UCF Edges Kansas 33-32 on Late Touchdown
Central Florida scored the winning touchdown with one second left after Kansas had taken the lead with 1:06 to play.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Football
The University of Central Florida defeated Kansas 33-32 in a football game on November 7, 2026. UCF led 17-6 at halftime before Kansas rallied, and UCF quarterback Barnett threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Piening with 0:01 remaining.
Why it matters
The narrow finish decided the outcome in the closing seconds after a Kansas go-ahead score had appeared to settle the game. The result gives Florida football fans a late-season win to point to.
Kansas outgained UCF 400 to 358 in total net yards, yet UCF prevailed by one point after I. Marshall ran for 125 yards and two touchdowns for Kansas. Stone's 54-yard field goal attempt missed for UCF, and the extraction does not explain how that miss factored into the final possession.
The players
University of Central Florida
The public university in Orlando, Florida, whose football program competes in NCAA Division I.
Kansas Jayhawks
The football team of the University of Kansas, which plays in the Big 12 Conference.
The details
Kansas took the lead on a 1-yard run by D. Edwards with 1:06 remaining in the fourth quarter. UCF answered with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Barnett to Piening with 0:01 left, with Barnett completing 18 of 31 passes for 251 yards and one interception.
Timeline
November 7, 2026: UCF defeats Kansas 33-32.
Season Trajectory
Late-game comebacks like this one often shape how teams are judged for the rest of the season, since a single possession can separate a winning record from a losing one. For UCF, the win adds a notable result to a season measured in conference and bowl standings.
The win moves UCF's record forward and gives Florida fans a close result to track in the conference standings. Fantasy managers following Barnett, Derry, or I. Marshall can check the 251, 143, and 125 yard totals from this game against their rosters.
The takeaway
Close games like this one show how much a single possession can change a season's outcome. Readers following college football can watch late-game finishes closely, since small margins often decide conference races.
Further reading
For more college scores and standings, see Football coverage across Florida.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The News-Gazette.
