UCF heads to Stillwater on Saturday for a matchup with No. 18 Oklahoma State, and the Knights will be dealing with a notable injury list when they get there.
The game is set for Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma, with kickoff coming in weather forecasted at 85 degrees, no chance of rain and south-southwest winds at 10 miles per hour, according to AccuWeather. Oklahoma State is listed as a 10.5-point favorite by FanDuel Sportsbook.
The Knights’ availability report brings some uncertainty on offense and along the line. Wide receiver Duane Thomas Jr., who was not ruled out at the start of the week, was given a doubtful designation heading into Saturday. That makes it a strong possibility he misses a sixth straight game this season.
UCF will also be without three other starters: Alonza Barnett III, linebacker Lewis Carter and offensive lineman Owen Spell. Two more offensive linemen, Jacob Maiava and Tyler Gibson, are also out, along with reserve wide receiver Caleb Rollerson.
There are still a few names with better outlooks. Linebacker Jayden Jennings remained questionable through the week, while tight end Dylan Wade, linebacker Jahleel Culbreath, quarterback Keyone Jenkins and wide receivers Jonathan Bibbs and Josh Derry were all listed as probable.
Oklahoma State comes into the game ranked No. 18 despite an opening loss to Tulsa, and first-year coach Eric Morris has the Cowboys rolling with an air raid offense. Quarterback Drew Mestemaker has emerged as one of the top passers in the country, ranking second nationally in passing yards per game.
His top weapons are wide receivers Wyatt Young and Justin Bowick, both of whom sit inside the top 26 nationally in receiving yards per game. Young was designated probable in Friday’s player availability report.
For UCF, Saturday carries a first-of-its-kind road trip. The Knights have beaten Oklahoma State twice in Orlando since joining the Big 12, but this will be their first game ever at Boone Pickens Stadium as a program.
Fans can watch the game on ESPN2, with Lowell Galindo on play-by-play, Kirk Morrison as analyst and Dawn Davenport on the sideline. Radio coverage in English will air on FM 96.9 / AM 740 with Marc Daniels, Gary Parris and Scott Adams. Spanish-language coverage will be available on the UCF Knights YouTube Channel with Carlos Bohorquez and Sergio Ruiz Torres.
In Other News...
UCF Let Another Road Game Slip Away In The Second Half
UCF had the kind of road trip that keeps leaving a familiar sting behind. The Knights went into Stillwater and took a halftime lead on No. 18 Oklahoma State, only to watch the game turn in the second half in a 42-28 loss that pushed their road skid to 12 straight. For a team trying to prove it can travel better and finish stronger, the night once again turned into a story of missed chances and a game that got away.
Scott Frost pointed to the second-half errors as the difference, and there were plenty of them to circle. A missed field goal erased one chance to tighten things up, and a turnover later helped Oklahoma State create more breathing room. UCF had the pieces to make it a much different finish, but the margin for mistakes on the road keeps shrinking fast. [Read more 🡒]
UCF May Finally Get A Passing Game Boost At The Right Time
Duane Thomas Jr. appears to be closing in on a return at a time when UCF could use a lift in the passing game. The wideout missed the start of the season because of a hamstring injury, but his status has moved in the right direction as the Knights prepare for a difficult stretch, including an upcoming matchup with Oklahoma State.
Thomas mattered a lot to UCF's offense last season, when he was one of its most reliable targets and helped steady the receiving corps. If he can get back onto the field soon, it would give the Knights a needed boost as they try to navigate a challenging schedule and find more consistency through the air. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Defense Faces A Pressure Test After Last Weeks Letdown
UCFs defense heads into this week with a clear mandate: get back to disrupting the pocket the way it did early in the season. The Knights have leaned on a strong four-man pass rush, and that approach was a big part of their early success before the recent loss to Houston exposed how much harder life can get when the pressure dries up. Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch made it clear the group needs more sacks and more consistent heat on the quarterback as it prepares for Oklahoma State.
That challenge gets tougher with Drew Mestemaker coming in hot for the Cowboys, having topped 300 passing yards with multiple touchdowns in consecutive games. UCF will also keep leaning on Demari Henderson, whose versatility has given the secondary some flexibility and allowed him to move closer to the line of scrimmage at times. The Knights do not need to completely reinvent their defense this week, but they do need their front to look far more like itself if they want to make Mestemaker uncomfortable early. [Read more 🡒]