TRENDING College football updates Valkyries even WNBA Finals Kimi Antonelli on US GP pole NFL injury updates Brewers take Game 1 Story by Story by UCF upsets No. 2 BYU in thrilling double-overtime victory Matt Murschel, Orlando Sentinel Sun, October 25, 2026 at 12:03 AM UTC · 5 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ORLANDO, Fla. — A double rainbow formed just outside Acrisure Bounce House Stadium on Saturday.
Whether it was a premonition of what was to come or simply a meteorological phenomenon, it brought good luck to UCF, which pulled off the biggest upset in school history by defeating No. 2 BYU, 39-31, in double overtime.
It was the first double-overtime game for UCF since beating Memphis in the American Athletic Conference Championship on Dec. 2, 2017.
BYU scored first in overtime on a 28-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Bear Bachmeier to receiver Legend Glasker.
UCF (4-3, 2-2 Big 12) responded on the very next play as Keyone Jenkins escaped a rush and found receiver Josh Derry open for a 25-yard touchdown, sending the game into a second overtime.
In the second overtime, Will Stone successfully kicked a 26-yard field goal, but a penalty for running into the kicker gave UCF another chance. Two plays later, Jenkins connected with tight end Grayson Brousseau for a 4-yard touchdown. On the following two-point conversion, Jenkins threw a perfect pass to freshman receiver Tyren Hornes for the score, putting the Knights ahead 39-31.
BYU tried to respond, reaching the UCF 4, but Bachmeier's fourth-down pass to Walker Lyons fell incomplete, sending fans storming onto the field.
UCF's win is the first against a top-five team in program history and the first against a ranked opponent since defeating No. 15 Oklahoma State on Nov. 11, 2023. The victory also snaps a two-game losing streak.
BYU (6-1, 3-1) suffered its first loss of the season, snapping a seven-game winning streak going back to last year.
BYU started strong on its opening drive, with Bachmeier connecting with receiver Kyler Kasper for a 27-yard touchdown to put the Cougars up 7-0 with 8:19 left in the first quarter. The 11-play drive chewed up nearly 6 minutes off the clock as Bachmeier threw his eighth passing touchdown of the season.
UCF saw its four-game scoring streak on opening possessions snapped after it failed to convert on a third-and-6 and was forced to punt.
An early bright spot was the return of receiver Duane Thomas Jr., who missed the first six games with an undisclosed lower-body injury. Thomas caught his first pass of the season, a 7-yard completion, at the 8:19 mark of the first quarter.
The Knights found some rhythm on their third possession thanks to running back Duke Watson, whose 30-yard run put UCF in the red zone for the first time. Five plays later, Landen Chambers punched it in for a 2-yard touchdown, tying the game 7-7.
It was Chambers' fourth rushing touchdown of the season and the 15th of his career.
UCF carried its momentum from earlier, driving downfield with a mix of short runs and screen passes. They got back into the red zone after Jenkins connected with Hornes on an 18-yard pass, setting up at the BYU 8-yard line.
The Knights missed out when receiver Waden Charles dropped a sure touchdown pass from Jenkins on first-and-goal. Unable to reach the end zone, UCF capped off the drive with a 20-yard field goal by Stone to take a 10-7 lead with 8:10 left in the half.
Bachmeier found Kasper again, this time for a 32-yard completion that put BYU on the UCF 2 and set up first-and-goal. Two plays later, the Cougars' quarterback plunged into the end zone to retake the 14-10 lead with 3:47 left.
UCF went back to work, but after securing what appeared to be a first down on third-and-1, the Knights were flagged for holding. On the subsequent third-and-10, Jenkins' pass to Derry fell harmless to the ground, forcing a punt.
BYU drove into UCF territory on its next possession, but defensive tackle Thomas Collins deflected Bachmeier's pass, and linebacker Tackett Curtis intercepted it, ending the threat. It was Curtis's second interception and the Knights' 12th takeaway of the season.
UCF capitalized on the turnover, connecting on a 30-yard pass from Jenkins to Hornes at the BYU 25. They continued their push, reaching the 6 after Jenkins completed a 12-yard pass to Derry with just 8 seconds left in the half. On the next play, Jenkins found Chambers in the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown pass, putting UCF up 17-14 as the half ended.
Bachmeier kicked off the second half much like he opened the first, connecting with Kasper for a crucial 14-yard gain on a pivotal fourth-and-4 at the UCF 28. On the next play, he connected with receiver Jojo Phillips for a 24-yard completion, setting up a first-and-goal at the 4.
After a brief gain to the 1-yard line, running back Sione Moa powered into the end zone, putting BYU up 21-17 with 9:45 left in the third quarter.
UCF responded when Jenkins found Hornes on a bubble screen, and the freshman raced 56 yards to the BYU 15. Four plays later, Jenkins dove into the end zone for the score. It was his fourth rushing touchdown of the season.
BYU's Matthias Dunn connected on a 47-yard field goal to tie the game at 24 with 12:09 left.
Both teams traded punts, setting up another drive for UCF.
Watson took the ball down to the 1 on third-and-goal, setting up a crucial fourth down. But on the next play, Watson failed to sneak into the end zone, ending the threat.
BYU was forced to punt the ball with 42 seconds left in the game.
Jenkins found Chambers on a 21-yard completion, pushing the Knights into BYU territory. But Jenkins was sacked on the next play, fumbled at midfield, and the Cougars recovered. After a replay, officials ruled it an incomplete pass. On the play, BYU was flagged for an unsportsmanlike penalty, putting the ball on the 28.
Stone attempted a 47-yard field goal on third down, but he blocked it and recovered it, setting up another attempt; however, a replay showed that because Stone's helmet came off, the 10-second runoff applied, sending the game into overtime.
UCF hosts Baylor in the annual Space Game on Friday (7:30 p.m., ESPN).
Source: Sports
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