UCF built a 17–0 lead at No. 20 Houston on Saturday, Oct. 3, but the Cougars scored the final 27 points to hand the Knights a 27–17 loss. UCF is now 3–2 overall and 1–1 in Big 12 play.
The Knights reached halftime ahead 10–0 after repeatedly keeping Houston out of the end zone. UCF stopped two fourth-down attempts from its 3-yard line and recovered a fumble in the end zone on another Houston possession, according to the university’s game report. An opening touchdown drive and a late second-quarter field goal supplied the first-half scoring.
A touchdown on UCF’s first possession after halftime extended the lead. Houston then scored twice in the third quarter and moved ahead in the fourth, adding two field goals down the stretch. The Knights did not score again after their early third-quarter touchdown.
The final team statistics show why the early advantage became difficult to protect. Houston ran 77 offensive plays to UCF’s 59 and finished with 23 first downs to the Knights’ 13. The Cougars held the ball for 33 minutes, 22 seconds, compared with 26:38 for UCF.
Houston also gained 154 rushing yards to UCF’s 73. UCF had the larger passing total, 259 yards to 239, but converted four of 14 third downs while Houston converted eight of 16. The Knights were penalized nine times for 73 yards. Those figures come from Houston’s official game center.
