Keyone Jenkins throws the winning touchdown to Grayson Brousseau as the Knights hand previously unbeaten BYU its first loss and secure their first victory over a top-five opponent.
UCF pulled off the biggest ranked upset in its football program’s history Saturday, October 24, 2026, defeating No. 2 BYU 39-31 in double overtime at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando. Quarterback Keyone Jenkins connected with tight end Grayson Brousseau for the decisive touchdown, ending the Cougars’ unbeaten season in a game filled with late scoring, replay reviews and controversial penalties.
The victory gave the Knights their first win over an Associated Press top-five opponent and improved their record to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the Big 12 Conference. BYU fell to 6-1 and 3-1 in conference play after entering the matchup with its highest national ranking since its 1984 championship season.
Jenkins Delivers Winning Touchdown in Second Overtime
UCF opened the second overtime with possession and moved toward BYU’s goal line. The Knights appeared headed for another field goal attempt after the Cougars stopped their initial scoring opportunity.
Will Stone attempted a 26-yard field goal, but BYU was penalized for roughing the kicker. The penalty gave UCF another set of downs and an opportunity to score a touchdown instead of settling for three points.
Jenkins took advantage of the second chance, connecting with Brousseau for a short touchdown pass. He then found Tyren Hornes for the required two-point conversion, extending UCF’s lead to 39-31.
BYU needed a touchdown and a two-point conversion to keep the game alive. Freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier moved the Cougars to UCF’s 4-yard line, but his fourth-down pass intended for Walker Lyons fell incomplete.
The defensive stop ended the game and sent UCF fans onto the field in celebration.
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake questioned the roughing-the-kicker penalty after the game. He said he disagreed with the call but acknowledged that his team still had an opportunity to score and failed to capitalize.
The penalty became one of several disputed moments in a game that had already produced an unusual finish to regulation.
Wild Final Minutes Send Game Into Overtime
UCF nearly won before overtime after driving deep into BYU territory late in the fourth quarter.
With the score tied 24-24, the Knights reached the Cougars’ goal line and attempted a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-goal. BYU stopped Jenkins short with 1:42 remaining, taking possession near its own end zone.
The Cougars could not generate a first down and were forced to punt, returning the ball to UCF with less than a minute remaining.
Jenkins then appeared to lose possession on a sack, and BYU recovered the loose ball. However, officials reviewed the play and determined that the quarterback’s arm was moving forward, changing the ruling to an incomplete pass.
An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against BYU moved the Knights closer to field-goal range, giving Stone another opportunity to win.
Stone attempted a 47-yard field goal, but BYU blocked the kick. His helmet came off during the play, creating confusion about the remaining time and whether another snap would be allowed.
After officials reviewed the situation, a mandatory 10-second runoff ended regulation with the score tied 24-24.
The sequence left both teams heading into overtime after appearing to have opportunities to end the game.
Both Teams Score Immediately in First Overtime
BYU received possession first in overtime and faced third-and-13 after a penalty pushed the offense backward.
Bachmeier responded with a 28-yard touchdown pass to Legend Glasker, giving the Cougars a 31-24 advantage after the extra point.
UCF answered on its first offensive snap. Jenkins escaped pressure and found Josh Derry for a 25-yard touchdown pass, tying the contest at 31-31 following Stone’s extra point.
The quick exchange set up the second overtime, when the roughing-the-kicker penalty and Brousseau’s touchdown decided the outcome.
Jenkins finished with 293 passing yards and three touchdown passes, completing 25 of 41 attempts. He also scored a rushing touchdown, accounting for four touchdowns overall.
The performance was particularly important because Jenkins had entered the starting lineup after Alonza Barnett III suffered an injury. Saturday marked his fifth start since taking over the position.
UCF Offense Overcomes BYU Defense
The Knights accumulated 463 yards of total offense, compared with 373 for BYU.
Hornes was one of their most productive players, finishing with six receptions for 137 yards. His ability to gain yards after catches repeatedly challenged the Cougars’ defense.
One of his most important plays came in the third quarter when he caught a short pass on third-and-17, avoided several attempted tackles and gained 56 yards.
That play helped create a scoring opportunity, and Jenkins later ran for a 1-yard touchdown to give UCF a 24-21 lead.
Running back Duke Watson contributed 94 yards on 15 carries, while Landen Chambers scored both a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown.
UCF entered halftime leading 17-14 after Jenkins connected with Chambers on a 6-yard scoring pass with eight seconds remaining.
The touchdown followed a costly BYU turnover. Defensive lineman Thomas Collins tipped a Bachmeier pass, and Tackett Curtis intercepted it, allowing the Knights to drive downfield before halftime.
The interception prevented BYU from extending its lead and helped shift momentum toward the home team.
BYU Suffers First Defeat After Notre Dame Victory
BYU arrived in Orlando following a 28-24 victory over then-No. 2 Notre Dame, a result that elevated the Cougars to second in the national rankings.
Bachmeier threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns against UCF, completing 16 of 32 passes. He also rushed for 37 yards and scored a touchdown on the ground.
Receiver Kyler Kasper finished with six catches for 129 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown reception that opened the scoring.
The Cougars struggled to maintain consistent offensive production despite those performances. Their rushing attack produced 116 yards, and several penalties disrupted important possessions.
BYU was also without standout running back LJ Martin, limiting the team’s options in the ground game.
Sitake acknowledged that the Cougars committed too many mistakes for a nationally ranked team at this stage of the season. He accepted responsibility for the performance while crediting UCF for its effort.
Linebacker Cade Uluave, who recorded 10 tackles, similarly pointed to missed assignments and inconsistent execution.
The defeat also changed the Big 12 standings. BYU entered the weekend undefeated in conference play but fell behind Utah after losing to the Knights.
Scott Frost Earns Landmark Victory in Return to UCF
The victory was a major moment for head coach Scott Frost, who returned to lead UCF for a second stint in December 2024.
Frost previously guided the Knights through their unbeaten 2017 season before leaving for Nebraska. His return brought expectations that he could restore the program’s competitiveness after several difficult seasons.
UCF entered Saturday with a 3-3 record and had struggled to finish close games against stronger opponents.
Against BYU, the Knights combined an effective rushing attack with timely passing and several important defensive stops.
Jenkins’ performance was especially encouraging for a team competing without its original starting quarterback. His ability to extend plays and find receivers under pressure helped UCF overcome one of the nation’s highest-ranked opponents.
The win also provided a memorable homecoming celebration for the announced crowd of 45,112 at the stadium known as the Bounce House.
UCF will next host Baylor on Friday, October 30, in its annual Space Game, with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.
BYU returns home to face Arizona State on Saturday, October 31, seeking to recover from its first loss. For the Cougars, the next challenge is correcting the penalties, missed tackles and offensive mistakes that allowed UCF to end their unbeaten run.
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