Road losing streak extends to 12 as the Knights head into bye week

Photo courtesy of UCF Athletics

UCF faltered in the second half for the second straight week, falling 42-28 to No. 18 Oklahoma State on Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium after entering halftime tied at 21.

Both teams found themselves in an offensive shootout in the first half, each going three-for-three on red zone attempts. However, the Knights’ second-half effort could not keep up with the Cowboys as they were outscored 21-to-7 in the second half.

“I thought it was two pretty evenly matched teams,” head coach Scott Frost said. “I think they executed and made a few more plays than we did.”

As the Knights kept fighting, a costly fourth-quarter turnover proved to be the turning point. The Cowboys returned an incomplete screen pass from sophomore quarterback Keyone Jenkins for a touchdown, shifting momentum in Oklahoma State’s favor and leaving UCF unable to recover.

“We can’t have a catastrophic play like that, particularly on the road against a good team,” Frost said. “If you take that one away, I don’t know what the game looks like.”

The loss for the Knights marked their third of the season and their twelfth consecutive road loss since their 35-34 victory over TCU on Sept. 14, 2024, their second-longest streak in program history.

UCF also has yet to defeat a ranked opponent since No. 15 Oklahoma State in 2023.

Just like last week, the Knights (3-3, 1-2 Big 12) got off to a competitive start.

To open the first quarter, the Knights’ defense got off the field early thanks to a fumble forced by senior defensive back Antione Jackson and recovered by redshirt junior edge rusher Isiah Nixon.

The takeaway marked the 11th for the Knights’ defense; it was also their only takeaway of the contest.

“We knew we were going to have to come and make a play if we wanted to finish the game out and win it, especially on the road,” senior linebacker Tackett Curtis said postgame. “We just didn’t find that.”

The Knights cashed in for six on a one-yard touchdown pass by Jenkins to redshirt sophomore tight end and former Cowboy Grayson Brousseau.

After senior kicker Will Stone’s PAT, the Knights led 7-0.

The Cowboys (4-1, 2-0 Big 12) responded with an 11-yard run up the middle by quarterback Drew Mestemaker to tie it up.

After another methodical drive, senior wide receiver Josh Derry found the end zone for the second straight week, giving UCF another seven-point lead with 2:40 left in the first.

In the opening minutes of the second quarter, the Cowboys punched their way back into the end zone with a one-yard rush by tight end Morgan McPhaul to tie the game again.

In a game that saw both teams trade blows, punts dominated until around the four-minute mark of the second quarter.

In just five plays, the Cowboys drove down 60 yards to get their first lead of the game with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Mestemaker to wide receiver Justin Bowick with two minutes left to make it 21-14.

With time winding down, the Knights closed out the half with a touchdown catch by freshman wide receiver Tyren Hornes to tie it at 21 heading into halftime.

Hornes’ touchdown reception marked his first collegiate touchdown.

The Knights totaled 198 yards of offense in the first half, with 118 through the air and 80 on the ground. The Cowboys amassed 222 total yards; 165 passing and 57 rushing.

Both teams were perfect in the red zone, going 3-for-3 on red-zone attempts.

“We just came out with the mentality to attack, attack, attack,” Jenkins said postgame. “We are trying to score every time we get the ball and don’t let up.”

The Knights’ offense couldn’t find the end zone for most of the second half.

The Cowboys, meanwhile, extended their lead by six with two field goals by kicker Sam Keltner. Stone had a chance to match it late in the third but missed from 45 yards out, his first miss of the season.

Catastrophe struck early in the fourth quarter for the Knights’ offense as a screen pass by Jenkins fell behind the line of scrimmage and was taken back for a touchdown by Cowboys defensive back Evan Jackson.

“I didn’t think it was a backward pass; I watched it on film a couple times,” Jenkins said. “It was a low ball for sure, but I didn’t see a backward pass, and if it was, it’s got to be better on my part.”

Following a two-point conversion, the Knights trailed by 14 with 10:32 left in the contest.

Needing an offensive surge, the Knights came up short on a fourth-and-one and turned the ball over on downs. Cowboys took advantage and added seven more to their lead.

The Knights’ offense found the board for the first time since the second quarter with a pass over the middle from Jenkins to redshirt freshman tight end Cade Piening to make it 42-28 with 3:57 left on the clock.

The score stayed there for the rest of the game, and the Knights solidified their third loss of the season.

Jenkins told reporters he believed he let his teammates down, particularly on the fumble, but knows up until that point, the Knights were in the game.

“I just got to take it to the chin and be better; I feel like I let my teammates down today with that play,” Jenkins said. “I couldn’t let my teammates see me down; it’s more so being the best leader I can be for my guys.”

Jenkins finished 30-for-42 for 265 yards through the air, four touchdowns, and an interception; Mestemaker went 19-for-28 for 304 yards and two touchdowns.

Frost backed up his quarterback in place of injured redshirt senior quarterback Alonza Barnett III.

“We didn’t bring him in here to be the starter,” he said. “He’s done an unbelievable job for the situation he was thrust into.”

The Knights finished with 375 yards of total offense while the Cowboys amassed 414.

Frost acknowledged the team’s continued struggles on the road, as the Knights have yet to secure a road win this season despite facing several tough opponents.

“I just hurt for the guys,” Frost said. “We’ve played three really good teams on the road, and we haven’t gotten one done.”

Luckily for the Knights, they now head into a bye week. A chance for the group to recuperate and get more healthy bodies.

“This bye week comes at a really good time for us to try to get guys back and get everybody else fresh and ready to go,” Frost said. “We got six games left, and I think being fresh and ready for those gives us the best chance.”

Following the bye, UCF will host No. 8 BYU on Oct. 24 at the Acrisure Bounce House for their annual Homecoming game.