BYU’s first week at No. 2 ended in one of the strangest finishes of the season, and UCF made sure the chaos counted.
The two teams spent much of the fourth quarter locked at 24-24, with the Knights getting multiple cracks at putting the game away in regulation. They were stopped on fourth down at the goal line late, then got the ball back with 42 seconds left and a chance to mount the winning drive. What followed was a messy, rule-heavy sequence that pushed the game to overtime and left both sides chasing answers.
With under a minute to go, UCF had the ball and a path to a game-winning field goal. Instead, the final kick sequence turned into a deep dive for the officials.
Will Stone’s field goal attempt was blocked, and BYU briefly thought it had escaped with its life. But Stone recovered the ball, keeping UCF in possession and setting up another chance on fourth down.
Then came the penalty wrinkle. As Stone advanced after the block, a BYU defender appeared to grab facemask, which would have moved the ball 15 yards. Officials met, then picked up the flag, leaving the ball where Stone went down.
That still wasn’t the end of it. UCF had no timeouts left, but under the rules, a recovery off a blocked kick would normally stop the clock and help preserve the Knights’ chance.
The play, though, also saw Stone’s helmet come off, which is why the facemask flag had been thrown in the first place. That triggered a 10-second runoff, and with no timeout available to stop it, regulation expired with the score still tied.
The game moved to overtime, where the drama kept coming. Both teams scored in the first extra period, and UCF had the ball first in the second OT.
The Knights came up short of the end zone at first and lined up for a field goal, only for BYU to be called for roughing the kicker. That gave UCF fresh life, and the Knights finished the drive with a touchdown and a two-point conversion before holding BYU out of the end zone to seal the win.
The result gave UCF its biggest upset in program history, knocking off the No. 2 team in the country.
In Other News...
UCF Backfield Loses A Key Weapon Before Its Biggest Test Yet
UCFs rushing attack took a hit Wednesday when Taevion Swint landed on the injury report and was ruled out for the Knights upcoming trip to BYU. Swint has become a key part of the ground game, so his absence shifts more of the workload onto Duke Watson and Landen Chambers as UCF heads into one of its biggest tests of the season.
Scott Frost did not offer any details on what sidelined Swint or when the injury occurred, leaving the Knights to sort through the backfield without one of their most reliable options. The timing is notable, too, with BYU also expected to be without star running back LJ Martin, setting up a game where both teams will need to adapt quickly on offense. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Gets A Huge Boost For Its Shot At No. 2 BYU
A healthier receiving corps could be exactly what UCF needs with No. 2 BYU looming, and Duane Thomas Jr. is expected to be available for his season debut after missing the opening weeks with a lingering injury. His return would give the Knights another option in a passing game that has been leaning on Josh Derry, who has emerged as a key target for Keyone Jenkins in recent weeks.
Quarterback health is still part of the equation, too, with Alonza Barnett III possibly returning from injury even though Jenkins remains the likely starter. For UCF, that creates a little more flexibility as it tries to piece together an offense capable of keeping pace in a matchup that already carried plenty of weight before the injury news began to shift the picture. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Gets Its Biggest Home Test Yet Against No. 2 BYU
Saturdays matchup at FBC Mortgage Stadium carries the feel of a measuring-stick game for UCF, with No. 2 BYU bringing a top-tier national profile into one of the Knights biggest home stages of the season. The broadcast and radio setup is in place for a late kickoff, and the backdrop only adds to the buzz, with clear skies and cool temperatures expected in Orlando.
The on-field puzzle is centered on the run game, where both sides are dealing with key injury absences at running back. BYUs defense has been stout against the ground all season, and UCF has had trouble generating much there at times already, which puts even more pressure on a game that has long been tilted in the Cougars favor on paper. The odds reflect that reality, but this is the kind of home test that can still tell you a lot about where the Knights stand. [Read more 🡒]