guys about getting in the fight and staying in the fight,” Grinch said. “Finding ways at the end of ball games to get stops somehow someway, that matters.”

For senior defensive tackle RJ Jackson Jr., the team has embraced a ‘fast and fierce’ mindset as their season progresses.

“It’s fast, fierce, and physical,” Jackson said. “That’s what we try to live by and preach that week in and week out.”

That defensive fight will have to continue through the next few weeks as the Knights face an unforgiving slate against three ranked opponents: No. 20 Houston, No. 19 Oklahoma State, and No. 10 BYU.

For now, the team’s sole focus is Houston.

The Knights will hope to begin their tough slate with a victory against the No. 20-ranked Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium this Saturday at noon.