UCF’s defense found its edge again in Kansas, and Alex Grinch made it clear the takeaways were the difference.
The Knights forced two turnovers in last Saturday’s win over the Jayhawks, a sharp rebound after coming up empty against Baylor. Defensive back Antione Jackson fell on a fumble by Kansas running back Dylan Edwards, and later Jayden Williams jarred the ball loose from Khijohn Cummings-Coleman. UCF didn’t turn the first takeaway into points, but it did cash in after the second.
Grinch called the turnovers “massive plays in the game.”
That second takeaway came in the third quarter, when Williams forced Cummings-Coleman to cough it up and Braeden Marshall scooped it up before returning the ball to the Kansas 46-yard line. Quarterback Alonza Barnett III then hit Josh Derry on a 44-yard touchdown pass, pushing UCF ahead 26-7.
The Knights still had to survive a wild finish. Kansas answered with 25 straight points to grab a 33-26 lead, erasing what had been a 19-point cushion. But Barnett settled things down in the final minute and guided the game-winning drive that ended UCF’s 12-game road losing streak, the second-longest in program history.
For Grinch and his defense, the takeaway battle has been a major point of emphasis since last season. They’ve treated turnovers as a swing factor in wins and losses, and the numbers back up the progress.
UCF was blanked in that category during its worst loss of the season to Baylor, but linebacker Tackett Curtis delivered the lone turnover in the upset of then-No. 2 BYU on Oct. 24, intercepting Bear Bachmeier and helping set up a touchdown before halftime.
This season, the Knights have shown more life in that department. They rank sixth in the Big 12 with six interceptions and fumbles, and they’re tied for first in the league with seven recovered fumbles.
Now the challenge gets bigger. UCF heads into a matchup with Arizona State with bowl eligibility on the line. The Sun Devils throw for 248.2 yards per game, which ranks eighth in the Big 12, and run for 136.7 yards per game, the fourth-worst mark in the conference.
The Knights are also chasing something they haven’t done since Baylor snapped their five-game run of forcing at least one takeaway: put together multiple turnovers in back-to-back fashion. And after the way the defense helped tilt the Kansas game, that’s the formula UCF will want to keep riding.
In Other News...
UCF Heads Into Arizona State With A Backfield Problem To Solve
UCF is heading into its trip to Arizona State with a backfield issue it has to sort out, and the timing is not ideal. Duke Watson will miss the game because of injury, leaving the Knights to adjust their running game on the fly as they prepare for a road matchup that already carried plenty of weight.
The injury report does not stop there, either. Tyler Gibson, DJ Bell, Kahmel Johnson, Demari Henderson and Dylan Burk are also out, while several others are still listed as questionable or probable. Waden Charles is doubtful with an undisclosed injury, adding another layer of uncertainty to a UCF offense that may have to lean on depth and quick answers to get through the week. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Just Delivered The Kind Of Road Win Fans Have Been Waiting For
For a team that had been fighting through self-inflicted mistakes on the road, the trip to Kansas offered a cleaner version of UCF football. The Knights played with noticeably better communication and leaned on veteran leadership to keep things under control, and the result was the kind of disciplined performance that had been missing away from home.
The most striking part was how little the officials had to call on the Knights, a sign the operation finally looked organized from start to finish. Just as important, the win ended a long slide in road games and gave UCF a much-needed proof point that the problems that had followed it away from Orlando can be corrected. [Read more 🡒]
Johnny Dawkins Just Gave UCF Fans A Reason To Dream Bigger
UCFs early-season buzz has not been limited to what Johnny Dawkins is building on the floor. The Knights have landed commitments from three four-star recruits over the past two weeks, a run that gives the program a different kind of momentum as it continues to stack talent around a roster that is off to a 3-0 start. With Dior Johnson and Carmelo Pacheco helping drive the unbeaten opening, the on-court product has matched the recruiting surge in a way that should resonate with fans looking for a bigger picture.
The latest addition only adds to the sense that UCF is trying to change the shape of its future in the paint. Bol Kuany joins fellow South Sudanese 7-footer John Bol in giving the Knights a frontcourt foundation that looks unusually long and promising, and it is the kind of recruiting win that can alter how a program is viewed beyond one season. Dawkins has already given UCF reason to feel good about the present, but the way this class is coming together suggests the ceiling may be climbing just as quickly. [Read more 🡒]