Knights Close It Out
The UCF Knights defended their home turf effectively to defeat the TCU Horned Frogs 21-13 on Saturday, September 26, 2026. The decisive momentum shift came in the final period, where UCF struck for seven unanswered points to seal the victory at Acrisure Bounce House in Orlando, Florida. The win improved the Knights to a 3-1 record, while the visiting Horned Frogs fell to 2-2.
Attendance for the contest was 43,212.
Early Back-and-Forth
The scoring opened with a quick exchange in the first quarter. Taevion Swint rushed 13 yards for a touchdown, giving TCU a 7-0 lead. Jeremy Payne responded immediately for the Knights, powering in from one yard out to tie the game at 7-7.
The second quarter saw both teams extend their respective leads. Nate McCashland kicked a 29-yard field goal to put TCU ahead 10-7. However, UCF answered with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Keyone Jenkins to Caden Piening, completing the half with a 14-10 advantage.
The third quarter featured another McCashland field goal, this time from 45 yards, which narrowed the Knights' lead to 14-13 heading into the fourth.
Statistical Breakdown
Keyone Jenkins was efficient for the Knights, completing 19 of 20 passes for 160 yards and one touchdown. On the ground, Duke Watson carried the ball 13 times for 57 yards. Josh Derry led the receiving corps with three catches for 41 yards.
For TCU, Jaden Craig passed for 310 yards on 25 of 40 attempts but threw two interceptions. Jeremy Payne was the primary rusher for the Horned Frogs, gaining 48 yards on 15 carries and scoring one touchdown. Jordan Dwyer was the top receiver for TCU, hauling in five passes for 100 yards.
Final Whistle
The game concluded with Landen Chambers rushing one yard for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, followed by a successful kick by Will Stone. This final score locked in the 21-13 result. The Knights managed the game well in the closing minutes, ensuring their offensive line and defense held firm to protect the lead.
The performance highlighted the depth of the UCF roster, as they capitalized on key opportunities to outscore the Horned Frogs in the decisive frames. The Knights will look to build on this momentum as they continue their season, having now secured their second win of the year in this matchup.
Sources
ESPN
