Houston running back Re’Shaun Sanford (6) celebrates after getting a first down during the first quarter of an NCAA College Football match between the University of Central Florida and the University of Houston Cougars on October 3, 2026, at TDECU Stadium in Houston. | Matthew Guzman/The Cougar
The No. 20 Houston Cougars bested the University of Central Florida Knights 27-17 on Oct. 3 at TDECU Stadium. This is the Cougars’ fifth win against the Knights in series history.
Fifth-year quarterback Conner Weigman threw for 239 passing yards. Additionally, Weigman is the first Cougar to run for three touchdowns since 2023. Head coach Willie Fritz said Weigman was sick in the game.
“He is sick as a dog but he fought through it,” Fritz said. “He played really well in the second half. Proud of him.”
Junior running back Re’Shaun Sanford II ran for 62 yards. Senior tight end Patrick Overmyer led the Cougars in receiving yards with 76. Fritz talked about the similarities between Overmyer and former Houston tight end Tanner Koziol.
“Both of them are really tall, long, fast, quick and catch the ball in traffic,” Fritz said. “Both of them are really smart too.”
UCF started the game with the ball and senior quarterback Keyone Jenkins threw a 49-yard pass to senior wide receiver Josh Derry. After a pass interference flag on senior linebacker Jaden Yates, UCF was positioned at the nine-yard line.
On third and 13, Jenkins threw a screen pass to Derry for a touchdown, giving UCF its first lead of the game, 7-0.
On Houston’s first possession, it tried to respond. However, Houston was forced to punt from UCF’s 40-yard line after an offensive pass interference call on senior wide receiver Amare Thomas.
The Knights were pinned at the three-yard line but tried to score another touchdown. Instead, they got stopped at the 34-yard line on fourth down, forcing UCF to punt.
The Cougars marched down the field efficiently and cut the gap to the 44-yard line after Sanford caught a 20-yard pass.
At the start of the second quarter, the Knights were called for holding, moving the ball to the 23-yard line. Marked at the three-yard line on fourth down, Houston went for it but Weigman’s pass was tipped.
On the third drive, UCF was spotted on its own three-yard line, went three-and-out and punted back to the Cougars. Senior wide receiver Trent Walker returned the ball to the 26-yard line.
Desperate to put points on the board, junior wide receiver Koby Young gained 15 yards off a run, putting Houston to the 11-yard line. The Cougars faced another fourth down on the three-yard line.
Yet again, Weigman’s pass was too high for Sanford, forcing another turnover on downs. UCF faced another third down at the four-yard line and couldn’t convert, punting the ball again to Houston.
Weigman completed a 17-yard pass to Thomas to position the Cougars at the 14-yard line. He completed another pass to Overmyer, but UCF stripped the ball, allowing UCF to recover it.
This time, the Knights moved the ball downfield and threatened to score another touchdown. Jenkins completed a 35-yard pass to sophomore wide receiver Waden Charles.
With two minutes left in the second quarter, the Knights positioned themselves at the 20-yard line. The Knights faced a fourth down and opted to settle for three, making the score 10-0.
Houston got the ball back and scrambled to get its first touchdown of the game. However, Houston faced a fourth down and punted it to the Knights. UCF ran the clock out and went into halftime.
“We just didn’t execute as well as we needed to,” Fritz said. “A lot of our mistakes were at the point of attack.”
In the third quarter, the Cougars started with the ball but punted again, lengthening their scoreless streak. A 37-yard run by junior running back Duke Watson positioned the Knights at the two-yard line. Jenkins then scrambled into the end zone to make the score 17-0.
After the touchdown, Houston was desperate to get a touchdown on the board. At the 19-yard line, Weigman scrambled for a 19-yard touchdown to narrow the score to 10 points.
UCF tried to convert on third and 16; however, senior linebacker Latreveon McCutchin tipped and picked off Jenkins, putting Houston at the two-yard line.
“Guess I’m not as fast as I was last year,” McCutchin said.
At the one-yard line, Weigman sneaked into the end zone, making the score 17-14.
At the start of the 4th quarter, Houston got the ball back after a UCF punt.
At the one-yard line, Weigman ran in for his third rushing touchdown of the game and gave the Cougars the lead, making the score 21-7.
UCF gets the ball and Jenkins gets sacked by senior defensive lineman Khalil Laufau, making it third and 12. A pass by Jenkins to Derry got the Knights close to the first-down marker but they decided to punt instead.
Weigman’s 43-yard completion to Walker got Houston on the 20-yard line. However, Houston stalled and settled for a field goal, making the score 24-17.
With two minutes left, UCF went for it on a 4th down but Jenkins pass was incomplete, giving Houston the ball back and getting a field goal in, making the score 27-17.
The Cougars then ran the clock out for their first conference win of the season.
“I think (the defense) kept fighting and every day you got to do the very best,” Fritz said. “Sooner or later the breaks are going to fall your way.”
Next week, Houston travels to Manhattan, Kansas, to face off against the Kansas State Wildcats on Oct. 10.
sports@thedailycougar.com
