PREVIEW: #20 Cougars Host UCF For Built By Houston Game

HOUSTON – The #20 Houston Football team battles UCF in the Built By Houston game at 11 a.m. Saturday on ESPN2.

GAME 5 – UCF

#20 Houston (3-1, 0-1 Big 12) vs. UCF (3-1, 1-0 Big 12)
Saturday, Oct. 3 | 11 a.m.
TDECU Stadium | Houston, Texas
Broadcast: ESPN2
Radio: KPRC 950 AM

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Junior wide receiver Koby Young has been oozing with potential since he stepped foot on campus in 2024 and in his third season with the Cougars has erupted as one of the Cougars' top pass catchers. Young, along with Houston's top 2025 receiver Amare Thomas, leads the team with four receiving touchdowns through four games. The junior from Louisiana has caught touchdown passes in three consecutive games and has a catch in five straight games.
Houston has dominated on the ground over the first four games of the season averaging 248 yards per game (12th most in the country) and amassing 6.05 yards per carry early in the season.
The Cougars' offense has lept to new heights in 2026, ranking 11th nationally in total offense, 12th in rushing offense and 50th in passing offense while leading the nation on third down (71.1% conversion rate) and sitting third in the country in first downs (113). Conner Weigman's 14 total touchdowns are the 3rd most in FBS while his 11 touchdown passes through Week 4 are the 4th most in FBS. His 11 passing touchdowns is tied for the Big 12 lead.

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

Houston quarterback Conner Weigman is coming off a career game with six total touchdowns, four in the air, two on the ground, at Georgia Southern. Weigman threw two touchdown passes and led Houston's fourth quarter comeback win on the road in the previous meeting between the two teams.
Houston is ranked in the top 25 at No. 20 in both the AP Poll and the USA Today Coaches Poll and have been ranked in the AP Poll for the fifth consecutive week. It marks the first time since 2016 the Cougars have been ranked in the first five polls to begin a season.
Running back Re'Shaun Sanford II rushed for a career-high 120 yards at Georgia Southern, the most by a Cougar since Dean Connors in the 2025 Texas Bowl. Sanford averaged 7.1 yards per rush and broke free for a 17-yard long run, the second-longest of the game.
While Houston has dominated the trenches on offense, the defense has held strong when opponents rush, allowing the sixth-fewest yards per game in the FBS (63.5) and lead the Big 12 Conference in rushing defense.
Houston is 5-4 all-time on October 3, including a 4-1 mark at home with signature wins against Memphis (1998), Baylor (1981) and Cincinnati (1959).

SCOUTING UCF

The Knights are coming off a 21-13 win over TCU in each team's Big 12 Conference opener. The victory moved UCF to 3-1 on the year with wins over Bethune-Cookman and Georgia State and a loss to Pitt.
Alonza Barnett III and Keyone Jenkins have split quarterback duties for the Knights so far this season. Jenkins, who has played in all four games, has gone 30-for-41 for 288 yards, three touchdowns and an interception while Barnett has posted a line of 31-for-49 for 344 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in a pair of games. Duke Watson has led the backfield, rushing for 354 yards and three scores.
Tackett Curtis has led the defense with 28 stops with Demari Henderson catching a team-best two interceptions on the year.

LAST TIME AGAINST UCF

Houston won the most recent game against UCF, a 30-27 victory to hand UCF their first loss in the Knight's annual "Space Game" and move the Cougars to 4-8 against UCF all-time.
Amare Thomas posted Houston's fourth 100-yard receiving game in the series, posting five receptions for 103 yards and a touchdown.
Latreveon McCutchin recorded his first career pick-six to put Houston up in the second quarter while Kentrell Webb snagged an interception of his own to seal the game, stalling UCF on its final drive.

A HOUSTON WIN WOULD BE ...

Head Coach Willie Fritz's 265th career win.
Houston's second consecutive win over UCF for just the second time in program history (last 2015-16).
Be Houston Football's second win in Houston Blue since its debut in 2023 against UTSA.
Be Willie Fritz's third-career win over UCF.

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