UCF has spent the last two weeks showing exactly why ranked opponents should be wary - and exactly why the Knights still have everything to prove over four quarters.
Against No. 20 Houston, UCF ripped off 17 unanswered points and looked like it had the Cougars on the ropes.
Then the game turned. Quarterback Conner Weigman ran in three touchdowns, and a third-quarter interception by Keyone Jenkins helped spark Houston’s comeback.
The Knights never recovered from there, with two straight punted drives and then turnovers on downs on Houston’s final two fourth-quarter possessions.
A week later, the script felt familiar. UCF went toe-to-toe with No.
18 Oklahoma State and carried 21 points into halftime, matched up well enough with quarterback Drew Mestemaker to keep the game level at the break. But the second half slipped away again.
The Knights controlled just 10 minutes of possession in the third quarter, Will Stone missed a 45-yard field goal to close the period, and then Jenkins lost a fumble in the fourth. UCF’s next shot ended with a failed fourth-and-1.
That’s the problem staring this team in the face now: the first 30 minutes have been sharp, fast and dangerous. The last 30 have been a grind UCF can’t survive.
Jenkins has been at the center of both the promise and the breakdowns. In those two games combined, he threw for 418 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions.
Coach Scott Frost and offensive coordinator Steve Cooper tweaked the playcalling to play to his strengths, and for stretches it worked beautifully. The short and intermediate game kept UCF moving efficiently and striking ranked defenses in the teeth.
Offensive lineman Preston Cushman said the Knights have shown flashes, but they need to put it together for the full 60 minutes.
That will be the assignment when No. 2 BYU comes to Acrisure Bounce House.
The Cougars arrive as the highest-ranked program in history to visit. Bear Bachmeier led BYU in its upset win over then-No.
2 Notre Dame with 224 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception, while also running for 45 yards and two scores on 13 carries.
BYU also brings a defense and front that have been hard to crack. The Cougars are converting 56.5% of their third downs, third-best in the Big 12, and their offensive line is tied with Kansas State for the conference lead in sacks allowed, giving up just three this season.
UCF has already shown it can hang with elite competition. Now it has to finish the job.
In Other News...
BYU Gets A Huge Opportunity In A Top-10 Road Test At UCF
BYU heads into Saturdays Top-10 road test at UCF with a chance to keep its unbeaten Big 12 run intact, but the matchup comes with plenty of uncertainty on the Knights side. UCFs injury report is crowded, with a significant number of players listed as questionable or probable, and the availability of starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III is still a major storyline heading into the game.
If Barnett cannot go, backup Keyone Jenkins is in line for his fifth straight start, adding another layer to a game already carrying high stakes for both teams. UCF is dealing with injuries across the roster, including a heavy presence up front, while BYU arrives as a 6.5-point favorite despite being without its starting running back, LJ Martin. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Heads Into BYU Showdown With A Lineup Problem Fans Feared
UCFs injury picture got a lot murkier heading into Saturdays matchup with No. 2 BYU, and the timing could hardly be worse. The Knights are already navigating a difficult road test, and the latest availability report leaves the offense and defense both with uncertainty, including issues along the line and in the secondary.
The biggest concern is the backfield, where Taevion Swint will not be available, while Alonza Barnett III and Duane Thomas Jr. have moved into questionable territory. Lewis Carter is also out, adding another hit to the defense, and UCF is still monitoring several other key pieces, with center Jacob Maiava, cornerback DJ Bell and guard Owen Spell among those dealing with injuries as the Knights try to piece together a workable rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Dior Johnson Gives UCF The Scoring Threat Fans Have Wanted
Dior Johnson is back in Orlando and already giving UCF something it has been looking for: a proven scoring threat with real pedigree. The former blue-chip recruit returned to the program after a productive season at Tarleton State, and his presence at Big 12 Media Day alongside Johnny Dawkins and the Knights' players underscored how quickly he has become part of the conversation again.
Johnsons fit was on display in UCFs exhibition against LSU, where he led the Knights in scoring even in a loss. For a team trying to sharpen its offense and find more reliable shot creation, his return gives Dawkins a different kind of option, one that could change the way defenses have to guard UCF once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]