Keyone Jenkins’ Week 6 outing against Oklahoma State didn’t end with a UCF win, but it did land him in some elite company.
After putting together a career-tying four-touchdown performance against the No. 18 Cowboys, the Knights quarterback cracked ThroneSpud’s “Top 10 Quarterbacks of College Football Week 6” list, which was posted on X on Monday. Jenkins came in last on the ranking, just behind Troy’s Goose Crowder, with his interception being the lone separator between the two.
His numbers against Oklahoma State were strong across the board: 30 completions on 42 attempts for 265 yards, four scores and one pick. The four-touchdown effort matched the career high he first set at FIU against New Mexico State on Oct. 29, 2024.
The rest of the quarterbacks on the list were spotless in the turnover column. None threw an interception, seven passed for more than 300 yards, and every one of them posted at least two touchdowns. Oregon State’s Braden Atkinson led that group with 409 passing yards.
For UCF, Jenkins’ rise has been about more than one big afternoon. The senior has settled into the starting job and continues to be pushed by Scott Frost and offensive coordinator Steve Cooper every week.
Early in the season, the staff took a measured approach. Over the first two games, Frost and Cooper leaned into what Jenkins does best, calling short and intermediate throws. That approach helped fuel a new program record for completion percentage against TCU.
Jenkins went 19-for-20 in that game, good for 95%, topping former Knights quarterback and current quarterbacks coach McKenzie Milton’s 92%.3% completion rate in a blowout win over Austin Peay on Oct. 28, 2017.
Against Oklahoma State, UCF opened things up. The staff asked Jenkins to push the ball deeper, a style Frost clearly embraces. He likes “letting it rip,” but said it bothered him to stray from his philosophy if it meant doing what was best for Jenkins and the team.
The deep ball still wasn’t fully there, but the Knights found ways to turn those attempts into gains anyway. Penalties became part of the story. Wide receivers Tyren Hornes and Waden Charles each drew defensive pass interference flags, helping move UCF down the field and into scoring range.
That sequence helped set up points after Duke Watson picked up 13 yards and Jenkins connected with Josh Derry on a 12-yard touchdown pass.
Later, Charles drew another pass interference call in the closing moments of the second quarter. Jenkins then hit the sophomore for a 26-yard reception before finishing the drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Hornes, the first touchdown of Hornes’ career.
Since stepping in for injured Alonza Barnett III in Week 3 against Georgia State, Jenkins has shown steady growth. He’s helped UCF stay in the fight against ranked opponents in the first half, though the Knights still need that level to last into the second half if they want a real shot at an upset.
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Kozlowski first got on the field this season against Oklahoma State, and UCF now expects his role to grow as he works back into the rotation. For a linebacker group that has leaned on younger pieces and patchwork availability, simply getting a veteran presence back in the room matters, even before the full version of his impact shows up on Saturdays. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Hits A Crucial Midseason Crossroads After Brutal Stretch
UCF is heading into its bye week with the season at a true midpoint crossroads, sitting at 3-3 after a rugged run that included losses to ranked opponents. The timing could hardly be better for Scott Frosts group, which has spent the first half of the year trying to hold together through a wave of injuries while still staying in range for the second half of the schedule.
The break is giving the Knights a much-needed chance to recover, reset and map out the final six games, but the health picture remains a major storyline. Quarterback Alonza Barnett III is still without a return date, and the injury list has already stretched across the lineup with multiple starters missing time, leaving UCF hoping the bye week can do more than just rest tired bodies. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Just Showed UCF What Makes This 2026 Matchup Dangerous
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Pittsburghs loss to North Carolina snapped a season-opening winning streak, while Houstons win over Kansas State added another reminder that the Knights may have to navigate multiple teams with legitimate momentum. For UCF, the takeaway is less about any single result and more about the mix of styles and confidence waiting down the road, with these recent performances hinting at a schedule that could test the Knights early and often. [Read more 🡒]