UCF jumps ahead early but overwhelmed late in 41–21 loss at No. 11 BYU, ending season at 5–7
For about 15 minutes, UCF looked like a team fighting for its postseason life. The Knights opened with their sharpest road start of the season, building a 14-0 lead at No. 11 BYU and carrying all the momentum in a must-win finale.
And then it vanished.
The Knights were outscored 41–7 the rest of the way, surrendering 31 unanswered as BYU seized control on the ground, through the air, and in special teams to hand UCF a 41–21 defeat Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium. The loss closes UCF’s season at 5–7 (2–7 Big 12) — and marks the program’s first time missing consecutive bowl games since 2003–04.
The Cougars (11–1, 8–1 Big 12), already locked into next week’s Big 12 Championship Game, leaned on RB LJ Martin’s 95 yards and three touchdowns and WR Parker Kingston’s 181 all-purpose yards, including a momentum-shifting 55-yard punt return for a score. QB Bear Bachmeier was efficient, finishing 21-of-25 for 289 yards.
UCF, meanwhile, flashed promise early but struggled to sustain drives, protect the football and the quarterback, or get stops as the game wore on. The Knights finished with 296 total yards, only 42 rushing, and were held scoreless in the fourth quarter.
Blazing start: Jackson sharp, Knights go up 14–0
UCF hadn’t scored a touchdown on its first two drives of a road game all season. That is, until Saturday.
Tayven Jackson played one of his best opening quarters of the year, completing 10 of his first 12 throws for 110 yards, using tempo and quick reads to put BYU on its heels.
The Knights marched 75 yards on the opening possession, sparked by a 16-yard Waden Charles catch and an 18-yard burst from Myles Montgomery. After a long touchdown to Duane Thomas Jr. was erased by a holding flag, Jackson found TE Dylan Wade wide open for a 4-yard TD, his fourth score in the last three games.
Frost said he sensed a different edge from his team as soon as they stepped on the field.
“It’s the best we started and probably the best we played overall on the road, which is awesome to see,” Frost told Scott Adams in his postgame radio interview. “Being honest, we had a smaller group here because we’ve lost some guys that weren’t all in and didn’t want to play and some other things, and I just feel like it was a more tight-knit group, fewer distractions and they showed up ready to play. I was really proud of how they started.”
After a defensive three-and-out, highlighted by a pass breakup from Jayden Bellamy, UCF needed just seven plays to score again. A strong punt return by Antione Jackson set the Knights up near midfield, and Jackson hit RB Agyeman Addae in the flat for a 20-yard touchdown, giving the freshman the first score of his career.
It was already Jackson’s second TD pass of the day and Addae’s first career TD reception.
UCF led 14–0 with 3:39 left in the first, and had BYU’s sold-out senior day crowd nearly silent.
Second quarter swing: Turnover flips momentum
For as clean as the opening frame was, the second quarter brought the mistake that turned the game.
With the Knights trying to dial up a trick play, a double-reverse with Thomas Jr. looking to throw back to Jackson, BYU corner Evan Johnson intercepted the floating pass at the UCF 29-yard line.
Frost didn’t hide his frustration at the missed opportunity.
“I wish we had the team right now that, when we get up 14–0, we rise and make a couple more plays,” Frost said. “We had a chance to really get out in front in this game and didn’t do it.”
Even after the turnover, UCF held strong when Keli Lawson registered a sack and Bellamy broke up a third-down pass. BYU kicker Will Ferrin missed the ensuing 40-yard field goal.
But the Cougars controlled the remainder of the half.
UCF managed only 16 total yards in the second quarter and –4 rushing yards, while BYU put together drives of 65, 54 and 72 yards — all scoring possessions.
Martin tied the game with back-to-back 1-yard touchdown runs, and Ferrin drilled a 26-yarder with :09 left to give BYU its first lead at 17–14.
Possession time in the second quarter swung 10:38 to 4:22 in BYU’s favor.
Third quarter collapse: BYU’s run game, special teams take over
The opening series of the second half proved decisive. BYU marched 75 yards on 10 plays, with Martin muscling in from four yards to extend the advantage to 24–14.
UCF went three-and-out.
Moments later, Kingston fielded an Anthony Venneri punt, cut upfield and sprinted 55 yards untouched for a touchdown. It was the first punt return TD UCF has allowed since 2023.
“We gave up a long drive. We went three-and-out. We gave up a punt return,” Frost said. “If you’re going to win on the road, you’ve got to have the turnovers, you’ve got to have the punt return. We’re down to not very many guys right now… a lot of guys are tired.”
The Knights briefly stopped the avalanche with their most creative scoring play of the year on a four-yard touchdown pass from Addae to Jackson, who hauled in the first reception of his career to cut the deficit to 31–21.
But BYU answered immediately. Bachmeier connected with Kingston on a 46-yard strike down the seam, pushing the lead back to 38–21.
Fourth quarter: BYU slams the door
UCF’s offense mustered only one first down in the final 15 minutes, while Ferrin added a long 50-yard field goal to bring the game to its final margin.
The Knights mustered just 42 rushing yards on 19 carries and went 6-of-13 on third down, struggling to sustain drives while possessing the ball for only 24:52 compared to BYU’s 35:08. Defensively, UCF was on the field for 69 snaps, with linebacker Lewis Carter posting a team-high 12 tackles and edge rusher Keli Lawson adding 2.0 sacks.
Jackson ended the day 21-of-37 for 232 yards and two touchdowns, while Addae led with five receptions for 62 yards. Charles, Thomas Jr. and Wade had four catches each.
Frost: “We’re not close, but we’re not that far away either.”
The Knights fall to 7–20 in Big 12 games since joining the league and have now lost nine straight road contests.
Still, Frost remained adamant postgame that the foundation is being laid for improvement.
“That team’s going to the Conference Championship… we’re not close, but we’re not that far away either,” Frost said. “They just had more guys make big plays when they needed them. We need to get to a point where we make those plays, then these games will be different.”
He also praised a senior class that helped stabilize a roster that included nearly 70 newcomers this season.
“I told the seniors I love them. They did a good job holding this together with 70 new players. A lot of character. I hope they’re the building blocks and springboard for a program that’s going to improve.”
As UCF now looks towards 2026, Frost made clear that the upcoming transfer portal period will be critical.
“We know this team now. We know which players we want to keep, which ones are made of the right stuff,” he said. “Hopefully it won’t be as busy for us in the portal and we can start building this the right way.”
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