PITTSBURGH — A week after tying a school record with a 73-point outburst in its season opener, UCF could only muster seven points in a rain-soaked quagmire, losing to Pittsburgh, 12-7, on Saturday.
The Knights (1-1) had more questions than answers following the loss, including the health status of quarterback Alonza Barnett III, who went down with an undisclosed injury on UCF’s final drive of the game.
“We’re not sure what it was yet. Hopefully, it’s just a cramp, but I don’t know yet,” coach Scott Frost said of the senior’s status.
Barnett went down after scrambling for a 2-yard gain on third-and-6 from the UCF 26 with 1:29 left in the game. He was replaced by backup Keyone Jenkins, who was sacked for a loss on fourth-and-4, ending the scoring threat.
The loss extends UCF’s road losing skid to 10 consecutive games. UCF’s last road win was Sept. 14, 2024, a 35-34 victory at TCU. The losing streak is the longest since the Knights lost 15 in a row from 2003 to 2005.
The game got off to an inauspicious start, as storms in the Pittsburgh area delayed kickoff by 65 minutes. Fans scrambled to find cover in Acrisure Stadium after the National Weather Service forecast severe conditions, including lightning.
Heavy rain fell throughout the game, making conditions less than ideal.
A week after throwing for a career-high 453 yards and seven touchdowns, Pitt quarterback Mason Heintschel appeared to have picked up where he left off, moving the Panthers (2-0) down the field with a series of throws, connecting on five of his first eight passes.
Yet, Pittsburgh managed just a 28-yard field goal by kicker Antonio Chadha at the end of the first quarter.
UCF, meanwhile, struggled to get anything going offensively, managing just 34 yards of offense on nine plays. Even more concerning was the Knights’ inability to run the football, gaining one yard on one carry.
Frost credited the Panthers’ defensive front for making things difficult for the Knights all night.
“They crowd the box and got their safeties tight,” he explained. “You’ve got to really earn it in the run game against them. To loosen them up, you’ve got to be able to throw it and we didn’t have the ball long enough to throw it and take shots.”
It would turn out to be a disappointing showing considering UCF totaled 360 rushing yards and seven touchdowns against Bethune-Cookman last week. On Saturday, the Knights were only able to rush for 20 yards on 22 carries.
Even more frustrating was UCF’s inability to get its offense going throughout much of the first half. Barnett was 10 of 15 for 75 yards, missing out on a possible scoring opportunity when he overthrew a wide-open Dylan Wade midway through the second quarter.
To add to the frustration, Barnett was flagged for an intentional grounding penalty in UCF’s end zone that resulted in a safety with 7:24 left in the second. It was the program’s first safety since a game against Tulsa on Oct. 3, 2020.
Frost put the blame squarely on his own shoulders.
“That was my fault. We got the wrong play communicated to Alonza,” Frost explained. “I’m embarrassed to say why, but I had a call sheet on the field with an ink pen, and we have a few numbers on wristband calls that are a little longer, and the ink bled into the wristband number, and I called the wrong play. That’s 100% on me.”
Pitt running back La’vell Wright can’t find any running room as UCF defensive tackle Horace Lockett makes the stop Saturday at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. UCF kept the Pitt offense in check but the Knights came up short on the scoreboard 12-7. (Matt Freed/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
While the offense struggled, UCF’s defense stepped up in a big way.
The Knights held Heintschel to 212 passing yards without a touchdown; that’s the first time that has happened since a 30-13 win over Syracuse on Oct. 18, 2025.
“We could have come out a little bit faster, but in the second half, we did a great job by stopping them for just 69 yards,” said linebacker Lewis Carter, who finished with a team-high 10 tackles.
Pitt scored its only touchdown of the night on a 13-yard touchdown run by running back Damon Ferguson Jr., right before the half.
UCF finally broke through midway through the fourth quarter when Barnett found receiver Waden Charles in the end zone on a fade route for a 19-yard touchdown.
“They’re a press-man defense. AB gave me a chance and I made a play,” said Charles, who finished with four catches for 41 yards.
The Knights finished with 206 yards of total offense.
UCF returns to action next Saturday when it hosts Georgia State at Acrisure Bounce House Stadium ( 7 p.m., ESPN+).
Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram at @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.
UCF running back Duke Watson carries as he’s defended by Pitt defensive back Josh Guerrier during the first half of a college football game at Acrisure Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (Matt Freed/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
UCF wide receiver Jonathan Bibbs carries as he’s defended by Pitt defensive back Josh Guerrier during the second half of a college football game at Acrisure Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (Matt Freed/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Pitt defensive back Shadarian Harrison tackles UCF running back Taevion Swint during the second half of a college football game at Acrisure Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (Matt Freed/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
UCF wide receiver Ric’darious Farmer scrambles against Pitt during the second half of a college football game at Acrisure Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (Matt Freed/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Pitt defensive back Raion Strader reaches to break up a pass intended for UCF wide receiver Josh Derry during the second half of a college football game at Acrisure Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (Matt Freed/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Pitt running back Damon Ferguson Jr. carries as he’s defended by UCF defensive back Demari Henderson during the second half of a college football game at Acrisure Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (Matt Freed/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Pitt quarterback Mason Heintschel pushes away UCF linebacker Jayden Jennings during the first half of a college football game at Acrisure Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (Matt Freed/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Pitt wide receiver Bryce Yates pulls in a pass as he’s defended by UCF defensive back Jayden Bellamy during the first half of a college football game at Acrisure Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (Matt Freed/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Pitt defensive back Cruce Brookins trips up UCF running back Duke Watson during the first half of a college football game at Acrisure Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (Matt Freed/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
UCF quarterback Alonza Barnett III looks to throw during the second half of a college football game against Pitt at Acrisure Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (Matt Freed/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Pitt defensive lineman Sean Fitzsimmons reaches to trip up UCF running back Duke Watson during the second half of a college football game at Acrisure Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (Matt Freed/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
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UCF running back Duke Watson carries as he’s defended by Pitt defensive back Josh Guerrier during the first half of a college football game at Acrisure Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (Matt Freed/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)