The latest AP Top 25 poll brought a fresh reminder that UCF’s 2026 schedule is loaded with teams making noise right now. One former Knights opponent climbed into the rankings, another is dealing with a season-ending injury at quarterback, and a third turned in a road blowout that sent a clear message before its trip to Orlando later this fall.
The biggest result of the group came in Fort Worth, where BYU slipped past TCU, 17-10. The Horned Frogs were coming off their loss to UCF last weekend and stayed within striking distance throughout, never falling more than 10 points behind. But the Cougars did enough to leave with the win, and they did it while leaning hard on the run game.
BYU had to adjust after running back LJ Martin was injured early, exiting after just two carries and a reception. Even so, the Cougars still controlled the ground game, finishing with a 154-72 edge in rushing yards.
Quarterback Bear Bachmeier took on the workload as the primary runner, carrying 15 times for 66 yards and two touchdowns. Through the air, though, he had a quieter night, completing 11 of 24 passes for 62 yards.
TCU quarterback Jaden Craig threw for 187 yards, more than Bachmeier, but that only produced one touchdown and came with an interception. The Horned Frogs also struggled to keep drives alive, converting just four of 13 third downs while BYU went 8 of 16.
The Cougars, now No. 8 in the AP Top 25, are set to visit the Acrisure Bounce House on Oct. 24.
Pittsburgh also took a step forward in the rankings, but the Panthers’ 35-33 win over Virginia Tech came with a brutal price. Starting quarterback Mason Heintschel left the game injured after going 10-of-18 for 113 yards and a touchdown. On Saturday, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported he had torn his ACL and would miss the rest of the season.
Even with Heintschel sidelined, Pittsburgh found enough offense to hold off the Hokies. Backup Holden Geriner added 78 passing yards and a touchdown, while the Panthers’ ground game found the end zone three times with three different players. The defense did its part too, continuing to be a major strength by limiting Virginia Tech to just 65 net rushing yards.
Virginia Tech eventually turned to the pass, and Ethan Grunkemeyer piled up 434 yards and three touchdowns on 30 completions in 41 attempts. But he also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble, and Pittsburgh forced four turnovers overall.
The Panthers’ body of work, including a 14-7 win over UCF, pushed them into the AP Top 25 at No. 25.
Then there was Baylor, which delivered the most lopsided result of the three. The Bears went into Arizona State and rolled to a 55-19 win in a matchup between two teams UCF will see later this season. Both quarterbacks put up big passing numbers - Baylor’s DJ Lagway and Arizona State’s Cutter Boley each threw for more than 300 yards - but Baylor’s defense controlled the game where it mattered most.
The Bears held Arizona State to 99 rushing yards and now rank 22nd in the nation against the run. On offense, Baylor piled up 244 rushing yards and scored three rushing touchdowns, spread across four different running backs plus Lagway. The defense also kept feeding the offense with five takeaways, including two on downs, two fumble recoveries and an interception.
Baylor is scheduled to come to Orlando on Oct. 30, while Arizona State will make its visit on Nov. 14.
In Other News...
Pitt Finally Reached The Top 25 But Now Everything Gets Harder
Pitts unbeaten start kept rolling with a tight win over Virginia Tech, and the reward finally arrived in the AP Top 25 for the third straight season. It was the kind of breakthrough the program has been building toward, a sign that the Panthers have put themselves back in the national conversation while navigating the weekly grind of the ACC.
Mason Heintschels torn ACL changes the feel of everything from here, because the quarterback who helped guide the run is suddenly out just as the stakes rise. Even so, Pitt has enough elsewhere to keep pushing, with the rushing game, special teams and defense giving the Panthers a foundation to stay in the hunt and keep thinking about a bigger postseason picture. [Read more 🡒]
Pitt Escaped Virginia Tech With A Win Fans Will Debate All Week
Virginia Tech left the field with more than just a loss to Pitt, it left with a game that will be replayed and argued over all week. The finish came down to John Loves 36-yard field goal attempt as time expired, and the aftermath was immediate, with fans split over whether the kick had actually gone through and what the final call should have been.
James Franklin did not point the finger at the officials afterward, even with the frustration still hanging over a game that swung on a single snap. There was plenty of offense on the other side, too, as Ethan Grunkemeyer turned in a career-high 434 passing yards, giving Virginia Tech enough to keep pace and enough reason to wonder how it still walked away empty-handed. [Read more 🡒]