Game time: Fast facts, odds, keys to UCF Knights vs. BYU
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UCF at No. 11 BYU
Where: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, Utah
When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
TV: ESPN2
Weather: 40 degrees with a chance of snow
Latest line: BYU by 17.5 points
Coaches:Scott Frost is 24-13 at UCF, 40-44 overall; Kalani Sitake is 82-44 at BYU, 82-44 overall.
Quick slant: This is the fifth overall meeting between the two programs, with BYU holding a 3-1 mark in the series. In the last meeting, BYU built a double-digit lead in the first half as quarterback Jake Retzlaff tossed two touchdown passes and running back LJ Martin rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown as the Cougars held on for a 37-24 win on Oct. 26, 2024. UCF running back RJ Harvey rushed for 127 yards and two touchdowns in a losing effort. … BYU can earn a spot in the Big 12 Championship with a win over UCF on Saturday.
About UCF (5-6, 2-6 Big 12): UCF found itself in a familiar position, trailing Oklahoma State 14-0 at halftime during its home finale on Saturday. This marked the second time this season that the Knights were held scoreless before the break. However, in the second half, quarterback Tayven Jackson connected on two touchdown passes to tight end Dylan Wade, and kicker Noe Ruelas delivered a clutch 34-yard field goal with less than a minute remaining, giving the Knights a thrilling 17-14 comeback win.
About BYU (10-1, 7-1 Big 12): Martin ran for a career-high 222 yards and two touchdowns while the defense forced two takeaways as No. 11 BYU kept its Big 12 title hopes alive with a 26-14 win at Cincinnati. The victory was the Cougars’ fifth on the road, tying Houston for the most road wins this season. The only loss away from Provo was at Texas Tech on Nov. 8.
3 things to watch
1. Martin became the first BYU running back to rush for 1,000 yards in a season since Tyler Allgeier in 2021. He leads the Big 12 in rushing (1,134 yards) and carries (195) and has rushed for 100 yards in six games this season.
2. Dylan Wade’s 492 receiving yards are the second-most by a tight end in a season in program history. The junior needs 24 yards against BYU to overtake Jordan Akins, who holds the top spot with 515 yards in the 2017 season.
3. Ruelas has connected on 88.2% of his field goal attempts, which would be the third-highest field goal percentage in a season in UCF history, tying him with Dylan Barnas (2019), while trailing Shawn Moffitt (91.3%) and Colton Boomer (93.3%). His 54-yard field goal earlier this season ties him with Scott Ryerson and Darin Daly for the second-longest in program history.
Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.
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