Ferguson scores, Pitt defense holds on to beat UCF, 12-7

Pittsburgh secured a 12-7 victory over UCF in a tightly contested game on Saturday. Leading the charge for Pittsburgh was freshmen running back Damon Ferguson Jr., who rushed for 59 yards and a touchdown. Pitt's defense also played a crucial role, holding strong against UCF's potent offense. UCF's sophomore running back Ja’Kyrian Turner, who had nearly 900 total yards as a freshman, was held out due to injury.

Pitt's quarterback Mason Heintschel completed 18 out of 29 passes for 212 yards, navigating a heavy downpour to secure the win. UCF's quarterback Alonza Barnett III completed 20 of 31 passes for 186 yards, but his team's offensive struggles were evident, as they trailed despite a strong season-opening win. The game was delayed by a 65-minute weather delay.

UCF, aiming for bowl eligibility, fell short in their 10th straight road loss to Pitt. UCF's last home win came against TCU on September 14, 2024, while Pittsburgh will face Syracuse in a nationally-televised home game on Thursday.