From UCF Knights On SI · · 4m
UCF Heads Back to the Stadium That Ended Its Streak
A road opener in Pittsburgh that carries a grudge, a ghost, and a nine-game losing streak.
In brief
A road opener in Pittsburgh that carries a grudge, a ghost, and a nine-game losing streak. UCF is a 7.5-point underdog walking into the building where its 27-game regular-season streak died, with two players who have personal history there. Originally reported by UCF Knights On SI.
Road opener in Pittsburgh
UCF travels to Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh for its first road game of 2026, facing a Panthers team that just put up 59 points.
Kickoff time slipped
Scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sep. 12, the game actually started at 4:35 p.m. after a weather delay.
Where to watch
ESPN2 has the call with Lowell Galindo on play-by-play, Kirk Morrison on analysis and Dawn Davenport on the sideline.
Radio in two languages
English on 96.9 FM and 740 AM with Marc Daniels. Spanish streams free on the UCF Knights YouTube channel with Carlos Bohorquez.
Rain in the forecast
AccuWeather called for 83 degrees and clouds, with rain odds climbing from 49% before kickoff to 56% by 4 p.m. and a light southeast wind.
Pitt favored by a touchdown
FanDuel installed the Panthers as 7.5-point favorites. UCF is 1-2 all-time in the series, with the last meeting back in 2019.
Pitt's opener was a rout
The Panthers hung 59-14 on Miami (Ohio) to start the season, so UCF is not catching a team that needs to find its footing.
Heintschel threw seven scores
Pitt quarterback Mason Heintschel went 31 of 41 for 453 yards and seven touchdowns against Miami (Ohio), and all seven went to different receivers.
A ground game to match
Running back Ja'Kyrian Turner carries most of the rushing load. Last season he ranked fifth in the ACC and 56th nationally in yards per carry.
The defense is the problem
Pitt finished 2025 eighth nationally against the run, fifth in team tackles for loss and 14th in interceptions. There is no soft side to attack.
Three Knights in question
Scott Frost said it was "too early to tell" on defensive tackle RJ Jackson Jr., EDGE Bruno Dall and receiver Duane Thomas Jr.
“too early to tell”
Thomas a game-time call
On3's Pete Nakos reported Thomas would be decided at game time. He caught 53 passes for 528 yards last season and sat out the opener.
Receivers spread it around
Even without Thomas, UCF distributed targets against Bethune-Cookman. Ric'Darious "DayDay" Farmer caught two of three looks for 11 yards.
Depth at defensive tackle
Starters Horace Lockett and Thomas Collins logged no tackles in the opener, but Jeffson Lafontant, Brad Gurley and Trenton Turner combined for seven and 1.5 for loss.
The edge room carried it
Isaiah Nixon, Sincere Edwards, Ken Talley, Josh Schell and Aymeric Koumba piled up 21 tackles, 1.5 sacks, a hurry and a forced fumble without Dall.
Sincere Edwards goes home
Edwards committed to UCF in 2022, flipped to Pitt, then played all 13 games there in 2024 with 17 tackles and three sacks before transferring back.
Duke Watson's bad memory
Watson hurt his right ankle at Acrisure Stadium in September 2025 while with Louisville. Injuries wrecked the rest of his year.
Teammates feel the stakes
Lockett made clear the locker room knows what the trip means to the two players with history in that building.
“I know it means a lot to Sin, just as much as it mean to Duke Watson”
Where the streak died
In 2019, No. 15 UCF brought a 27-game regular-season winning streak to Pittsburgh and lost 35-34 when Kenny Pickett caught the winning touchdown on the "Pitt Special."
A different UCF now
The Knights have not been ranked since 2022 and have lost nine straight on the road. Same stadium, opposite streak to end.
At a glance
UCF is a 7.5-point underdog walking into the building where its 27-game regular-season streak died, with two players who have personal history there.
