UCF holds TCU to 33 rushing yards in 21-13 Big 12 win

UCF beat TCU 21-13 in Orlando on Saturday despite being outgained 343 yards to 266. The Knights held the Horned Frogs to 33 rushing yards and took the lead for good on Keyone Jenkins's second-quarter touchdown pass to Caden Piening. Landen Chambers added a fourth-quarter rushing score, and UCF's defense ended TCU's final serious drive with an interception. The ESPN final box score shows a result built on defensive stops more than offensive yardage.

The game began with a giveaway. TCU receiver Eric Small fumbled after a reception on the opening possession, giving UCF the ball in Horned Frogs territory. Taevion Swint eventually scored on a 13-yard run to put the Knights ahead 7-0. TCU answered with Jeremy Payne's one-yard touchdown run, and Nate McCashland's 29-yard field goal in the second quarter gave the visitors their only lead, 10-7.

Jenkins then found Piening from 19 yards with 4:58 left before halftime. The extra point made it 14-10, and UCF took that margin into the break. TCU quarterback Jaden Craig threw an interception on the next possession, although the Knights did not add points before halftime. The teams traded no touchdowns in the third quarter; McCashland's 45-yard field goal narrowed the margin to 14-13 with 3:25 remaining in the period.

That one-point game lasted until Chambers scored from the one-yard line early in the fourth quarter. The touchdown and Will Stone kick gave UCF an eight-point cushion. TCU still had time to tie with a touchdown and two-point conversion, but Craig's pass was intercepted by Antione Jackson at the UCF 7 with 1:48 left. The PP-CLI play feed also records a final lateral-and-fumble sequence with seconds left; TCU did not score again.

Jenkins completed 19 of 20 passes for 160 yards and one touchdown. Craig threw for 310 yards, but he had two interceptions. Jordan Dwyer caught five TCU passes for 100 yards, and UCF's Duke Watson led the Knights on the ground with 57 yards. TCU converted seven of 16 third downs to UCF's three of ten, yet its turnovers and lack of rushing production kept the extra yardage from becoming the deciding measure.

It was UCF's first Big 12 home opener in four seasons in the conference, according to the school's game-week notes. The Knights had beaten TCU in a one-point comeback on the road in 2024; this meeting followed a different script. UCF led most of the day, survived a 14-13 squeeze and finished the game with the defensive play it needed.