Could the universe have a creator without religion being true?

Yes. A universe could have a creator without any religion being true.

Why: a creator is a claim about what caused the universe, while religion adds extra claims about revelation, worship, miracles, moral rules, and sacred texts. Those are separate questions.

Examples of a non-religious creator idea:

• Deism: a creator made the universe, then did not intervene.
• Simulation hypothesis: an advanced programmer created our universe, but that does not make traditional religion true.
• Pantheism: God is identified with nature or the universe itself, not a personal religious being.
• First cause views: the universe may have an initial cause that is impersonal or unconcerned with humans.

So even if the universe had a creator, that would not automatically prove any specific religion.