UCF’s 2026 schedule kept revealing new wrinkles in Week 5, and the biggest one was simple: another future Knights opponent is now in the AP Top 25. BYU joined the list after surviving TCU, while Pittsburgh’s stock rose despite losing its starting quarterback, and Baylor put together the kind of road performance that makes you take notice.
BYU’s trip to Fort Worth wasn’t flashy, but it was effective. Fresh off its loss to UCF last weekend, TCU kept things close enough to matter, never falling more than 10 points behind before the Cougars pulled away with a 17-10 win.
The game turned on BYU’s ability to control the run game even after losing running back LJ Martin to injury after just two carries and a reception. Bear Bachmeier stepped in as the Cougars’ main runner and carried 15 times for 66 yards and two touchdowns.
That ground edge carried BYU through a shaky day throwing the ball. Bachmeier completed 11 of 24 passes for 62 yards, while TCU quarterback Jaden Craig posted 187 passing yards but managed only one touchdown and also threw an interception.
The Horned Frogs couldn’t stay efficient on third down either, converting four of 13 chances compared with BYU’s eight of 16. The result pushed the Cougars up to No. 8 in the AP Top 25, and they’re set to come to the Acrisure Bounce House on Oct.
Pittsburgh’s win over Virginia Tech came with a much bigger price tag. The Panthers held on for a 35-33 victory Friday night, but starting quarterback Mason Heintschel left with an injury and, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Saturday, tore his ACL and will miss the rest of the season. Before going down, Heintschel was 10 of 18 for 113 yards and a touchdown.
Even without him, Pittsburgh found enough offense to survive. Backup Holden Geriner threw for 78 yards and a touchdown, and the Panthers added three rushing scores from three different players.
The bigger story, though, was still the defense. Pittsburgh’s rush defense, now second in the nation, limited Virginia Tech to 65 net yards on the ground.
The Hokies leaned hard on the pass, and Ethan Grunkemeyer finished with 434 yards and three touchdowns on 30-of-41 passing, but he also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. Pittsburgh’s defense forced four turnovers in all.
The Panthers’ run so far, including a 14-7 win over UCF, earned them the No. 25 spot in the AP poll.
The weekend also gave Baylor another chance to make a statement against a fellow UCF opponent, and the Bears did exactly that in a 55-19 road win over Arizona State. DJ Lagway and Cutter Boley both topped 300 passing yards, but Baylor’s defense took away Arizona State’s ability to turn those numbers into points. The Bears held the Sun Devils to 99 rushing yards and now rank 22nd nationally in rushing defense.
Baylor’s offense did its part too, piling up 244 rushing yards and three touchdowns spread across four different running backs, plus Lagway. The defense kept feeding the offense extra chances as well, forcing five turnovers - two on downs, two fumble recoveries and an interception.
Both Baylor and Arizona State are scheduled to visit Orlando later this season, with Baylor coming on Oct. 30 and Arizona State on Nov. 14.
In Other News...
BYU-Notre Dame Just Became An Even Bigger Provo Event
BYUs October 17 showdown with Notre Dame already had the feel of a major moment, and the stage only got bigger with the latest details. The game is set for 5:30 p.m. Mountain Time at LaVell Edwards Stadium and will air on ABC, giving Provo a prime-time backdrop for a matchup between two undefeated teams both sitting inside the AP Top 10.
Its the first time the Irish and Cougars will meet in Provo with both programs ranked that high, which gives the night an added layer of weight beyond the usual nonconference intrigue. The meeting also fits into a two-game series, with BYU heading to Notre Dame in 2027, but for now the focus is on a rare ranked-on-ranked collision that should make October in Provo feel even bigger. [Read more 🡒]
BYU's TCU Win Came With A Concern Fans Can't Ignore
BYUs 17-10 win over TCU kept the Cougars unbeaten and reinforced the early momentum around a team that has opened 4-0 overall and 2-0 in Big 12 play. It was the kind of conference road result that can matter in October just as much as September, especially for a program trying to prove it can stack wins in its first stretch of league play.
Kalani Sitake had plenty to like in the aftermath, but the health of the roster lingered as the bigger concern. Several players came out of the game nicked up, including LJ Martin, Isaiah Glasker and Cannon DeVries, and BYU now turns its attention to a home game against Iowa State with the reality that the next step forward may depend as much on availability as on performance. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Undefeated Run Suddenly Carries One More Concern Against Iowa State
BYUs unbeaten start has put the Cougars in a familiar but tricky spot again this week, with No. 8 heading into a Big 12 matchup that comes with the usual ranked-team pressure and a little extra caution attached. Iowa State is in a transition year under coach Jimmy Rogers, but the Cyclones have still managed to win three of their first five games, which is enough to make this a game BYU cant simply assume it will control from the opening whistle.
The Cougars have plenty going for them, starting with quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who has accounted for 10 total scores in four games and given BYU a steady edge on offense. Still, the broader question around this trip is how cleanly the Cougars can handle a conference opponent that has already shown it can stay competitive, especially with betting odds suggesting the market expects a tighter test than a typical undefeated-team showcase. [Read more 🡒]