Houston wrapped up its non-conference schedule with a road win in Statesboro, and the result pushed the Cougars up from No. 25 to No. 20 in the AP Poll. They beat Georgia Southern 42-28, and the game followed a familiar script: Houston jumped ahead, Georgia Southern answered to tie it at 14-14 early in the second quarter, and then the Cougars pulled away enough to keep the Eagles at arm’s length the rest of the way.
The biggest edge for Willie Fritz’s team came on the ground. Houston piled up 202 rushing yards to Georgia Southern’s 66, and the backfield did most of the damage.
Re'Shaun Sanford II carried 17 times for 120 yards, while Makhi Hughes added 16 carries for 70 yards. UCF fans will recognize Hughes from his 2023 freshman season at Tulane.
Up front, All-Big 12 Preseason selection Shadre Hurst helped set the tone with his blocking.
Conner Weigman was efficient enough to keep the offense humming. He finished 17 of 22 for 239 yards and four touchdowns, added six rushes for 14 yards, and scored once on the ground. Georgia Southern quarterback Max Johnson actually threw for more yards, but it took him more attempts to get there.
Houston’s defense had a stronger result on the scoreboard than on the stat sheet. Even with All-Big 12 Preseason selection Will James in the secondary, the Cougars gave up 289 passing yards on 27 completions, and one receiver went for 119 yards and two touchdowns on six catches.
That sets up a noon Eastern kickoff Saturday, when UCF meets Houston.
Oklahoma State also delivered a result that matters for the Knights’ schedule, knocking off West Virginia 41-24 behind a strong second half and moving into the Top 25. The Mountaineers leaned heavily on the run, with Cam Cook and Michael Hawkins Jr. combining for 57 carries, 296 yards and three touchdowns. Hawkins struggled throwing the ball, finishing 10 of 22 for 132 yards with an interception.
The Cowboys had plenty of offense of their own. Caleb Hawkins topped 100 rushing yards, and quarterback Drew Mestemaker, the Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year, completed 20 of 27 passes for 389 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.
Wyatt Young was his favorite target, catching eight passes for 192 yards and a score. Sam Keltner added four field goals, a boost that helped Oklahoma State build its lead and stay in control late.
UCF will head to Stillwater to face the No. 19 Cowboys on Oct. 10 at noon Eastern.
Georgia State, meanwhile, responded to its loss to the Knights by closing out non-conference play with a 35-14 win over Northern Illinois. Taron Dickens was sharp for the Huskies, going 28 of 42 for 320 yards and a touchdown, and Northern Illinois actually outgained Georgia State 432-342. But the Panthers made the key plays that changed the game, forcing two turnovers and stopping three of four fourth-down tries.
In Other News...
UCF Faces A Bigger Test Than TCU In First Big 12 Road Game
UCFs Big 12 start could not have gone much better, with the Knights handling TCU in their league opener and now turning the page to a far tougher assignment. The next stop is a road trip to face No. 20 Houston, a noon ET kickoff on ESPN2 that will give Scott Frosts team its first conference game away from home and a quick read on how it travels in a league that can punish every misstep.
Houston coach Willie Fritz has already taken notice of what UCF brings to the table, while Frost knows the Cougars present a different kind of challenge than the one the Knights just passed. The matchup pairs a UCF team looking to prove its opening win was a start, not a peak, against a Houston group that has become harder to run on and more dangerous because of the way it disguises things on defense. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Hoops Gets An Early Test After Last Seasons Breakthrough
UCFs breakthrough season earned the program a louder stage, and the next step in the climb is already taking shape. The Knights now know part of their non-conference path for 2026, with the ESPN Events Invitational set as an early measuring stick after last seasons NCAA Tournament appearance and the momentum that came with it. The broader 2026-27 slate is also in place, with nine home and nine road Big 12 games mixed in with several non-conference dates, giving Johnny Dawkins another chance to see how far the program has come.
The timing matters, too, because UCF is trying to build on more than just one good run. Dawkins already has stability on the sideline after receiving an extension through the 2028-29 season, and that kind of continuity is part of why the Knights can treat these early-season tests as more than simple tune-ups. The invitational will provide another read on where UCF stands against outside competition, but the real question is how quickly the Knights can turn last years success into something more durable once the Big 12 grind starts. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Derry Is Doing The Work UCF Needs Most Right Now
Josh Derry has fit neatly into the part of UCFs offense that does a lot of the heavy lifting without always getting the loudest praise. The senior wide receiver, a transfer from Monmouth, has emerged as one of the Knights most trusted pass catchers and was singled out by Pro Football Focus as one of the Big 12s top returning receivers, but his role goes beyond what shows up in the box score. He has talked openly about valuing the work that helps the offense function, especially blocking and helping the running game stay on schedule.
For a UCF team that wants balance and knows what is ahead, that kind of buy-in matters. The Knights are headed into a demanding stretch and will need more than perimeter production from their receivers if they are going to keep pace, which is why Derrys willingness to embrace the less glamorous assignments stands out. He may be leading the group in yardage, but the bigger question for UCF is how much his all-around game can help carry an offense that is about to be tested in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]