Five goals for UCF Football to close the 2025 season strong
After a dominant 45-13 bounce-back win over West Virginia, UCF entered its bye week with a 4-3 record and a sense of renewed optimism.
It hasn’t been a smooth ride. The Knights endured a three-game losing streak to open Big 12 play, battled through quarterback injuries, and continue to adjust to life without beloved offensive line coach Shawn Clark, whose sudden passing in September deeply affected players and coaches alike.
But despite the adversity, UCF still has everything to play for, from bowl eligibility to building momentum for Year 2 of the Scott Frost reboot.
The final five games, beginning Nov. 1 at Baylor, will determine the tone heading into the offseason. Can the Knights find consistency? Will Tayven Jackson solidify himself as the future at quarterback? Can UCF gain ground on fellow Big 12 newcomers that seem to be surging ahead?
Here are five goals the Knights should focus on to close out the 2025 season strong.
1. Establish offensive consistency and identity
Scott Frost made a name for himself with his “UCFast” offense during his first stint in Orlando, but the reboot version is still a work in progress.
Injuries at quarterback, a new offensive line, the tragic midseason loss of OL coach Shawn Clark, drive-killing penalties, and a largely inexperienced wide receiver unit have all contributed to the offense not yet reaching its full potential.
Each of UCF’s three Big 12 losses came with significant QB issues. Tayven Jackson sprained his shoulder during the Kansas State game and while he did return later in the game, clearly was not himself. Though not 100 percent, Jackson tried to give it a go a week later vs. Kansas before being knocked out of the game, giving way to Cam Fancher, who played the remainder of the Kansas game and then the following week at Cincinnati. While Fancher showed toughness (including playing with broken ribs at Cincy), he struggled to lead the offense on touchdown drives.
With Tayven Jackson back for West Virginia, UCF showed its most complete offensive performance of the year.
But to truly establish an identity, they’ll need to sustain that against better Big 12 competition. That begins next week at Baylor, which features one of the conference’s lowest-rated defenses.
2. Tayven Jackson must cement himself as QB1 for 2026
Frost said all offseason he could win with any of the three quarterbacks. While Cam Fancher technically won the job in preseason camp, it’s now clear that Tayven Jackson is UCF’s best option, and he’s the one with long-term upside.
Jackson, who still has eligibility beyond this season, has shown promising flashes, even while recovering from injury. What he does in the final stretch will determine whether UCF can confidently build around him for 2026.
Ideally, he takes a similar leap to his former Indiana teammate Brendan Sorsby, who emerged at Cincinnati last season and is now among the Big 12’s top quarterbacks.
If Jackson finishes strong, it creates continuity heading into next season and gives UCF something to build around during portal recruiting.
It would also allow time to develop the future, whether that’s redshirt freshman Davi Belfort or high school recruits like Kane Archer, Dante Carr, or Rocco Marriott (who has not committed, but UCF is making a strong push to land).
You’d much rather enter December knowing Jackson is your guy than scrambling in the portal for a new QB1.
3. Develop depth and evaluate emerging talent
This will be another critical portal recruiting year for UCF, so it’s vital to identify who you can build around heading into 2026.
At running back, Stacy Gage is the only scholarship player with remaining eligibility as Jaden Nixon and Myles Montgomery graduate. He left the WVU game early with an injury, but reps down the stretch could position him as RB1 or RB2 next fall.
At wide receiver, can DJ Black, who still has another year, evolve into the WR1 many expected? Can true freshmen Waden Charles and Carl Jenkins Jr. continue to gain valuable snaps?
On the offensive line, backup tackle Owen Spell filled in admirably for Paul Rubelt last week. Since Rubelt is out of eligibility beyond this season, investing reps in Spell could pay dividends for 2026.
Defensively, the edge duo of Nyjalik Kelly and Malachi Lawrence has been elite, but getting more reps for Isaiah Nixon is crucial with an eye toward the future. The season-ending injury to backup DE Sincere Edwards was a blow, but there’s still opportunity for young talent to emerge at all levels of the defense.
4. Lock in bowl eligibility
The most immediate goal is simple: reach six wins and secure a bowl bid.
UCF needs just two more victories and will be heavy favorites for the Senior Night game against Oklahoma State (Nov. 22), a team that is currently 1-6 and 0-4 in the Big 12 after firing Mike Gundy.
That leaves one more win to find, potentially at Baylor (Nov. 1), during the Space Game vs. surging Houston (Nov. 7), or by upsetting one of the Big 12’s best in Texas Tech (Nov. 15) or BYU (Nov. 29).
A bowl appearance may not be a huge headline nationally, but in Year 1 of the Frost rebuild, it would mark a clear step in the right direction.
5. Finish strong in Big 12 play to build momentum for 2026
In the American, UCF fans were accustomed to competing for conference championships, and it’s been a recalibration of expectations moving into the Big 12. Though UCF did reach a bowl game that Big 12 first season in 2023, the Knights took a step back in 2024 (4-8, 2-7 Big 12). When Gus Malzahn departed for Florida State, the return of Frost represented hope for a return to relevance.
So far, UCF has lagged behind the other Group of Five-to-Big 12 programs. BYU went 11-2 last year and is currently 6-0 and ranked No. 11. Cincinnati posted losing records in 2023 and 2024 but is now 6-1 and ranked No. 21. Houston, under Willie Fritz, is 6-1 and pushing into the Top 25.
Turnarounds aren’t always instant, but UCF needs to prove they belong. That means more than just getting to six wins, it means closing strong. Go beat a struggling Baylor. Continue the Space Game undefeated streak with a win against Houston. Send your seniors out with a win vs. Oklahoma State.
It may be too much to expect a win at Texas Tech or BYU, but a 7-5 finish isn’t far-fetched and it could reignite fan interest that has seemingly waned in recent years.
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