HOUSTON — Keyone Jenkins found himself flat on his back late in the third quarter of UCF’s contest against No. 20 Houston on Saturday.
After a few moments, the redshirt senior quarterback eventually rose to his feet with help from several teammates before limping back to the sideline. It was that kind of day for Jenkins, who for 39 minutes looked like he was going to help the Knights snap their 10-game road losing streak.
He helped guide UCF to a 17-0 lead after scoring a pair of touchdowns: one on the ground and one through the air.
But on a third-and-12 at the UCF 23, Jenkins’ pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage by Houston linebacker Latreveon McCutchin, who caught it in the air and returned it to the UCF 2.
Two plays later, UH quarterback Conner Weigman scored the second of his three rushing touchdowns as the Cougars would score 27 unanswered points, pulling away for a 27-17 win.
It was a gut punch to a UCF team that fought hard but once again came up short on the road.
“Everything was going our way for three quarters,” coach Scott Frost said following the loss. “Anytime you’re on the road against a good team, there’s going to be one play here or there that can change the game … (the interception) really gave them momentum and we can never get it back.”
UCF (3-2, 1-1 Big 12) saw its road losing streak increase to 11 games with the defeat at Houston (4-1, 1-1 Big 12). The Knights’ last road victory was against TCU on Sept. 14, 2024.
The Knights haven’t defeated a ranked opponent since then-No. 15 Oklahoma State on Nov. 11, 2023.
During the interception, Jenkins went down hard and needed help to the locker room. He missed one series before eventually returning to the game.
Frost said Jenkins was cramping in the second half.
“I thought he played well again,” said Frost. “The interception was just unfortunate. It was a great play by great guys. … It just felt like we ran out of guys and juice a little bit.”
Jenkins opened the contest picking up right where he left off against TCU last week, completing two throws to receiver Josh Derry. The first throw came on a curl route, and the senior broke free and took it 49 yards to put the Knights in Houston territory. Six plays later, Jenkins avoided an inside blitz and found Derry, who raced 13 yards for a touchdown and a quick 7-0 lead.
Jenkins entered the game with 14 consecutive pass completions going back to last week’s win over the Horned Frogs. He set a school record by completing 95% of his passes (19 of 20) in the 21-13 win.
The streak reached 17 straight passes, one shy of tying the school’s overall mark set by Dillon Gabriel in 2020, before Jenkins was forced out of the pocket and threw the ball out of bounds.
Following a UCF punt, Houston orchestrated an impressive 10-play drive. However, on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line, linebacker Tackett Curtis deflected Weigman’s pass at the line of scrimmage and the ball dropped harmlessly to the ground as the Cougars walked away empty-handed.
UH would have another chance to score on its next possession, and once again, coach Willie Fritz elected to roll the dice on a fourth-and-2 at the UCF 3, but the Cougars couldn’t convert for the second straight possession, coming away without points.
After another UCF punt, Houston drove inside the 10-yard line for the third straight possession, but Knights’ safety Demari Henderson forced a fumble by tight end Patrick Overmyer. The ball went into the end zone and Curtis recovered it.
It was the 10th takeaway of the season and the third straight game with a turnover for UCF.
UCF defensive back Kahmel Johnson (14) breaks up a pass intended for Houston tight end Patrick Overmyer (9) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Houston, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Houston quarterback Conner Weigman (1) runs to the end zone for a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against UCF in Houston, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Houston defensive lineman Khalil Laufau (18) sacks UCF quarterback Keyone Jenkins (12) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Houston, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
UCF quarterback Keyone Jenkins is checked out for injury during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Houston in Houston, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
UCF running back Agyeman Addae, center, is tackled by Houston defensive lineman Ashton Porter (9) and defensive back Will James (5) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Houston, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 03: Khalil Laufau #18 of the Houston Cougars sacks Keyone Jenkins #12 of the UCF Knights in the second half at TDECU Stadium on October 03, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 03: Duke Watson #26 of the UCF Knights runs the ball in the second half against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium on October 03, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 03: Keyone Jenkins #12 of the UCF Knights throws a pass in the second half against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium on October 03, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 03: Conner Weigman #1 of the Houston Cougars scrambles for a touchdown in the second half against the UCF Knights at TDECU Stadium on October 03, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
UCF wide receiver Josh Derry (5) celebrates with wide receiver Waden Charles (9) and offensive lineman Brady Wayburn (66) after a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Houston in Houston, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
UCF wide receiver Josh Derry (5) scores a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Houston in Houston, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Houston tight end Patrick Overmyer (9) fumbles after being tripped up by UCF cornerback Jayden Williams (2) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Houston, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
UCF linebacker Tackett Curtis (24) recovers a fumble by Houston tight end Patrick Overmyer during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Houston, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Houston wide receiver Trent Walker (4) is tackled by UCF defensive back Donnell Johnson III (49) and linebacker Rashad Henry (19) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Houston, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
UCF quarterback Keyone Jenkins (12) throws during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Houston, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Josh Derry of the UCF Knights scores a touchdown in the first half against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium on Saturday in Houston. Derry finished with seven catches for 101 yards and the score in UCF’s 27-17 defeat. (Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 03: Carmycah Glass #25 of the Houston Cougars defends Duke Watson #26 of the UCF Knights in the first half at TDECU Stadium on October 03, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 03: Conner Weigman #1 of the Houston Cougars looks to pass in the first half against the UCF Knights at TDECU Stadium on October 03, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
UCF’s Demari Henderson forces a fumble by Patrick Overmyer of Houston in the first half at TDECU Stadium on Saturday in Houston. Despite building a 17-0 lead, UCF wound up losing to the 20th-ranked Cougars 27-17. (Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 03: Tackett Curtis #24 of the UCF Knights recovers a fumble in the first half against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium on October 03, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 03: Myles Parker #98 of the Houston Cougars tackles Landen Chambers #11 of the UCF Knights in the first half at TDECU Stadium on October 03, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 03: Jordan Allen #6 of the Houston Cougars defends a pass by Keyone Jenkins #12 of the UCF Knights in the first half at TDECU Stadium on October 03, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 03: Tackett Curtis #24 of the UCF Knights is congratulated by Rukeem Stroud #25 after a fumble recovery in the first half against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium on October 03, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 03: Keyone Jenkins #12 of the UCF Knights looks to pass in the first half against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium on October 03, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 03: Conner Weigman #1 of the Houston Cougars scrambles against Demari Henderson #8 of the UCF Knights in the first half at TDECU Stadium on October 03, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 03: Conner Weigman #1 of the Houston Cougars rolls out to pass in the first half against the UCF Knights at TDECU Stadium on October 03, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
UCF linebacker Tackett Curtis (24) recovers a fumble by Houston tight end Patrick Overmyer during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Houston, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 03: Head coach Willie Fritz of the Houston Cougars talks with head coach Scott Frost of the UCF Knights before the game at TDECU Stadium on October 03, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
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UCF defensive back Kahmel Johnson (14) breaks up a pass intended for Houston tight end Patrick Overmyer (9) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Houston, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Safety Jayden Williams credits the team’s physicality for holding Houston scoreless in the first half.
“We were great at attacking them before they attacked us,” said Williams. “We were just being playmakers out there and making plays; that’s how we came out in the first half. We didn’t live up to that in the second half.”
Jenkins led the Knights down the field, connecting on a 15-yard pass to Derry and a 35-yarder to Charles, to reach the UH 30-yard line. Despite their efforts to convert, the Knights opted for a 30-yard field goal from Will Stone, extending their lead to 10-0 at halftime.
UCF’s first possession of the second half was a master class in execution as the Knights used a short passing attack by Jenkins and an effective ground attack powered by Landen Chambers and Duke Watson.
Watson’s 37-yard gain, his longest run of the day, put the Knights at the UH 5. Two plays later, Jenkins scrambled into the end zone for his third rushing touchdown of the season and a 17-0 lead.
Houston got on the board on a 19-yard touchdown run by Weigman, cutting the lead to 17-7 with 3:38 left in the third.
Jenkins’ interception would come on UCF’s next possession, changing the overall complexion of the game.
The Cougars scored on their next four possessions while holding the Knights to just 35 yards on their final 21 plays.
Jenkins finished 25 of 35 for 253 yards and minus-4 yards rushing, while Weigman went 18 of 33 for 239 yards.
The Knights, meanwhile, continued to be besieged by injuries.
Center Jacob Maiava left the game in the first half with a hip injury, Frost said. Cooper Terpstra replaced him and eventually moved to guard to make room for Conner Meadows in the middle. Linebacker Jayden Jennings also left the game with an undisclosed arm injury, adding to an already growing list of players missing time.
UCF was without several starters, including quarterback Alonza Barnett III, linebacker Lewis Carter and wide receiver Duane Thomas Jr.
“It’s frustrating. It’s unfortunate, but there’s nothing you can do about it,” said Frost.
The Knights will be back on the road next week as they travel to face No. 19 Oklahoma State on Saturday (Noon, ESPN/ESPN2).
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.