Keyone Jenkins throws TD pass in double OT and UCF knocks off No. 2 BYU 39-31

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Keyone Jenkins threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Grayson Brousseau in the second overtime, and UCF survived a wild finish in regulation to knock off No. 2 BYU 39-31 on Saturday.

Needing a touchdown and a 2-point conversion to force a third OT, the Cougars (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) drove to the UCF 4-yard line, but Bear Bachmeier’s fourth-down pass to Walker Lyons fell incomplete, giving the Knights (4-3, 2-2) their first win over a top-5 team in school history.

“We set a standard,” Jenkins said. “That standard has got to be upheld week in and week out. We just beat the No. 2 team in the country.”

A week after knocking off then-No. 2 Notre Dame and moving into its highest spot in the AP Top 25 since its national title season of 1984, BYU became the latest unbeaten team to fall in a wild stretch of the college football season. A school ranked in the top 2 has lost to an unranked foe in each of the past three weeks.

UCF was driving toward a potential game-winning field goal in regulation when Jenkins lost the ball on a play that was ruled a sack on the field. But after a replay review, the call was overturned to an incomplete pass, and BYU was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, moving the Knights into kicker Will Stone’s range.

But BYU blocked Stone’s 47-yard attempt. Stone recovered the loose ball, and since UCF tried the field goal on third down, the Knights would have had a chance at a second attempt had Stone’s helmet not been knocked off on the play. That necessitated a 10-second runoff, which sent the game to overtime.

Jenkins finished 25 of 41 for 293 yards and three touchdowns and ran for a score in his fifth start since replacing Alonza Barnett III, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury.

“There’s a lot of teams in football with their quarterbacks hurt and their backups aren’t doing great,” UCF coach Scott Frost said. “Our backup is not a backup. He had an unbelievable game tonight.”

Tyren Hornes had six catches for 137 yards for the Knights, and Duke Watson ran for 94 yards on 15 carries.

“UCF put us on our heels and put us in some uncomfortable positions,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. “I want to give them credit for what they have done. They deserve the win.”

Bachmeier threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Kyler Kasper had six catches for 129 yards.

The Knights drove to the BYU 1-yard line with less than two minutes left in regulation, but Jenkins was stopped on a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-goal.

UCF forced a three-and-out and got the ball back with 42 seconds left, setting up the wild finish to regulation.

“That’s the weirdest end of a game I have ever seen,” Frost said. “I thought it would take 31 to win it. It should have if we would have got a sneak in.”

In the first overtime, Bachmeier gave BYU the lead when he connected with Legend Glasker for a 28-yard touchdown, and UCF tied it on a single play when Jenkins hit Josh Derry for a 25-yard TD.

There were five lead changes in regulation.

Jenkins’ 1-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter put UCF ahead 24-21, and BYU’s Matthias Dunn connected on a 47-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to tie it at 24-all.

Fans storm the field in celebration

UCF beat a ranked team for the first time since blowing out then-No. 15 Oklahoma State in 2023, the Knights’ first season in the Big 12. Fans celebrated with fitting enthusiasm by storming the field and tearing down a goalpost.

“It was unreal. It felt like a movie,” UCF running back Landen Chambers said. “I just took it all in.”

Sitake thanked security workers for ensuring his team could leave the field without incident.

BYU still has a path to a playoff spot

A Big 12 title and College Football Playoff spot remain within reach for BYU.

With No. 8 Texas Tech’s loss at Cincinnati earlier Saturday, Utah is the only unbeaten team in conference play. The Cougars should be in position to make the Big 12 championship game if they win out.

“Obviously, we would like to be 7-0 right now, but it’s still right there,” Kasper said. “We go win out and do what we’re supposed to do, we’ll be where we want to be in the playoffs.”

BYU visits the currently 10th-ranked Utes on Nov. 7.

The takeaway

BYU: No longer chasing a No. 1 ranking, the Cougars now turn their focus to winning the Big 12.

UCF: Frost, who led the Knights to a 13-0 season in 2017 before leaving for Nebraska, now has a signature win in the second season of his return stint.

Up next

BYU: Hosts Arizona State next Saturday.

UCF: Hosts Baylor on Friday.

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