GAME INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Nov. 15
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. CT
TV: FOX
TV Talent: Tim Brando (PxP), Devin Gardner (Analyst), Josh Sims (Sideline)
Radio: FM 96.9/AM 740 The Game
Radio Talent: Marc Daniels (PxP), Gary Parris (Analyst), Scott Adams (Sideline)
Spanish Radio: UCFKnights.com, YouTube.com/UCFKnights
Live Stats: click here
Lubbock, Texas | Jones AT&T Stadium
Week 12
UCF Knights
4-5 (1-5 Big 12)
#6 Texas Tech Red Raiders
9-1 (6-1 Big 12)
A WIN WOULD...
- Be better than a loss
- Be the 4th win over an AP top 10 opponent in program history
- Be the first win over an AP top 10 opponent since Jan. 1, 2018 when UCF beat #7/8 Auburn in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
- Give UCF more wins than last season
FIRST AND 10
DUNNAM DAZZLES WITH THREE SPACE GAME INTS
- Senior DB Phillip Dunnam had a career night in UCF's space game, becoming the first player in program history to snag three interceptions in a single game. Two of the interceptions were in the first half, and one ended in a 43-yard pick-six to put UCF up 24-14 late in the second quarter.
- Dunnam was honored as the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week
- He became the third player this season to have three interceptions, but became the only one to return it for a touchdown. Additionally, he became one of 13 players to have a three pick game in the Big 12 since 1996
- Oddly enough, this isn't the first time defensive coordinator Alex Grinch has had one of his players on defense earn three picks in a game. The other was Wyoming's Shamiel Gary in his first collegiate game against Weber State. Grinch was the defensive backs coach in Wyoming from 2009-2011.
SPACE GAME PERFECTION REACHES ITS END
- The ninth-annual Space Game became the first loss in the tradition's history as UCF fell to Houston 30-27, snapping the perfect 8-0 mark
- UCF, known as the Citronauts during its celestial celebration, forced four turnovers but were unable to capitalize as Frost-led UCF teams are now 17-2 when forcing more turnovers
- Entering the game, UCF averaged 50.6 points per game in Space Games, while opponents were held to 19.9 ppg. The split is now 48.0 and 20.7.
- The Space Game recognizes the University of Central Florida’s roots, founded as Florida Technological University in 1963 with the mission of providing personnel to support the growing U.S. space program at the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. As the academic scope expanded beyond its original focus on engineering and technology, the school was renamed the University of Central Florida in 1978.
LAWRENCE CLIMBING SACK LEADERBOARD
- UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence has earned 20 career sacks, propelling himself into the top 10 of active leaders in the FBS and all-time at UCF
- Lawrence sits at No. 9 among active FBS players in career sacks and is second among active players in the Big 12 Conference behind only TTU's David Bailey
- Lawrence sits alone at No. 10 all0time in career sacks at UCF, passing Keenan Wimbley's 19 compiled from 1984-87 and is one sack away from jumping into sole possession of ninth (see record watch later in notes)
- Lawrence recorded back-to-back 2.0 sack games at Baylor & vs. Houston, putting him at 7.0 on the season which is 0.5 shy of tying his career best
NO FLY ZONE
- The Knights have the 12th-ranked passing defense in the country, surrendering just 168.2 passing yards per game thus far
- UCF has allowed the second fewest passing plays of 20+ yards in the Big 12, surrendering just 18 behind Utah's 15. That number has the Knights tied for eighth in FBS. Additionally, UCF has allowed the fewest 20+ yard plays of any variety in the Big 12 and is tied for sixth-lowest in the FBS with 24.
- The UCF defense held Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels to no passing touchdowns for the first time this season (as of Oct. 4), he entered the contest vs. the Knights as the nation's fifth-most efficient passer
- UCF held West Virginia to just 79 passing yards, tied for the 17th fewest surrendered in UCF's FBS history. Earlier this year, UCF limited N.C. A&T to 40 passing yards, the fourth fewest allowed during UCF's FBS era.
FIRST QUARTER LOCKDOWN
- The Knights sit 11th in the nation in fewest points allowed in the first quarter after posting another 0 against Houston. UCF has shutout its opponents in the first quarter in seven of nine games this season, allowing just 21 points.
- UCF entered November ranking third in the category after allowing just seven points in the first quarter to Cincinnati on Oct. 11. UCF didn't allow a first-quarter score through the first five games of 2025 and didn't allow a touchdown in the first half of the first three games of the season
- UCF and Pitt were the only two FBS programs to hold its opponents scoreless in the first quarter through the first six weeks of 2025. Both teams saw that streak snapped in week seven, each giving up a TD in the first quarter.
SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST
- The Knights have been sharp on defense in the fourth quarter, surrendering the 14th fewest points per game in the fourth this season with 39 total
- What's been more impressive is the amount of yards surrendered in the fourth quarter during Big 12 conference play:
- Nov. 7 vs. HOU - 96 yards, 8 first downs, 22 plays, 6 points
- Nov. 1 at BU - 64 yards, 4 first downs, 16 plays, 7 points
- Oct. 18 vs. WVU - 7 yards, 0 first downs, 14 plays, 6 points
- Oct. 11 at CIN - 17 yards, 1 first down, 9 plays, 3 points
- Oct. 4 vs. KU - 12 yards, 0 first downs, 9 plays, 0 points
- Sep. 27 at KSU - 30 yards, 2 first downs, 17 plays, 3 points
REMARKABLE RUELAS
- Kicker Noe Ruelas tied his career long with a 54-yard made field goal against Houston on Nov. 7, making him the first player in UCF's FBS history to hit three field goals from 50 yards or longer in a single season (54 vs. Houston, 53 at Kansas State and 51 vs. West Virginia)
- Ruelas had a streak of 11 straight field goals made prior to just his second miss of the 2025 season at Baylor on Nov. 1. He joined a group of just five Knights to make 11 or more consecutive field goals in the program's history, tying the legendary Matt Prater for 11 straight made.
- Prior to hitting his third, Ruelas and Colton Boomer were the only two Knights in the program's FBS history to make a pair of 50+ yard field goals in a single season, Boomer doing so in 2023. The last UCF kicker to hit 11 or more consecutive field goals was Shawn Moffitt who nailed 12 in a row across the 2012 and 2013 seasons. The UCF record for consecutive field goals is 16, achieved by Michael Torres from Oct. 20-Dec. 29, 2007.
LONG SCORING DRIVES
- UCF had two scoring drives of 90+ yards in the win over West Virginia, matching the two collected over the course of the season, now sitting at four
- Prior to the West Virginia win, the last time UCF had two or more 90+ yard touchdown drives in a single game was Oct. 19, 2019 against East Carolina
- Additionally, the Knights earned three scoring drives of 75+ yards against the Mountaineers, bringing the total to of 75+ scoring drives to 12 this season
- Now at 13 drives of 75+ yards, the 75+ yard drives make up 33.3% of all UCF's scoring drives this season with 39 total scoring drives
BIG GAIN RUNNING GAME
- Nixon has four runs of 50+ yards this season, all of thlem for touchdowns. Two of his long runs came in UCF's 68-7 victory over N.C. A&T, ripping off 87- and 66-yard touchdown runs. His third came at Kansas State, a 54-yard touchdown, making way for his 83-yard score against West Virginia.
- UCF is one of two Big 12 teams (Utah) to boast four different players with 100-yard rushing outings. Jaden Nixon, Myles Montgomery, Jacurri Brown and Cam Fancher have all earned 100+ rushing yards in a game this season.
- Additionally, Montgomery earned two long runs at Kansas State, scampering for 45 yards, his longest rush as a Knight, and later running for 44 yards for his highest career rushing total of 119 yards on 10 carries
FLAWLESS START ON FOURTH DOWN
- UCF started the season a perfect 8-for-8 on fourth downs through the first three games and now sit at 15-for-27 on the season, or 55.6%
- Currently, UCF's 15 conversions on fourth down rank 15th-most in FBS
- UCF was one of 11 FBS teams to be perfect on fourth down leading up to week five
ADDITIONAL NOTES
FEELING TRENDY
- The return of Scott Frost as UCF's head coach reignites some trends from his first tenure, showcasing where the program was at 2017's end
- UCF outscored their opponents 627-329 in 2017, scoring 30 points or more in all 13 victories. The Knights' offense ranked No. 1 in the nation, averaging 48.2 points per game. UCF's high-powered offense continued even after Frost had departed, as the Black and Gold tacked on 18 more consecutive games scoring 30 points or more. Additionally, UCF compiled 500+ yards of offense in eight of their 13 wins in 2017
- So far in 2025, UCF has scored 30+ points three times (N.C. A&T, UNC, WVU) and has 500+ yards of offense in two game (N.C. A&T, WVU)
- When looking at 2016-17 and the 2025 season, Frost's UCF teams have posted 30 or more points in 21 of his 35 games at the helm and has scored 24 or more points in 27 of the 35. Additionally, Frost's UCF squads have tallied 500+ yards of offense 11 times across his three seasons in Black and Gold.
About UCF Athletics
UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida's preeminent athletic program representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as "Orlando's Hometown Team". To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.