UCF vs Houston preview: Knights chase huge win at No. 20
UCF (3-1, 1-0 Big 12) visits No. 20 Houston (3-1, 0-1 Big 12) on Saturday, Oct. 3, at TDECU Stadium, and the biggest question in this UCF vs Houston preview is whether Knights quarterback Alonza Barnett III is healthy enough to play. Houston bounced back from its only loss with a 42-28 win at Georgia Southern, while UCF has won two straight with a backup quarterback.
UCF vs Houston preview: Game information
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 3
- Time: Noon ET
- Venue: TDECU Stadium, Houston
- TV: ESPN2
- Conference: Big 12 game
Is Alonza Barnett III ready to return for UCF?
Barnett injured his hamstring in UCF’s 12-7 loss at Pittsburgh on Sept. 12, according to FOX Sports, and he has missed the past two games. His status was unclear heading into the week, per Sports Illustrated.
Backup Keyone Jenkins has led the Knights to consecutive wins since. In a 21-13 victory over TCU on Sept. 26, he completed 19 of 20 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown, The Associated Press reported. Barnett remains UCF’s season passing leader with 344 yards, all from the first two games, according to ESPN.
Can UCF’s run game keep Houston’s offense off the field?
Duke Watson has run for 354 yards and three touchdowns this season, according to ESPN, including a career-high 177 yards and two scores against Georgia State, per FOX Sports. UCF averages 197.5 rushing yards per game.
Clock control may be the key theme of this UCF vs Houston preview. Houston holds the ball for about 32 1/2 minutes per game, while UCF averages less than 26 minutes of possession, according to ESPN team statistics.
Is Houston’s offense too much to handle?
The most productive player in this UCF vs Houston preview is Houston quarterback Conner Weigman, who has completed 73 of 102 passes (71.6%) for 947 yards, 11 touchdowns and one interception, per ESPN. In Houston’s win at Georgia Southern on Sept. 26, he went 17 of 22 for 239 yards with four touchdown passes and ran for two more scores, according to the Associated Press.
Houston coach Willie Fritz, who coached Georgia Southern in 2014 and 2015, was happy to leave his old stadium with a victory. “I’m just glad we were able to come out here with the W. I’m proud of that,” Fritz said, per the AP.
Receiver Amare Thomas (23 catches, 287 yards, four touchdowns) and running back Makhi Hughes (282 rushing yards, two touchdowns) give Weigman plenty of help. Houston averages 505.8 yards per game, according to ESPN.
What will decide the third-down battle?
Houston entered last week ranked second nationally in third-down conversion rate, then went 8 of 9 against Georgia Southern to push its season mark to 71.1% (32 of 45), according to the AP. Receiver Koby Young credited preparation. “It was a big emphasis to finish in the red zone and to finish hard third downs, and it’s good to see that we’re getting better at it,” Young said.
UCF’s offense has converted just 15 of 43 third downs (34.9%), per ESPN, so the Knights will need to stay ahead of the chains to keep pace with one of the most efficient offenses in the FBS.
UCF vs Houston preview: What to watch
Time of possession could shape the outcome. If the Knights can’t extend drives behind Watson, Weigman and Houston’s offense could control the tempo. A UCF win would give the Knights a 2-0 start in Big 12 play, while Houston is trying to avoid an 0-2 league start after its 28-26 loss at Texas Tech on Sept. 19.
After Saturday, both teams stay on the road in Big 12 play on Oct. 10: Houston visits Kansas State, and UCF travels to No. 19 Oklahoma State. Elsewhere this weekend, ranked teams collide in the SEC when No. 7 Alabama visits No. 16 Mississippi State.
Reporting from ESPN, FOX Sports, The Associated Press and Sports Illustrated contributed to this story. Official statistics: ESPN.