Sport
Football Hosts #2 BYU for HomecomingFootball Hosts #2 BYU for Homecoming
Maddie McGinty / UCF Athletics

Football Hosts #2 BYU for Homecoming

by Ken Landis
UCF Game Notes Opens in a new window BYU Game Notes Opens in a new window Big 12 Conference Notes Opens in a new window Game Week Press Conference Opens in a new window Live Stats Opens in a new window Listen Opens in a new window Spanish Radio Opens in a new window

GAME INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Oct. 24
Time: 3:30 p.m.
TV: FOX
TV Talent: Connor Onion (PxP), Robert Griffin III (Analyst), Alexa Landestoy (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
Spanish Radio Talent: Carlos Bohorquez (PxP), Sergio Ruiz Torres (Analyst)

Homecoming
Acrisure Bounce House

Homecoming

UCF Knights
UCF Knights

3-3 (1-2 Big 12)

VS
#2 BYU Cougars
#2 BYU Cougars

6-0 (3-0 Big 12)

A WIN WOULD...

  • Be better than a loss
  • Be the first win over an AP top 5 opponent in program history
  • Be the fourth win over an AP top 10 foe in program history
  • Be the 11th win over a ranked team in program history
  • Be the highest-ranked foe defeated in program history (previously 52-42 vs. No. 6/5 Baylor, Jan. 1, 2014 in Fiesta Bowl)
  • Be the first win over a ranked opponent since Nov. 11, 2023 when UCF beat No. 15 Oklahoma State 45-3 in Orlando
  • Give UCF is third win in previous four tries against ranked opponents while playing at home

1ST AND 10

LAST TIME OUT: AT #18 OKLAHOMA STATE
  • The Knights held a lead twice, were tied at halftime, and had the ball in the fourth quarter with a chance to take the lead during their road test at No. 18 Oklahoma State, but ultimately fell 42-28
  • In the Knights' first trip to Stillwater, UCF defensive back Antione Jackson forced a fumble on the second play of the game, leading to a UCF score and a 7-0 lead. The Black and Gold went up 14-7 on a jet sweep to Josh Derry. With 13 seconds to go in the first half, the Knights engineered a 12-play, 75-yard drive to tie the game at 21 heading to halftime.
  • After limiting Oklahoma State to two straight field goals, UCF had the ball approaching midfield with just under 11 minutes to play. A screen pass was ruled a backwards pass and a fumble, as the Cowboys scooped and scored to seize momentum of the game with a 20-0 run out of halftime.
  • QB Keyone Jenkins threw for four touchdowns, becoming the first Knight to do so since John Rhys Plumlee in the Oct. 13, 2022 Space Game vs. Temple
STRONG FIRST IMPRESSIONS
  • UCF has scored a touchdown on its first drive in four straight games and in five of six games this season (the exception was game at Pitt)
  • On the flip side, UCF has not allowed an opponent to score on its opening drive this season. In Big 12 play, the Knights have forced turnovers on two opening drives. The first turnover was a forced fumble by DB Jayden Bellamy on the third play vs. TCU, while the second came two games later at Oklahoma St. where DB Antione Jackson forced a fumble on the second play.
  • The Knights began 2025 with seven straight games holding opponents scoreless on their first possession; to date the second stint of head coach Scott Frost's tenure has seen opponents score on opening drives in just three of 18 games thus far
HOSTING HIGHEST RANKED FOE
  • No. 2 BYU will be the highest-ranked opponent that UCF has hosted in its history, surpassing the previous high of No. 6 Texas in the Acrisure Bounce House opener on Sept. 15, 2007, a 31-24 Longhorn victory
  • The contest will be the third time UCF has faced a top-two team and the second as an FBS program (1995 at No. 1 FSU, L, 46-14; 2009 at No. 2 Texas, L, 35-3)
  • It will be the fourth time UCF has hosted an AP top-10 foe in the Bounce House and the first against a top-five foe. The previous matchups are No. 6 Texas (2007), No. 7 Cincinnati (2020) and No. 9 Miami (2009). UCF hosted two top-10 teams at its previous home, which is Camping World Stadium in downtown Orlando, hosting No. 8 Virginia Tech (2000) and West Virginia (2004).
  • UCF boasts three wins over teams ranked in the top 10, including its highest-ranked victory against No. 6/5 Baylor 52-42 in the Fiesta Bowl at the end of the 2013 season (played on Jan. 1, 2014); other top 10 wins include a 38-35 win at No. 8/6 Louisville (Oct. 18, 2013) and vs. No. 7/8 Auburn 34-17 in the 2017 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (played Jan. 1, 2018)
THREE STRAIGHT RANKED TEAMS ON SLATE
  • No. 2 BYU will be the last of a three-game stretch against ranked opponents; UCF fell at then-No. 20 Houston 27-17 followed by then-No. 18 Oklahoma St. 42-28
  • The contest against BYU marks the first time UCF has faced three straight ranked foes since 2017 when the Knights beat No. 22/19 South Florida 49-42 in the final game of the regular season, No. 16/14 Memphis 62-55 in the AAC Championship and No. 7/8 Auburn 34-27 in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl to finish 13-0 in 2017 to earn a National Championship
WATSON RUNNING WILD EARLY
  • RB Duke Watson enters Week 7 boasting 6.9 yards per carry, which puts him 12th in the nation and third in the Big 12 Conference; his freshman season saw him lead the nation in rushing at 8.9 yards per carry in 2024 at Louisville
  • Watson ranks T-4th in the Big 12 in most rushing plays of 10+ yards this season with 16
  • Watson has a pair of 100+ yard rushing performances this season after having a total of two over his first two collegiate seasons
  • The Forsyth, Ga. native put on a show in Week 3 against Georgia State, rushing for a career-best 177 yards while tying a career-high with 14 carries, scoring two touchdowns in the win. Watson's 12.6 yards per carry for against the Panthers was the second-highest mark in program history, behind only Latavius Murray who averaged 13.27 yards per rush on Nov. 20, 2010 in a 61-14 win at Tulane.
RUNNING BACK ROOM IS UCFast
  • In his fourth season at UCF (year two of his second stint), head coach Scott Frost has seen his offenses rush for 250+ yards eight times, two of which came this season. Both times were 300+ yard rushing games for the Knights, making those outings two of just four occurrences in Frost's four seasons.
  • The RB room is virtually brand new this season, returning just 95 rush yards
  • Transfers Duke Watson (from Louisville) and Landen Chambers (from Central Arkansas) have added an immediate spark. Redshirt freshman Taevion Swint has been a contributor as well in his first season of collegiate action after going down with an injury early in fall camp in his true freshman season. Walk-on-turned-scholarship player Agyeman Addae also contributes and accounted for 50 of UCF's 95 returning rush yards from a season ago.
RUN-STOPPING SUCCESS
  • UCF has allowed the fewest rushing plays of 10+ yards in the Big 12 Conference this season, surrendering just 15 runs of 10+ yards in 2026. That mark is tied for seventh in FBS, behind Iowa (8), Duke, Miami, Notre Dame (11), Michigan (12), and South Carolina (14).
  • The Knights have improved their run-stopping compared to the previous campaign and have allowed just 118.3 rushing yards per game this season, compared to 150.7 allowed in 2025
  • When looking at Big 12 Conference games, UCF ranks fourth in rushing defense, allowing 99 yards per game in league play in 2026
  • UCF's conference-opening win over TCU saw the Knights limit the Horned Frogs to 33 rushing yards on 27 carries
NO FLY ZONE
  • UCF has snatched six interceptions so far in 2026, tied for third in the Big 12
  • The Knights had just nine interceptions in each of the last two seasons
  • UCF returns four starters in the secondary from last year's defense: CB Jayden Bellamy, CB Antione Jackson, S Demari Henderson and NKL Braeden Marshall
  • UCF finished 2025 ranking third in the Big 12 and 22nd in the FBS in passing defense, allowing 185.1 passing yards per game. Last season's clip was the third-lowest passing yards allowed per contest mark in UCF's FBS history and the best since 2001, which is UCF's FBS record 178.0 clip. So far in 2026, UCF has surrendered an average of 236.8 passing yards per game but has earned more interceptions.
HOMECOMING AND SPIRIT SPLASH DUCKS
  • Spirit Splash ducks are among the most coveted items a UCF student can acquire during their time as a Knight. Spirit Splash has been voted one of the best college traditions in the nation. Part of Homecoming Week, this wet and wild pep rally invites Knights to charge into the Reflecting Pond to catch collectible rubber ducks. The ducks are customized every year, sporting a new look each time. Because of this, duck-themed images and promotions are used in-venue at every Homecoming game.
  • Spirit Splash started in 1995 when the SGA president was pushed into the pond by some students at a pep rally at the Reflecting Pond. The rest of the student body followed and a couple of years later, the tradition earned the name “Spirit Splash” and has been going strong ever since.
  • At the 1997 Spirit Splash, the Homecoming Committee threw out pennants, Frisbees, cups, golf towels and a Knightro doll. A year soon after, the Homecoming Committee's ordered items weren't delivered in time, and the committee was looking for a substitute to give out that was small enough, not too hard to throw into a crowd, quick to arrive, and cost-effective. Cue the rubber ducks. The first duck in the UCF Archives is from 2002.
  • FOX analyst Robert Griffin III, who is calling Saturday's game, participated in Spirit Splash in 2022 before UCF went on to beat No. 20/19 Cincinnati 25-21. 
WINS SINCE 2017
  • The Knights have compiled 77 wins since 2017, which is second-most in the state of Florida and third-most in the Big 12. UCF is tied for 23rd nationally over that span, which includes a perfect 13-0 in 2017, 12 wins in 2018 and 10 in 2019.
  • In the Big 12, UCF trails only BYU and Utah, 81 and 80, respectively. The Black and Gold are ahead of Cincinnati, which has 76 wins since 2017.
  • In Florida, Miami (79) edged in front of UCF (77) in wins since 2017, followed by Florida (67), Florida State (59), Florida Atlantic (57) and South Florida (53)

ADDITIONAL NOTES

UCF LOOKING TO KEEP PERFECT RECORD AGAINST OKLAHOMA STATE

  • UCF will celebrate and induct six former Knights into the UCF Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 23. Two of this year's inductees are from the football program: McKenzie Milton and Mike Kruczek
    • UCF Quarterback McKenzie Milton (2016-20) - One of the most accomplished players in UCF football history, Milton led the Knights to a perfect 13-0 season in 2017, capped with a win over No. 7 Auburn in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. He helped pilot UCF to 25 straight victories and two consecutive American Athletic Conference championships. A two-time AAC Offensive Player of the Year and 2017 All-American, Milton finished in the top 10 in Heisman votes for two straight seasons and set UCF single-season records for passing yards and touchdowns. He was responsible for over 9,000 yards of offense and 92 touchdowns in his career as a Knight.
    • UCF Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach (1985-97) and later Head Coach Mike Kruczek (1998-2003) - Coach Kruczek spent 19 seasons helping build the foundation of the UCF football program as they rose from Division II to the FBS level. He led the Knights to their first conference affiliation in the MAC beginning in 2002. Among being promoted to head coach in 1998, Kruczek guided quarterback Daunte Culpepper through an All-American season in which he finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting and set an NCAA single-season completion percentage record. Kruczek coached UCF to a 36-30 record over six seasons, including three consecutive winning seasons from 2000-02. He led UCF to a landmark 40-38 victory at Alabama in 2000, the Knights’ first win over a program from a Bowl Championship Series automatic-qualifying conference.
    • Inductees from other UCF sports include BJ Taylor (Men's Basketball, 2014-19), Emilly Mottola (Volleyball, 1992-95), Octavious Freeman (Track & Field 2012-13), Marissa Diggs (Women's Soccer, 2010-13)

CENTER STAGE ON NATIONAL TV

  • For the first time in its Big 12 era, UCF football will air back-to-back home games on the primary channel of a network. The Knights will host No. 2 BYU on Saturday, Oct. 24 on FOX before hosting Baylor on Friday, Oct. 30 on ESPN for this year's Space Game
  • The two game stretch will be the third time in UCF's Big 12 tenure that the Knights will play back-to-back games on a primary channel. 2024 saw UCF air consecutive games on FOX (at TCU, vs. Colorado) while 2023 saw UCF on FOX and ABC in back-to-back weeks (at Kansas, at Oklahoma). 

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.