University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Follow Live: FINAL Pitt Football 12 vs. UCF 7
9/12/2026 3:00:00 PM | Football
9:55: 4TH QUARTER
UCF looked like it was building momentum, but Pitt linebacker Damarco Ward stuffed it out with two straight tackles to bring up third down. Then linebacker Alex Sanford slammed the door with a true sack on Barnett, forcing fourth down.
7:12 3RD QUARTER:
On fourth-and-7, Sean FitzSimmons broke free of UCF's offensive line and put heavy pressure on Barnett. He still got the pass off, but Raion Strader got a hand on it for the break-up.
13:39 3RD QUARTER:
Pitt opened the second half with strong defensive pressure. Brookins kept it up, breaking up a pass that would've moved the chains. UCF decided to go for it on the next play, but Raion Strader got enough pressure to force an incompletion and a turnover on downs.
HALFTIME
Pitt takes a 12-0 lead into halftime. Mason Heintschel is 13-for-22 for 160 yards at the break. Braylan Lovelace leads the defense with 4 tackles and a sack.
TOUCHDOWN, DAMON FERGUSON
0:35: 2ND QUARTER
UCF had kept Ferguson bottled up most of the half, but he finally found some room, stringing together three straight runs for 21 yards, capped by a 13-yard score.
7:24: 2ND QUARTER:
Barnett was flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone, giving Braylan Lovelace a sack on the play. Pitt takes the safety and goes up 5-0.
9:19: 2ND QUARTER:
Facing a tough third down, Mason Heintschel heaved a 19-yard strike to Blue Hicks. Pitt kept the drive alive with rushes from Heintschel and Damon Ferguson, plus a 9-yard grab from Elijah Lagg. But a snap infraction a few plays later stalled the drive for good.
13:37: 2ND QUARTER:
Alonza Barnett III found Duke Watson with a nice throw that could have moved UCF out of a third-and-medium. But Cruce Brookins came in with a big hit to bring him down short, forcing a UCF punt and putting the ball back in Pitt's hands.
END OF FIRST QUARTER
PITT 3 - UCF 0
FIELD GOAL
0:04 1st Quarter: 4th and 6 on the UCF10
Pitt finally cracked the red zone in the final minutes of the first quarter, but a pair of incomplete passes ruled out a touchdown. Antonio Chadha jogged on and drilled a 28-yard field goal for the game's first points.
PREGAME
PANTHER PROWL
Game Restart Update
Pitt Football will resume play at 4:35 p.m.
Pitt returns to Acrisure Stadium Saturday to host UCF in the Panthers’ second game of the 2026 season. Saturday marks the fourth meeting between the Panthers and Knights, with Pitt holding a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series. The teams last met in Pittsburgh in 2019, when Pitt rallied for a memorable 35-34 victory.
Today's game also features the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame Recognition, Kids Day and Band & Spirit Day.
Keep it here for live updates from kickoff through the final whistle.
