No. 2 BYU, fresh off their monster upset against Notre Dame, found themselves tangled in a chaotic 39-31 double-overtime loss to Scott Frost and UCF, a game that became an instant classic for all the wrong reasons. This wasn’t just a tough loss, it was a gut punch delivered by a string of official decisions that left everyone scratching their heads.
Regulation Ended In Absolute Bedlam
Picture this: 11 seconds left in the fourth quarter. UCF kicker Will Stone lines up for what could be the game-winning kick. BYU blocks it! You think, “Wow, what a play!” But then Stone recovers his own blocked kick and advances it two yards. Here’s where it gets wild. Stone’s helmet pops off during the play, which stops the clock. Now, the officials huddle, debate, and then , get this , pick up a flag for a potential facemask by BYU. Think about that for a second. Fox Sports rules analyst Mike Pereira later explained that if that facemask call had stood, UCF would’ve gotten 15 yards and an untimed down to end regulation. Instead? No penalty. The clock runoff sent the game to overtime. BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier’s reaction on the Fox broadcast? A clear, “Holy (expletive).” Yeah, we all felt that one.
Double Overtime: When The Flags Flew Against BYU
Just when you thought the chaos was over, double overtime brought another dose of official controversy. UCF kicked a successful field goal, which should have just extended their lead. But then, a flag. Officials called BYU defensive end Kendal Wall for roughing the kicker, saying he fell into Stone. Fox announcers immediately pushed back, disagreeing with the call on the field. That penalty gave UCF a fresh set of downs, first and goal. Of course, the Knights capitalized big time, punching in a touchdown and then converting a crucial two-point conversion. When it was BYU’s turn to respond, Bear Bachmeier’s fourth-and-goal pass fell incomplete, sealing the crushing 39-31 double-overtime loss.
So, UCF walked out of Provo, Utah, with a massive win, though you gotta wonder if they would have preferred to just seal it in regulation. For BYU, it’s a brutal end to what could have been a huge follow-up win after taking down Notre Dame. Sometimes, the officials just steal the show, and not in a good way.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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