ORLANDO – In a mission that just fell short Friday night in Acrisure Bounce House, the UCF Citronauts were bested by the Houston Cougars in a 30-27 heartbreaker.
Football Falls to Houston, 30-27, in Space Game Heartbreaker
by Aiden Kocol"We've got to complete more balls when we take a chance to throw. We've got to get open a little better, throw it a little better. You can't just come up with a bunch of gimmicks and tricks to move the ball. We just need to do the basic things better. "
Scott FrostOn how the team needs to improveDespite being outgained 433–282 in total offensive yards, the Citronauts’ defense forced four turnovers and registered six sacks, keeping the contest a back-and-forth fight from start to finish.
Noe Ruelas put the ‘Nauts on the board first with a 37-yard field goal, while UCF’s defense continued its early dominance, holding Houston scoreless in the opening quarter. It marked the seventh first-quarter shutout of the season for the Citronauts, who entered the night ranked 16th nationally in fewest points allowed in the opening frame.
Early in the second quarter, senior running back Myles Montgomery extended the lead with a one-yard touchdown rush up the middle, recording his fourth score of the season and the 11th of his career. Houston quickly turned the momentum, though, first executing on a four-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, then capitalizing on defense with an interception returned for a score to seize a 14-10 advantage.
Undeterred by the momentum swing, UCF responded immediately with a 10-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 15-yard touchdown run from Jaden Nixon, his seventh of the season and 21st of his career. The drive was the Citronauts’ 13th scoring drive of 75 yards or more this year, giving them a 17-14 edge
On the defensive side, senior defensive back Phillip Dunnam delivered a performance for the record books. He intercepted two passes in the first quarter alone, marking his first career multi-pick game and the first by a UCF player since Demari Henderson’s two interceptions in the 2023 Space Game against then-No. 15 Oklahoma State.
The latter of those interceptions, Dunnam returned 43 yards for his first career touchdown, also the Citronauts’ first pick-six since BJ Adams’ 63-yard score against Iowa State Oct. 19, 2024. Dunnam’s defensive efforts gave the ‘Nauts a seven-point edge at the half, 24-17.
We are witnessing GREATNESS @DunnamPhillip 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/CnOsdr8Mh6
— UCF Football (@UCF_Football) November 8, 2025
Although Houston tied the game at 24 midway through the third quarter, Dunnam's defensive presence kept the Citronauts firmly in the fight – and made program history.
Late in the third stanza, Dunnam snagged his third interception of the game, becoming the first player in program history to record three in a single contest. Since 1996, only 12 players in Big 12 history had achieved the feat, while Dunnam became the 13th. Houston quarterback Conner Weigman had thrown just four interceptions all season entering the matchup, but left the game giving up nearly that many to Dunnam alone. In total, the Citronauts’ defense forced four turnovers, their most since Mission VII against then-No. 15 Oklahoma State Nov. 11, 2023.
Ruelas capitalized on the defensive momentum with a 54-yard field goal, matching his career long and putting UCF ahead 27-24. The Connecticut native also became the first player in program history to hit three or more field goals from 50-plus yards in a single season.
Houston responded with a pair of field goals of their own, one to tie the game at 27, and another from 22 yards to take a 30-27 lead late in the fourth.
A post-kick unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Cougars gave UCF a boost for one final drive, but the Citronauts’ comeback bid fell short when a late interception with just 11 seconds remaining sealed a 30-27 Houston victory.
UP NEXT
The Knights will head to Lubbock, Texas, to take on No. 9/9 Texas Tech, in a 3:30 p.m. EST matchup on FOX.