UCF made school history on Saturday, pulling off its biggest upset ever by defeating No. 2 BYU 39-31 in an insane double-overtime battle at Acrisure Bounce House Stadium. This wasn’t just any win, folks, it was the Knights’ first against a top-five team in program history, immediately snapping a two-game skid and handing BYU its first loss of the season. A double rainbow even formed outside the stadium before kickoff. Talk about a premonition.
Double Overtime Chaos Seals the Deal
The game got absolutely wild in overtime, turning into an instant classic. BYU kicked things off in the first overtime, with quarterback Bear Bachmeier connecting with receiver Legend Glasker for a 28-yard touchdown. But UCF, refusing to quit, answered on the very next play. Quarterback Keyone Jenkins showcased some serious poise, escaping a rush and finding Josh Derry open for a crucial 25-yard touchdown, sending the game into a second overtime.
The drama only escalated from there. In the second overtime, UCF’s Will Stone initially nailed a 26-yard field goal, but a penalty for running into the kicker gave the Knights another shot. They didn’t waste it. Two plays later, Jenkins hooked up with tight end Grayson Brousseau for a 4-yard touchdown. To seal the deal, Jenkins then threw a perfect pass to freshman receiver Tyren Hornes for the two-point conversion, putting UCF ahead 39-31. BYU tried desperately to respond, marching all the way to the UCF 4-yard line. But Bachmeier’s fourth-down pass to Walker Lyons fell incomplete, igniting a field-storming celebration from the UCF faithful. This insane finish was UCF’s first double-overtime game since their American Athletic Conference Championship win over Memphis way back on December 2, 2017.
Early Swings and Heroic Returns
Before the overtime heroics, BYU came out firing. Bachmeier wasted no time, connecting with receiver Kyler Kasper for a 27-yard touchdown on their opening drive, putting the Cougars up 7-0 with 8:19 left in the first quarter. That 11-play drive ate up nearly six minutes off the clock, marking Bachmeier’s eighth passing touchdown of the season. Meanwhile, UCF saw its four-game scoring streak on opening possessions come to an end when they couldn’t convert on a third-and-6 and were forced to punt.
But the Knights found some early bright spots. Receiver Duane Thomas Jr. made his highly anticipated return, catching a 7-yard pass at the 8:19 mark of the first quarter after missing the first six games due to an undisclosed lower-body injury. UCF’s offense started to find its rhythm on their third possession, fueled by a massive 30-yard run from running back Duke Watson that plunged them into the red zone for the first time. Five plays later, Landen Chambers punched it in for a 2-yard touchdown, tying the game at 7-7. That was Chambers’ fourth rushing touchdown of the season and his 15th career score. UCF kept that momentum going, mixing short runs and screen passes to get back into the red zone, with Jenkins finding Hornes for an 18-yard pass down to the BYU 8-yard line. They had a chance to score, but receiver Waden Charles unfortunately dropped a sure touchdown pass from Jenkins on first-and-goal, missing out on an early lead.
UCF’s stunning win is also their first against a ranked opponent since they beat No. 15 Oklahoma State on November 11, 2023. This victory not only snaps the Knights’ two-game losing streak, bringing their record to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the Big 12, but it also hands No. 2 BYU its first loss of the season, ending a dominant seven-game winning streak that stretched back to last year. BYU now sits at 6-1 overall and 3-1 in conference play. What a statement game from UCF!
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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