Live updates: West Virginia hands UCF football 5th straight Big 12 loss

ORLANDO — UCF seeks its first Big 12 win Saturday afternoon in a showdown with West Virginia.

It's a showdown between two of the nation's top-25 rushing offenses; the Knights rank fifth in the Football Bowl Subdivision at 232.4 yards per game, while the visiting Mountaineers are 23rd at 191.4 per game.

Time, TV schedule for homecoming: What channel is UCF football vs West Virginia on today?

Both teams also hope to snap losing streaks. UCF has dropped four straight, all within conference play, and West Virginia aims to rebound after back-to-back defeats — including a Hail Mary heartbreaker against former head coach Dana Holgorsen and Houston.

UCF needs three wins in its final five games to achieve bowl eligibility. The Knights last missed out on bowl season in 2015, a winless campaign that included the dismissal of George O'Leary as coach.

John Rhys Plumlee will make his third straight start at quarterback for UCF, returning against Kansas on Oct. 7 after being sidelined with a meniscus injury.

West Virginia hands UCF 5th straight Big 12 loss

John Rhys Plumlee's third touchdown pass of the afternoon, a 16-yarder to Kobe Hudson, came far too little and far too late as West Virginia wrapped up a 41-28 victory Saturday at FBC Mortgage Stadium.

Garrett Greene ran for three touchdowns, and the Mountaineers gained 286 on the ground as a team.

The Knights committed four turnovers, resulting in 21 West Virginia points. Plumlee was intercepted three times and lost a fumble, completing 25 of 36 passes for 274 yards. RJ Harvey rushed 14 times for 100 yards and caught four passes for 30 yards.

UCF (3-5, 0-5) will face longtime conference rival Cincinnati in a battle of winless teams in Big 12 play at 3:30 p.m. next Saturday.

CJ Donaldson runs for TD; West Virginia up 3 scores

West Virginia is pulling away in its attempt to spoil UCF's debut Big 12 homecoming.

CJ Donaldson Jr. rushed for a 6-yard touchdown, extending West Virginia's lead to 38-21 with 9:25 left in regulation. The Mountaineers have rushed for 234 yards and five touchdowns against a beleagued Knights defense.

UCF has compounded its defensive problems by turning the ball over four times, leading to 21 points.

West Virginia punishes John Rhys Plumlee, UCF for 4th turnover

Garrett Greene rushed for his third touchdown of the day, strolling into the end zone on a 1-yard bootleg to give West Virginia a 31-21 lead over UCF.

The Knights gifted West Virginia a short field with their fourth turnover of the day. Lee Kpogba blasted John Rhys Plumlee from behind, and Jalen Thornton recovered the ensuing fumble at UCF's 27-yard line.

The Mountaineers have scored 21 points off four UCF turnovers, and have never trailed in the game.

UCF has 14:12 to salvage its homecoming, and avoid a fifth consecutive defeat to begin life in the Big 12.

Javon Baker hauls in fade, brings UCF back within 24-21

Javon Baker secured a 7-yard fade from John Rhys Plumlee on third-and-goal, pulling UCF within 24-21 of West Virginia.

The Knights have followed all three of West Virginia's touchdown drives with one of their own. However, three turnovers have prevented them from grabbing the lead at any point today.

Trent Whittemore has a season-high three receptions for 36 yards. RJ Harvey is up to 95 rushing yards.

Garrett Greene extends West Virginia lead with 2nd TD

UCF has fallen back into a two-score hole out of halftime.

John Rhys Plumlee threw his third interception of the game, and Garrett Greene rushed for a 7-yard touchdown to put West Virginia ahead 24-14 with 9:01 left in the third quarter.

The Knights went 43 yards on six plays before Plumlee was picked off by Beanie Bishop on the outskirts of the red zone. The fifth-year senior has thrown seven picks this season, compared to six touchdowns.

West Virginia takes 17-14 lead over UCF into halftime

After the two teams traded turnovers near the end of the second quarter, West Virginia takes a 17-14 lead into halftime over UCF.

The Knights hold a slim advantage in total offense, outgaining the Mountaineers 254-238.

John Rhys Plumlee has not had a throw hit the ground thus far, going 8 of 10 for 92 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. RJ Harvey has rushed for 84 yards on eight carries.

For West Virginia, Garrett Greene is 9 of 14 for 93 yards with a rushing touchdown. CJ Donaldson Jr. has a team-high 44 rushing yards, and Jahiem White has added 40 with a touchdown.

UCF's defense got off the field on each of West Virginia's last two possessions. Demari Henderson recovered a fumble on a failed trick play, and Devin Carter dropped a pass after getting open on a crossing route.

John Rhys Plumlee pulls UCF back within a score on a keeper

UCF countered a West Virginia touchdown drive for the second time today as John Rhys Plumlee walked in for an 8-yard keeper, pulling the Knights back within 17-14.

RJ Harvey set the score up with a 29-yard run into the red zone. The redshirt senior has 63 rushing yards on seven attempts. Plumlee has completed 6 of 7 passes for 69 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Jahiem White extends West Virginia's lead with TD run

West Virginia capitalized on an unfortunate UCF interception as Jahiem White scored on a 4-yard touchdown run, extending the Mountaineers' lead to 17-7.

The visitors have run 29 offensive plays on their first three possessions, gaining 195 yards.

Javon Baker could not hang on to John Rhys Plumlee's deep pass from the West Virginia 37, and the ball bounced off of his foot, into the air and eventually the arms of Beanie Bishop. It's the fifth pick of the year for Plumlee, and the third off his receivers' hands.

West Virginia leads 10-7 at end of 1st quarter

Michael Hayes booted a 24-yard field goal, giving West Virginia a 10-7 lead over UCF at the end of the first quarter.

The Mountaineers are averaging 7.3 yards per carry against UCF's leaky run defense, and hold the edge in total yards 131-115.

John Rhys Plumlee is 5 of 5 for 62 yards for the Knights. West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene is 4 of 6 for 43 yards, with a 6-yard touchdown run.

UCF responds with John Rhys Plumlee TD pass

UCF responded to West Virginia's opening-drive score with one of its own.

John Rhys Plumlee delivered a 34-yard touchdown strike to Kobe Hudson on third down, knotting the score at 7-7 with 7:06 left in the first quarter. Plumlee completed each of his first three attempts for 53 yards.

Johnny Richardson hobbled off the field just before the touchdown pass and went straight into the medical tent.

Garrett Greene caps West Virginia's 1st drive with TD run

West Virginia marched 75 plays on nine plays, and converted a fourth-and-one from its own side of midfield, to take a 7-0 lead over UCF.

Garrett Greene capped the Mountaineers' opening drive with a 6-yard touchdown run, his sixth of the season. CJ Donaldson Jr. had the big play of the drive, racing around the left end for a 21-yard gain to convert the fourth down attempt.

Greene completed two of his first three throws as well, totaling 23 yards.

What time is the UCF football game today?

• When: Noon Saturday, October 28

• Where: FBC Mortgage Stadium, Orlando, Florida

What channel is UCF vs. West Virginia on?

• TV: FS1 (Channel 219 on DirecTV, Channel 150 on Dish Network)

• Streaming: FoxSports.com (cable subscription needed), fuboTV (7-day free trial), YouTube TV (2-week free trial), Hulu + Live TV (7-day free trial)

Eric Collins will do the play-by-play with Devin Gardner working as the analyst. Streaming options include fuboTV, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

UCF-West Virginia odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, October 27.

• Spread: UCF (-7)

• Over/under: 60

• Moneyline: West Virginia +225, UCF -275

UCF schedule 2023

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: UCF football vs West Virginia score, updates for Knights-Mountaineers