UCF’s football season ended quietly on the road in the shadows of the Wasatch Range in Utah on Saturday.
The Knights came out with tremendous energy at the start, building a double-digit lead in the first quarter only to watch it quickly disappear as No. 11 BYU overwhelmed Scott Frost’s team for a 41-21 victory at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
The loss means UCF (5-7, 2-7 Big 12) won’t be bowl eligible for the second straight season.
The last time the Knights missed the postseason in back-to-back seasons was 2003-04.
UCF got off to a quick start, taking the opening kickoff and moving down the field thanks to several explosive plays. Quarterback Tayven Jackson found freshman wide receiver Waden Charles for a 16-yard completion and running back Myles Montgomery had an 18-yard run.
But after a 38-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to receiver Duane Thomas Jr. was nullified by a holding penalty, the redshirt junior quarterback found tight end Dylan Wade in the middle of the end zone for a 4-yard score.
It was the fourth touchdown over the past three games for Wade, who entered this weekend’s play as the team’s leading receiver.
The Knights’ defense stepped up, forcing BYU to punt after a 3-and-out.
UCF took advantage of excellent field position on its next possession, with the Knights starting at their own 48 after a great punt return by Antione Jackson. Jackson continued to be patient, eventually finding backup running back Agyeman Addae in the flat and the freshman raced untouched 20 yards for a touchdown.
It was Jackson’s 10th touchdown pass of the season and the first touchdown for Addae.
BYU responded by driving 65 yards, capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run by running back LJ Martin at the start of the second quarter that sliced the lead in half, 14-7.
The UCF tried to turn to some misdirection on its next possession as the Knights used a double-reverse that had Thomas looking to pass to Jackson, who was streaking down the right side, but BYU cornerback Evan Johnson intercepted the pass at UCF’s own 29.
However, the Cougars couldn’t capitalize as linebacker Keli Lawson sacked quarterback Bear Bachmeier. Then, safety Jayden Bellamy knocked down a pass on 3rd down, setting up a 40-yard field goal attempt that kicker Will Ferrin missed to the left.
Ferrin would redeem himself with a 26-yard kick at the end of the first half to give BYU its first lead of the game at 17-14.
The Cougars picked up where they left off, taking the opening drive of the second half and driving 75 yards before Martin scored on a 4-yard run to extend the lead to 24-14.
After a 3-and-out, BYU’s Parker Kingston fielded an Anthony Venneri punt and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown and a 31-14 advantage.
It was the first time that UCF has allowed a punt return for a touchdown since giving up one to Kansas on Oct. 7, 2023.
UCF found some momentum late in the third quarter, driving 76 yards before Addae took the handoff and tossed a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jackson. It was Jackson’s first catch of his career and it cut the BYU lead to 31-21.
But the Cougars wouldn’t back down as Bachmeier found Kingston open down the middle of the field and the redshirt junior receiver raced 46 yards for a touchdown.
Ferrin added a 50-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter.
BYU (11-1, 8-1 Big 12) already clinched a spot in the Big 12 Championship thanks to Arizona State’s loss to Arizona on Friday night. The Cougars will play for their first conference championship since 2007 when they face Texas Tech at AT&T Stadium next Saturday.
UCF has now lost nine straight road games, the second-longest road losing streak in the Big 12 behind Oklahoma State’s 10-game streak.
The Knights are 7-20 in conference games since joining the Big 12 in 2023, with wins over Arizona, Cincinnati, Houston, Oklahoma State (2), TCU and West Virginia.
Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.