Weigman’s three rushing touchdowns bring Houston back from 17–0 to beat UCF 27–17

Conner Weigman ran for three second-half touchdowns as No. 20 Houston erased a 17-point deficit and beat UCF 27–17 Saturday at TDECU Stadium. The Cougars scored the final 27 points, improving to 4–1 overall and 1–1 in the Big 12 after a game that had appeared to be slipping away midway through the third quarter.

Weigman completed 18 of 33 passes for 239 yards and added 50 yards on 13 rushing attempts. His three touchdowns on the ground supplied every Houston touchdown, turning a scoreless first half into a comeback that carried through the fourth quarter. UCF fell to 3–2 and 1–1 in conference play.

The Knights built their advantage through quarterback Keyone Jenkins. He found Josh Derry for a 13-yard touchdown in the first quarter, and William Stone’s 30-yard field goal made it 10–0. Jenkins then scored on a five-yard run with 6:01 left in the third quarter to extend the lead to 17–0.

Houston had moved the ball before that point but repeatedly failed to finish possessions. The Associated Press reported that three straight second-quarter drives ended inside the UCF 10, including a Patrick Overmyer fumble into the end zone that the Knights recovered. Those missed chances made Houston’s next response urgent.

Weigman started it with a 19-yard touchdown run at 3:38 of the third quarter. On UCF’s next drive, Latreveon McCutchin intercepted Jenkins and returned the ball 17 yards to the Knights’ two-yard line. Weigman scored from one yard out two plays later, cutting the deficit to 17–14 before the quarter ended.

After Houston forced a three-and-out, the Cougars assembled an 11-play, 62-yard touchdown drive. Weigman’s one-yard run with 10:15 remaining gave Houston its first lead, 21–17. Jonathan Dimas then added field goals from 40 and 46 yards, allowing the Cougars to stretch the margin while the defense kept UCF from answering.

Houston finished with 393 total yards to UCF’s 332, converted eight of 16 third downs and held the ball for 33:22. Re’Shaun Sanford II led the Cougars with 62 rushing yards on 18 carries. Overmyer recovered from the earlier turnover to finish with six receptions for 76 yards, the most receiving yards on the team.

Jenkins completed 23 of 35 passes for 253 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Derry caught seven passes for 101 yards, while Duke Watson ran for 50 yards. After taking the 17–0 lead, however, UCF managed only 65 yards and one first down across its final five possessions, according to AP’s final recap.

Houston visits Kansas State next Saturday. UCF travels to Oklahoma State, carrying the task of turning another strong opening stretch into a complete road performance.