UCF and TCU open Big 12 play against each other Saturday, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1. It’s also the first time these teams have met since UCF’s wild 35-34 win over TCU in Fort Worth in 2024.
For the Knights, one of the biggest numbers to watch is four. Tight end Dylan Wade is four touchdowns away from becoming the program’s FBS-era leader for receiving touchdowns by a tight end.
The start to the season hasn’t exactly been the breakout many expected from him: Wade has just three catches for 35 yards, plus a drop on what would have been a big gain in the loss to Pittsburgh. He didn’t record a catch in the win over Georgia State, though that had more to do with how UCF managed the game than any lack of interest in getting him involved.
"We got short fields in the first half and had a lead in the fourth quarter and you know, I'd have punched myself if we would have thrown a pass at some point in in the fourth quarter up a score or two and thrown an interception and given them the chance to come back in the game," Knights head coach Scott Frost noted this week.
UCF’s offense has still leaned on its ground game early. Through three games, the Knights are averaging 228 rushing yards per game, which ranks 27th in FBS. Duke Watson has carried the load with 297 net rushing yards, while Landen Chambers and Taevion Swint have also chipped in in a meaningful way.
Even with that production, offensive coordinator Steve Cooper wants a more balanced attack this week, especially with backup quarterback Keyone Jenkins needing to settle in while Alonza Barnett III remains sidelined by a hamstring injury.
"You don't beat a team like TCU and you don't score points on that defense if you're not somewhat balanced," Cooper said. "But I do think it's important that we trim and we get down to who we are and our identity on offense so that the guys are playing fast, and that's been the message: play fast and focused.
The speed and precision is what makes the offense work, that's how you score points. They are obviously very good against the run game, but the run game and the pass game have to complement each other in a game like this against a good Big 12 defense."
TCU brings its own notable number into Saturday’s matchup: 23. It has been 23 years since the Horned Frogs played in Florida, when they beat South Florida 13-10 in a Conference USA game. Sonny Dykes said this week he expects a loud setting at the Acrisure Bounce House and knows communication will matter.
"The environment at UCF is expected to be good with great fan support and an active student body," Dykes said this week. "The atmosphere is anticipated to be loud, and UCF's team will be excited to play... Communication will be important in managing the environment."
In Other News...
UCF Heads Into TCU With Two Critical Spots Suddenly Exposed
UCFs depth is about to get tested in a hurry. The Knights head into Saturdays Big 12 matchup with TCU at the Acrisure Bounce House in Orlando carrying a heavier-than-usual injury burden, with several key names showing up on the league report for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff. TCU is dealing with its own list of unavailable and probable players, but the bigger concern for UCF is how it absorbs the losses while trying to keep the season on track at home.
The defensive side of the ball takes a particular hit, with linebacker Lewis Carter among the most important pieces suddenly out of the mix. Carter has been UCFs leading tackler, and his absence changes the look of the middle of the defense, while the situation at quarterback adds another layer of uncertainty for a unit that was already trying to settle in. There is at least some optimism on Carters timeline, with a possible return coming around the October 10 trip to Oklahoma State, but for now the Knights are left figuring out how to patch two critical spots against a conference opponent. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Faces A Tougher TCU Test In Big 12 Home Opener
TCU brings a different kind of challenge into UCFs Big 12 home opener, and a big part of it is the return of Jordan Dwyer. The wide receiver is expected to make his season debut after being sidelined by a foot injury since last December, adding another layer to an offense that has already been reshaped and demands extra attention from a Knights defense that has spent much of this season answering problems as they appear.
UCF defensive coordinator Alex Grinch said the Horned Frogs adjusted scheme makes preparation tricky because it is not always clear how the pieces will fit together, especially with Dwyer back in the mix. Still, UCFs defense has shown a knack for resilience, creating turnovers and settling in after early-game hiccups, and now that group will have to do it again against an opponent bringing more uncertainty than the tape might first suggest. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Watson Could Decide How Much UCF Can Trust Its Passing Game
Before UCF can sort out how much confidence it should have in its passing game, the Knights need to keep Duke Watson involved in the way that has made their offense dangerous. The running back has been a key piece for an offense trying to find better balance, especially after a tough showing against Pittsburghs run defense and a stretch in which quarterback Keyone Jenkins has had to work through some rough moments.
That is why TCUs attention is centered so heavily on Watson, even as offensive coordinator Steve Cooper looks for ways to spread the load and give Jenkins cleaner answers. Getting receivers Josh Derry and Tyren Hornes more involved would help, but the bigger question remains whether UCF can keep forcing defenses to honor the run well enough to open up the rest of the playbook during this difficult part of the season. [Read more 🡒]