The No. 2 BYU Cougars fell to UCF 39-31 in a double-overtime contest on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, marking the Cougars' first loss of the season. The Knights secured the victory at the Acrisure Bounce House in Orlando, Florida, marking the highest-ranked win in UCF program history.
Jenkins Leads Knights Offense
The victory for UCF was defined by a dominant performance from quarterback Keyone 'Lyghtz' Jenkins, who took over the offense following Alonza Barnett III's injury on Sept. 12 in Pittsburgh. Jenkins completed 25 of 41 attempts for a season-best 293 total yards, including four touchdowns and zero turnovers, according to UCF.
Double Overtime Drama
The game moved into double overtime after Jenkins connected with senior wide receiver Josh Derry on a 25-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 31. In the second overtime period, UCF orchestrated an eight-play scoring drive that was extended by a BYU roughing the kicker penalty on Will Stone's fourth-down field goal attempt. The drive concluded with a four-yard touchdown reception by Grayson Brousseau and a two-point conversion catch by Tyren Hornes.
Frost Reflects on Victory
UCF head coach Scott Frost noted that the team had struggled to finish similar games previously, citing a 21-21 halftime deadlock against Oklahoma State on Oct. 10 and a halftime lead against Houston a week prior that resulted in a 27-17 loss. Frost credited the offensive preparation and the performance of his backup quarterback, stating that Jenkins had an unbelievable game.
Early Scoring Exchange
The match was a defensive struggle for much of the afternoon. While BYU opened the game with a 7-0 lead, UCF's Landen Chambers tied the game with a two-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Stone added a 20-yard field goal to give the Knights a 10-7 lead, before Chambers scored his second touchdown of the game to give UCF a 17-14 halftime advantage.
Defensive Stand Secures Win
BYU regained the lead in the second half following a one-yard touchdown run by Sione Moa, but Jenkins responded with an 11-play, 75-yard drive capped by a one-yard rushing touchdown. The Knights' defense proved pivotal in the final stages, holding BYU to just 10 points in the second half and denying the Cougars on four consecutive plays from the eight-yard line during the second overtime period.
Historic Program Milestone
This win represents several milestones for the UCF program. It is the Knights' first-ever victory over an AP top five opponent and their fourth AP top 10 win. This marks the program's 11th overall ranked win, surpassing their previous highest-ranked victory, a 52-42 win over No. 6/5 Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 2014.
Key Individual Performances
Individual performances for UCF included freshman wide receiver Tyren Hornes, who recorded a career-high 137 receiving yards on six receptions, and junior running back Duke Watson, who totaled 94 rushing yards. Josh Derry also contributed significantly, recording his third consecutive game with a touchdown catch.
