Houston at UCF

Saturday, November 25, 2023

UCF beat Houston 27–⁠13. It was their 11th meeting; after it, UCF led the series 8–⁠3.

AwayHouston4–⁠8 in 2023
13
HomeUCF6–⁠7 in 2023
27

Final at FBC Mortgage Stadium, OrlandoTV: FS1Attendance 43,610

At kickoff
72°F, overcast, wind 5 mph from the northeastWeather: NOAA NCEI Integrated Surface Database; Executive Airport (KORL), 16 km from the stadium, seven minutes before kickoff
Official
Henry JohnsGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse

Scoring by quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Houston1000313
UCF6714027

Standouts

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licenses; credits on each player’s page.

Player stats

Houston

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Donovan Smith12/2016111
Ui Ale1/1400
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Stacy Sneed333017
Donovan Smith1424015
Tony Mathis620012
Stephon Johnson Jr.113013
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Joseph Manjack474030
Stephon Johnson Jr.669116
Joshua Cobbs112012
Parker Jenkins21006
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
A.J. Haulcy130.500
Isaiah Hamilton9200
Malik Robinson7000
Brian George7000
David Ugwoegbu5210
Jamaree Caldwell3110
Sedrick Williams2110

UCF

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
John Rhys Plumlee23/2725310
RushingCarYdsTDLong
R.J. Harvey21136232
John Rhys Plumlee1558124
Johnny Richardson31509
Mark-Antony Richards213011
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Kobe Hudson998023
Javon Baker259057
Alec Holler544022
Xavier Townsend542128
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Walter Yates12000
Jason Johnson8220
Lee Hunter6200
Tre’Mon Morris-Brash5110
Malachi Lawrence4210
Corey Thornton0001

From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.

Team stats

HoustonUCF
259Total yards476
165Passing yards253
94Rushing yards223
7.9Yards per pass9.4
3.0Yards per rush5.2
17First downs23
1–⁠10Third downs6–⁠13
3–⁠5Fourth downs2–⁠3
1Turnovers0
4–⁠20Penalties4–⁠34
27:04Possession32:56
3Sacks (by defense)4

Efficiency

HoustonUCF
33%Success rate44%
−0.15EPA per play0.29
1.32Explosiveness1.45
−0.09Rushing EPA0.29
−0.04Passing EPA0.30
7%Passing-down success26%
−0.22First-down EPA0.08
−0.03Second-down EPA0.35
−0.14Third-down EPA0.62
13%Havoc by its defense15%

From CollegeFootballData.com: each offense’s efficiency, and the havoc each defense caused. The better side of each line is bold.

Before kickoff

Our ratings and the line, going in

Our ratings (scores only)

UCF 71% to win. Elo’s favorite won.

The line

UCF −13.5, over/under 61.5.

The last line on file before kickoff: the consensus line when the books publish one, otherwise a single major sportsbook’s.

Before kickoff, the win chances were UCF 86%, Houston 14%. CollegeFootballData.com’s estimate from the point spread.

Every drive

UCF end zoneHouston end zoneQ1 HoustonTouchdown, 8 playsQ1 UCFTouchdown, 13 playsQ1 HoustonField goal, 9 playsQ1 UCFTouchdown, 8 playsQ2 HoustonInterception, 4 playsQ2 UCFMissed FG, 10 playsQ2 HoustonTurnover on downs, 11 playsQ2 UCFMissed FG, 8 playsQ3 UCFTouchdown, 3 playsQ3 HoustonPunt, 4 playsQ3 UCFTouchdown, 7 playsQ3 HoustonPunt, 4 playsQ3 UCFTurnover on downs, 9 playsQ3 HoustonField goal, 12 playsQ4 UCFPunt, 12 playsQ4 HoustonTurnover on downs, 4 playsQ4 UCFEnd of game, 3 plays
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. UCF drives left to right, Houston right to left.
  1. Q1 HoustonTouchdown, 8 plays, 72 yards
  2. Q1 UCFTouchdown, 13 plays, 91 yards
  3. Q1 HoustonField goal, 9 plays, 60 yards
  4. Q1 UCFTouchdown, 8 plays, 72 yards
  5. Q2 HoustonInterception, 4 plays, 40 yards
  6. Q2 UCFMissed FG, 10 plays, 56 yards
  7. Q2 HoustonTurnover on downs, 11 plays, 38 yards
  8. Q2 UCFMissed FG, 8 plays, 47 yards
  9. Q3 UCFTouchdown, 3 plays, 78 yards
  10. Q3 HoustonPunt, 4 plays, 9 yards
  11. Q3 UCFTouchdown, 7 plays, 49 yards
  12. Q3 HoustonPunt, 4 plays, 19 yards
  13. Q3 UCFTurnover on downs, 9 plays, 29 yards
  14. Q3 HoustonField goal, 12 plays, 34 yards
  15. Q4 UCFPunt, 12 plays, 42 yards
  16. Q4 HoustonTurnover on downs, 4 plays, 5 yards
  17. Q4 UCFEnd of game, 3 plays, 8 yards

Play by play

1st quarter4 drives, then Houston 10, UCF 6
Houston Touchdown, 8 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 35Colton Boomer kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
15:001st & 10 at own 25Stephon Johnson run for 13 yds to the HOU 38 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at own 38Parker Jenkins run for 3 yds to the HOU 41
15:002nd & 7 at own 41Donovan Smith run for 15 yds to the UCF 44 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at opp 44Parker Jenkins run for 3 yds to the UCF 41
15:002nd & 7 at opp 41Parker Jenkins run for 4 yds to the UCF 37
15:003rd & 3 at opp 37Jenkins,Parker rush middle (Yates,Walter;Hunter,Lee).
15:004th & 3 at opp 37Donovan Smith pass complete to Joseph Manjack IV for 21 yds to the UCF 16 for a 1ST down
10:341st & 10 at opp 16Donovan Smith pass complete to Stephon Johnson for 16 yds for a TD (Jack Martin KICK)Houston 7, UCF 0
UCF Touchdown, 13 plays
10:341st & 10 at own 35Jack Martin kickoff for 59 yds , Johnny Richardson return for no gain to the UCF 6
10:341st & 10 at own 6John Rhys Plumlee pass incomplete to Kobe Hudson
10:342nd & 10 at own 6John Rhys Plumlee run for 6 yds to the UCF 12
10:343rd & 4 at own 12John Rhys Plumlee pass complete to Kobe Hudson for 23 yds to the UCF 35 for a 1ST down
10:341st & 10 at own 35RJ Harvey run for 4 yds to the UCF 39
10:342nd & 6 at own 39John Rhys Plumlee pass complete to Kobe Hudson for 9 yds to the UCF 48 for a 1ST down
10:341st & 10 at own 48RJ Harvey run for 2 yds to the 50 yard line
10:342nd & 8 at the 50Johnny Richardson run for 4 yds to the HOU 46
10:343rd & 4 at opp 46John Rhys Plumlee run for 9 yds to the HOU 37 for a 1ST down
10:341st & 10 at opp 37John Rhys Plumlee pass complete to Javon Baker for 2 yds to the HOU 35
10:342nd & 8 at opp 35Mark-Antony Richards run for 11 yds to the HOU 24 Mark-Antony Richards fumbled, recovered by UCF Alec Holler for a 1ST down
10:341st & 10 at opp 24John Rhys Plumlee pass complete to Kobe Hudson for 3 yds to the HOU 21
10:342nd & 7 at opp 21RJ Harvey run for 13 yds to the HOU 8 for a 1ST down
5:311st & goal at opp 8John Rhys Plumlee run for 8 yds for a TD (Colton Boomer PAT MISSED)Houston 7, UCF 6
Houston Field goal, 9 plays
5:311st & 10 at own 35Colton Boomer kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
5:311st & 10 at own 25Donovan Smith pass complete to Stephon Johnson for 13 yds to the HOU 38 for a 1ST down
5:311st & 10 at own 38for a 1ST down Houston Penalty, face mask (15 yards) (-15 Yards) to the UCF 47 for a 1ST down
5:311st & 10 at opp 47Donovan Smith pass complete to Joshua Cobbs for 12 yds to the UCF 35 for a 1ST down
5:311st & 10 at opp 35Donovan Smith pass complete to Matt Byrnes UCF Penalty, substitution infraction (5 Yards) to the UCF 30
5:311st & 5 at opp 30Tony Mathis Jr. run for 12 yds to the UCF 18 for a 1ST down
5:311st & 10 at opp 18Tony Mathis Jr. run for a loss of 5 yards to the UCF 23
5:312nd & 15 at opp 23Donovan Smith pass complete to Stephon Johnson for 8 yds to the UCF 15
2:043rd & 7 at opp 15pass incomplete to Stephon Johnson
1:564th & 7 at opp 15Jack Martin 32 yd FG GOODHouston 10, UCF 6
UCF Touchdown, 8 plays
1:561st & 10 at own 35Jack Martin kickoff for 57 yds
1:561st & 10 at own 25John Rhys Plumlee pass complete to Kobe Hudson for 18 yds to the UCF 43 for a 1ST down
1:561st & 10 at own 43John Rhys Plumlee pass complete to Kobe Hudson for 4 yds to the UCF 47
1:562nd & 6 at own 47John Rhys Plumlee run for a loss of 2 yards to the UCF 45 UCF Penalty, illegal shift (Yards) to the UCF 45
1:563rd & 8 at own 45John Rhys Plumlee pass complete to Kobe Hudson for 21 yds to the HOU 34 for a 1ST down
Q2 15:001st & 10 at opp 34John Rhys Plumlee pass complete to Randy Pittman for 6 yds to the HOU 28
Q2 15:002nd & 4 at opp 28RJ Harvey run for a loss of 2 yards to the HOU 30
Q2 15:003rd & 6 at opp 30John Rhys Plumlee pass complete to Xavier Townsend for 2 yds to the HOU 28
Q2 12:584th & 4 at opp 28John Rhys Plumlee pass complete to Xavier Townsend for 28 yds for a TD (Colton Boomer KICK)UCF 13, Houston 10
2nd quarter4 drives, then UCF 13, Houston 10
Houston Interception, 4 plays
12:581st & 10 at own 35Colton Boomer kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
12:581st & 10 at own 25Stacy Sneed run for 15 yds to the HOU 40 for a 1ST down
12:581st & 10 at own 40Donovan Smith run for 8 yds to the HOU 48
12:582nd & 2 at own 48Stacy Sneed run for 17 yds to the UCF 35 for a 1ST down
11:081st & 10 at opp 35Donovan Smith pass intercepted
UCF Missed FG, 10 plays
11:081st & 10 at own 19RJ Harvey run for 4 yds to the UCF 23
11:082nd & 6 at own 23RJ Harvey run for 32 yds to the HOU 45 for a 1ST down
11:081st & 10 at opp 45Xavier Townsend run for a loss of 1 yard to the HOU 46
11:082nd & 11 at opp 46John Rhys Plumlee run for 3 yds to the HOU 43
11:083rd & 8 at opp 43John Rhys Plumlee pass complete to Mark-Antony Richards for 4 yds to the HOU 39
11:084th & 4 at opp 39John Rhys Plumlee pass complete to Kobe Hudson for 13 yds to the HOU 26 for a 1ST down
11:081st & 10 at opp 26John Rhys Plumlee pass complete to Alec Holler for a loss of 1 yard to the HOU 27
11:082nd & 11 at opp 27John Rhys Plumlee run for 2 yds to the HOU 25
11:083rd & 9 at opp 25John Rhys Plumlee pass incomplete to Jarrad Baker
6:084th & 9 at opp 25Colton Boomer 42 yd FG MISSED
Houston Turnover on downs, 11 plays
6:081st & 10 at own 25Donovan Smith pass complete to Stephon Johnson for 4 yds to the HOU 29
6:082nd & 6 at own 29Donovan Smith run for 3 yds to the HOU 32
6:083rd & 3 at own 32Donovan Smith pass complete to Stephon Johnson for 14 yds to the HOU 46 for a 1ST down UCF Penalty, off-side (Tre’Mon Morris-Brash) to the HOU 46 for a 1ST down
6:081st & 10 at own 46Parker Jenkins run for a loss of 2 yards to the HOU 44
6:082nd & 12 at own 44pass incomplete to Parker Jenkins
6:083rd & 12 at own 44Donovan Smith pass complete to Joseph Manjack IV for 11 yds to the UCF 45
6:084th & 1 at opp 45Donovan Smith run for 2 yds to the UCF 43 for a 1ST down
6:081st & 10 at opp 43Tony Mathis Jr. run for 1 yd to the UCF 42
6:082nd & 9 at opp 42Tony Mathis Jr. run for 5 yds to the UCF 37
6:083rd & 4 at opp 37Smith,Donovan rush middle (Henderson,Demari).
1:134th & 4 at opp 37Donovan Smith sacked for a loss of 7 yards to the UCF 44
UCF Missed FG, 8 plays
1:131st & 10 at own 44RJ Harvey run for 11 yds to the HOU 45 for a 1ST down
1:131st & 10 at opp 45RJ Harvey run for 3 yds to the HOU 42
1:132nd & 7 at opp 42John Rhys Plumlee pass complete to Alec Holler for 22 yds to the HOU 20 for a 1ST down
1:131st & 10 at opp 20John Rhys Plumlee pass complete to Alec Holler for 6 yds to the HOU 14
1:132nd & 4 at opp 14John Rhys Plumlee pass complete to Alec Holler for 6 yds to the HOU 8 for a 1ST down
1:131st & goal at opp 8John Rhys Plumlee pass incomplete to Kobe Hudson, broken up by Moses Alexander
1:132nd & goal at opp 8John Rhys Plumlee sacked for a loss of 1 yard to the HOU 9
0:073rd & goal at opp 9Colton Boomer 26 yd FG MISSED , Juwon Gaston return for no gain to the HOU 35 , Malik Robinson return for no gain to the HOU 35
3rd quarter6 drives, then UCF 27, Houston 10
UCF Touchdown, 3 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 35Jack Martin kickoff for 46 yds , Johnny Richardson return for no gain to the UCF 19
15:001st & 10 at own 19John Rhys Plumlee pass complete to Javon Baker for 57 yds to the HOU 24 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at opp 24John Rhys Plumlee pass complete to Kobe Hudson for 3 yds to the HOU 21
14:072nd & 7 at opp 21RJ Harvey run for 21 yds for a TD (Colton Boomer KICK)UCF 20, Houston 10
Houston Punt, 4 plays
14:071st & 10 at own 35Colton Boomer kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
14:071st & 10 at own 25Donovan Smith pass complete to Joseph Manjack IV for 12 yds to the HOU 37 for a 1ST down
14:071st & 10 at own 37Donovan Smith sacked for a loss of 9 yards to the HOU 28
14:072nd & 19 at own 28Donovan Smith pass complete to Parker Jenkins for 6 yds to the HOU 34
14:073rd & 13 at own 34pass incomplete to Stephon Johnson
11:564th & 13 at own 34Laine Wilkins punt for 35 yds , Xavier Townsend returns for 17 yds to the UCF 48
UCF Touchdown, 7 plays
11:561st & 10 at own 48RJ Harvey run for 1 yd to the UCF 49
11:562nd & 9 at own 49RJ Harvey run for 6 yds to the HOU 45
11:563rd & 3 at opp 45Xavier Townsend run for 2 yds to the HOU 43
11:564th & 1 at opp 43Houston Penalty, off-side (David Ugwoegbu) to the HOU 38 for a 1ST down
11:561st & 10 at opp 38John Rhys Plumlee sacked for a loss of 3 yards to the HOU 41
11:562nd & 13 at opp 41John Rhys Plumlee run for 24 yds to the HOU 17 for a 1ST down
11:561st & 10 at opp 17RJ Harvey run for 15 yds to the HOU 2 for a 1ST down
9:041st & goal at opp 2RJ Harvey run for 2 yds for a TD (Colton Boomer KICK)UCF 27, Houston 10
Houston Punt, 4 plays
9:041st & 10 at own 35Colton Boomer kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
9:041st & 10 at own 25Donovan Smith run for 14 yds to the HOU 39 for a 1ST down
9:041st & 10 at own 39Tony Mathis Jr. run for 5 yds to the HOU 44
9:042nd & 5 at own 44pass incomplete to Joseph Manjack IV
9:043rd & 5 at own 44pass incomplete to Joseph Manjack IV
7:374th & 5 at own 44Laine Wilkins punt for 25 yds
UCF Turnover on downs, 9 plays
7:371st & 10 at own 31RJ Harvey run for 5 yds to the UCF 36
7:372nd & 5 at own 36John Rhys Plumlee run for 2 yds to the UCF 38
7:373rd & 3 at own 38John Rhys Plumlee run for 4 yds to the UCF 42 for a 1ST down
7:371st & 10 at own 42RJ Harvey run for 2 yds to the UCF 44
7:372nd & 8 at own 44Johnny Richardson run for 9 yds to the HOU 47 for a 1ST down
7:371st & 10 at opp 47Johnny Richardson run for 2 yds to the HOU 45
7:372nd & 8 at opp 45Plumlee,John Rhys rush middle (Holmes Jr.,Anthony).
7:373rd & 8 at opp 45John Rhys Plumlee pass complete to Xavier Townsend for 5 yds to the HOU 40
2:304th & 3 at opp 40John Rhys Plumlee sacked for a loss of 10 yards to the 50 yard line
Houston Field goal, 12 plays
2:301st & 10 at the 50Donovan Smith pass complete to Stephon Johnson for 14 yds to the UCF 36 for a 1ST down
2:301st & 10 at opp 36pass incomplete to Joseph Manjack IV
2:302nd & 10 at opp 36Donovan Smith run for 6 yds to the UCF 30
2:303rd & 4 at opp 30Donovan Smith run for 2 yds to the UCF 28
2:304th & 2 at opp 28Houston Penalty, false start (Patrick Paul) to the UCF 33
Q4 15:004th & 7 at opp 33Donovan Smith pass complete to Joseph Manjack IV for 30 yds to the UCF 3 for a 1ST down
Q4 15:001st & goal at opp 3Smith,Donovan rush (Johnson,Jason), PENALTY UH false start 5 yards to the UCF-2. Houston Penalty, false start (Sedrick Williams) to the UCF 8
Q4 15:001st & goal at opp 8Donovan Smith run for 2 yds to the UCF 6
Q4 15:002nd & goal at opp 6Donovan Smith run for a loss of 1 yard to the UCF 7 for a 1ST down UCF Penalty, personal foul (Lee Hunter) to the UCF 4 for a 1ST down
Q4 15:001st & goal at opp 3Stacy Sneed run for 2 yds to the UCF 2
Q4 15:002nd & goal at opp 2Houston Penalty, false start (Tank Jenkins) to the UCF 7
Q4 15:002nd & goal at opp 7Donovan Smith sacked for a loss of 11 yards to the UCF 18
Q4 10:563rd & goal at opp 18Tony Mathis Jr. run for 2 yds to the UCF 16
Q4 10:084th & goal at opp 16Jack Martin 34 yd FG GOODUCF 27, Houston 13
4th quarter3 drives, then UCF 27, Houston 13
UCF Punt, 12 plays
10:081st & 10 at own 35Jack Martin kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
10:081st & 10 at own 25RJ Harvey run for 1 yd to the UCF 26
10:082nd & 9 at own 26John Rhys Plumlee pass complete to Xavier Townsend for 4 yds to the UCF 30
10:083rd & 5 at own 30John Rhys Plumlee run for 13 yds to the UCF 43 for a 1ST down
10:081st & 10 at own 43John Rhys Plumlee pass complete to Xavier Townsend for 3 yds to the UCF 46
10:082nd & 7 at own 46RJ Harvey run for 5 yds to the HOU 49
10:083rd & 2 at opp 49John Rhys Plumlee run for 3 yds to the HOU 46 for a 1ST down
10:081st & 10 at opp 46RJ Harvey run for 6 yds to the HOU 40
10:082nd & 4 at opp 40John Rhys Plumlee pass complete to Alec Holler for 11 yds to the HOU 29 for a 1ST down
10:081st & 10 at opp 29Richards,Mark-Antony rush (George,Brian), PENALTY UCF holding (Marshall,Marcellus) 10 yards to the UH 19. Houston Penalty, Defensive holding (10 Yards) to the HOU 39
10:081st & 20 at opp 39Mark-Antony Richards run for 2 yds to the HOU 37
10:082nd & 18 at opp 37John Rhys Plumlee pass complete to Kobe Hudson for 4 yds to the HOU 33
3:043rd & 14 at opp 33John Rhys Plumlee pass incomplete to Kobe Hudson
2:584th & 14 at opp 33Mitch McCarthy punt for 33 yds
Houston Turnover on downs, 4 plays
2:581st & 10 at own 20pass incomplete
2:582nd & 10 at own 20Ui Ale pass complete to Parker Jenkins for 4 yds to the HOU 24
2:583rd & 6 at own 24Ui Ale run for 1 yd to the HOU 25
1:404th & 5 at own 25Ui Ale sacked for a loss of 5 yards to the HOU 20
UCF End of game, 3 plays
1:401st & 10 at opp 20RJ Harvey run for 5 yds to the HOU 15
1:402nd & 5 at opp 15RJ Harvey run for 3 yds to the HOU 12
1:403rd & 2 at opp 12RJ Harvey run for a loss of 3 yards to the HOU 15

Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com, as its scorers wrote it. The clock is the time left in the quarter; the spot is from the side of the team with the ball.

UCF leads 8–⁠5 in 13 meetings, counting the two since this game.

Recent meetings
2026Houston 27, UCF 17
2025Houston 30, UCF 27
2023UCF 27, Houston 13
2020UCF 44, Houston 21
2019UCF 44, Houston 29
2016Houston 31, UCF 24

Around this game