Both UCF and Houston, coming off multi-score losses, will look to get back on track when they meet Friday night in a Big 12 matchup at Orlando.
The Cougars (7-2, 4-2 Big 12) were riding high after taking down then-No. 24 Arizona State on Oct. 25 to earn their first AP Top 25 ranking since 2022. Then it all came crashing down for Houston on Saturday with a 45-35 home loss to West Virginia, which was previously winless in conference play.
A big part of the loss was the turnover battle. The Cougars gave the ball away four times, including two interceptions and a fumble by quarterback Conner Weigman.
Houston is 6-0 when it plays a turnover-free game, 1-2 when it gives the ball away at least once.
“Turn the ball over a few times, you just can’t do that, and that was disappointing,” Cougars coach Willie Fritz on Monday said. “To be so close and (commit) four turnovers doesn’t happen very often. So, we got to do a much better job in that area.”
Weigman has been reliable most times this season, especially when he’s connecting with his top option Amare Thomas. The two have linked up 40 times for 634 yards and seven touchdowns. They will have to be on point against the UCF team that ranks 11th in the nation in pass defense, allowing just 161.4 yards per game.
However, that strength vanished on Saturday for UCF (4-4, 1-4). The Knights allowed Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson to throw for 267 yards and three TDs without an interception as the Bears rolled to a 30-3 victory.
UCF was keen to gain some momentum after recording its first conference win the week prior, a 45-13 rout of West Virginia. Now coach Scott Frost must relight the fire under his team.
“There was a little bit of a hangover today, but we need to move on from that fast,” Frost said Monday. “There’s no time to sit and sulk and lick your wounds. We got to play in four days here, so it’s time to move on.”
Frost will hope from a better performance from quarterback Tayven Jackson, who threw for just 151 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions against Baylor. Jackson has five TD passes and four interceptions on the season.
The Knights have an 8-3 all-time record against Houston, with UCF having won three straight. The most recent meeting ahead was in Orlando, and UCF prevailed 27-13 on Nov. 25, 2023.
