UCF Needs To Put Together Two Halves To Upset Ranked Foes
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The UCF Knights proved they can compete against ranked opponents in the first half, but have collapsed in back-to-back second halves.
UCF scored 17 unanswered points against the No. 20 Houston Cougars before giving up three rushing touchdowns to quarterback Conner Weigman. The team tied No. 18 Oklahoma State entering halftime with 21 points, going toe-to-toe with quarterback Drew Mestemaker.
Knights quarterback Keyone Jenkins thrived in the national spotlight. Jenkins threw for 418 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions combined over those two games.
Coach Scott Frost and offensive coordinator Steve Cooper adjusted their playcalling to lean into his strengths. His short and intermediate passes moved the team downfield efficiently, punching their ranked opponents hard.
The first 30 minutes of UCF football are electric and exciting, but the second 30 minutes are disheartening. Its offense can't muster a scoring drive until the last few drives when the game is already out of reach.
Jenkins threw a game-changing interception in the third quarter against Houston. Weigman converted two plays later and kickstarted a historic comeback.
The Knights punted on back-to-back drives, and the Cougars forced turnovers on downs on their last two fourth-quarter drives.
UCF recorded 10 minutes of possession in the third quarter against Oklahoma State, and kicker Will Stone missed a 45-yard field goal at the end of the quarter.
Jenkins fumbled in the fourth quarter, and the Knights couldn't convert a fourth-and-1 on the following drive.
These collapses put pressure on the team to upset No. 2 BYU. Offensive lineman Preston Cushman said UCF has shown flashes, and it has to perform the full 60 minutes.
BYU enters Acrisure Bounce House as the highest-ranked program in history to visit. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier threw for 224 yards, one touchdown and one interception, and rushed for 45 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries in an upset win over then-No. 2 Notre Dame.
The Cougars convert 56.5% of their third downs, the third-best in the Big 12, behind Kansas State. Their offensive line is tied with the Wildcats for the conference's best, allowing three sacks this season.
UCF will face its toughest challenge: a rematch against a ranked foe, which ended the team's bowl hopes last season. Frost's squad scored 14 unanswered points in the first and punched BYU first in Provo.
The Knights allowed 41 points from the second quarter on and lost 41-21.
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