Knights road losing streak extends to 11, face No. 19 Oklahoma State on Saturday

Photo courtesy of UCF Athletics

Despite a 17-0 third-quarter lead, UCF couldn’t finish the job on the road, falling to the No. 20-ranked Houston Cougars 27-17 at TDECU Stadium on Saturday.

In a game that seemed to be in the Knights’ hands (3-2, 1-1 Big 12) through three quarters, a second-half collapse and 27 unanswered points flipped the script in favor of the Cougars (4-1, 1-1 Big 12).

“Everything was going our way for three quarters,” head coach Scott Frost said in the postgame press conference. “I’m disappointed for our guys; we played a good football team…we need to keep improving as the season goes along.”

The loss for UCF marked its second of the season and its eleventh consecutive road loss since TCU back in 2024. The Knights have also yet to defeat a ranked opponent since No. 15 Oklahoma State back in 2023.

The Knights could not have gotten off to a better start in this matchup.

On the Knights’ first drive, senior quarterback Keyone Jenkins hit senior wide receiver Josh Derry for a 49-yard gain on the second play from scrimmage, moving them into Houston territory.

Derry then found his way into the end zone to cap off a 75-yard drive for the Knights, giving UCF an early 7-0 lead after senior kicker Will Stone’s PAT.

The Knights’ defense forced a punt from the Cougars’ offense; it was Houston’s first punt after avoiding one through its first six consecutive offensive drives.

The Knights could not come away with any points after being pinned on their own three-yard line to start the drive, settling for a punt from senior punter Atticus Bertrams.

The first quarter ended with the Knights leading 7-0. UCF became the first team this season to shut out Houston in the first quarter.

Senior linebacker Tackett Curtis came up big to start the second quarter on a fourth-and-one at the three-yard line, tipping a pass incomplete to force a turnover on downs.

However, pinned deep in their own territory, the Knights settled for another punt. The punt led to a 33-yard return by Trent Walker to the Knights’ 26-yard line.

After another test on fourth and short for the Knights’ defense, Connor Weigman’s pass was just out of reach for Re’Shaun Sanford II, forcing another stop on fourth down.

After another Bertrams punt, the Cougars found their way into the red zone again. However, redshirt senior defensive back Demari Henderson forced a fumble, and Curtis recovered it in the end zone.

The defensive stand held the Cougars to zero points on three consecutive red zone trips. It also stamped UCF’s tenth takeaway of the season.

Fifth-year defensive back Jayden Williams credited the defense’s attention to detail and their physicality for the strong defensive stands.

“I feel like we were great in the first half at attacking them before they attacked us,” Williams said. “I feel like we didn’t live up to that in the second half.”

The Knights ended their next drive with a 30-yard field goal by Stone, set up by a 35-yard strike to sophomore wide receiver Waden Charles.

Senior wide receiver Josh Derry said the team needed to maintain the same speed they came out with in the first half.

The group’s ability to make plays after the catch diminished from one half to the other.

“We started the game with good speed,” Derry said. “We had to pick it up a little bit in the second half, but we need to give it all on the field every play.”

The score gave the Knights a two-possession lead at 10-0 with about a minute and a half left in the first half.

UCF went into halftime up 10-0 against Houston, marking the first time the Cougars have been shut out in the first half since 2024 against Iowa State.

The Knights’ defense opened the second half with a stop.

UCF capped off its next drive with a five-yard scamper into the end zone by Jenkins, set up by an explosive 37-yard blast up the middle by junior running back Duke Watson, his longest of the game.

Following Stone’s PAT, the Knights’ extended their lead to 17-0 over the Cougars.

The Cougars quickly found the end zone after a seven-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 19-yard rushing touchdown by Weigman.

That score began the domino effect that led to the Knights’ collapse.

On the Knights’ ensuing drive, a major momentum shifter came when a pass tipped and was intercepted by Latreveon McCutchin, bringing the Cougars to the Knights’ two-yard line.

“Tried to throw the ball on third down but their kid tipped the ball,” Frost said. “That really gave them momentum, and we could never get it back.”

Jenkins was seen cramping up following the return and was assisted to the locker room. The cramping lingered throughout the rest of the game.

The Cougars capitalized on a quarterback keeper by Weigman, and the PAT cut the lead to three points in minutes, with the score now 17-14.

Redshirt sophomore and Boise State transfer Kaleb Annett came in for Jenkins at quarterback for the Knights on the next drive. The drive ended in a three-and-out, ending the third quarter.

With the momentum, the Cougars took their first lead as Weigman found the end zone for the third time, making it 21 unanswered points.

Jenkins returned on the ensuing drive for UCF, but the drive later stalled.

The Cougars added two more field goals while keeping the Knights’ offense stagnant for the rest of the contest.

The game clock hit zero, and the Knights fell victim to the Cougars’ largest comeback win since 2022 against Memphis, when they were down 19 points.

Jenkins went 25-for-35 for 253 yards through the air; Weigman finished 18-for-33 for 239 yards.

Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Jacob Maiava left the game with a hip injury that forced some shuffling across the offensive line, Frost said. Fifth-year linebacker Jayden Jennings also left the game with an apparent arm injury.

For a team already riddled with injuries and without their offensive and defensive captains, senior linebacker Lewis Carter and redshirt senior quarterback Alonza Barnett III, the roster’s depth has thinned.

“It’s frustrating, it’s unfortunate, and there’s nothing you can do about it,” Frost said. “You always hope you’re the team that doesn’t get touched by the injury bug…we got a lot of football left, and I hope we start getting some of these guys back.”

With the Knights looking to patch themselves up, they remain on road for another early kickoff as they head to Stillwater, Oklahoma to take on No. 19 Oklahoma State on Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium at 12 p.m.