PROVO, Utah — Scott Frost admitted last weekend the time for speculation had ended and his UCF Knights “are what we are.” And while they went some way toward defying expectations Saturday, Nov. 29, one of their defining characteristics for the 2025 season remains: winless away from the Bounce House.
Bear Bachmeier threw for 289 yards on 21-of-25 passing, LJ Martin scored three short-yardage touchdowns and Parker Kingston had two game-sealing scores in the third quarter as No. 11 BYU (11-1, 8-1) celebrated its spot in the Big 12 championship game with a 41-21 victory over the Knights at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementUCF (5-7, 2-7) finishes with a losing record for the third straight season, the first time the program has endured such prolonged struggling since joining the Football Bowl Subdivision in 1996. The Knights have lost nine in a row on a road and hold a combined record of 7-20 against conference opponents since joining the Big 12 two years ago.
Nov 29, 2025; Provo, Utah, USA; BYU Cougars running back LJ Martin (4) runs the ball in for a touchdown against the UCF Knights during the second quarter at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images"Their quarterback made some great throws on third and fourth down, their receivers got open on crossing routes, they made a punt return, they got a stop or two when they needed it. We need to start doing those things, and we had our chances to," Knights coach Scott Frost said.
"We need to start making those plays, and that's just going to be a product of continuing to bring the right guys into the program, developing the guys in the program. Our guys fought one of the best teams in the league, and I thought we showed quite a bit today against a good team."
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTayven Jackson produced his best road outing of the fall, connecting on 21 of 37 throws for 232 yards and two touchdowns with a lost fumble. UCF encountered tough sledding on the ground, gaining 42 yards on 19 rushing attempts.
Here are three takeaways from UCF's finale.
UCF produces stunning 1st quarter in all 3 phases
Nov 29, 2025; Provo, Utah, USA; UCF Knights quarterback Tayven Jackson (2) passes against the UCF Knights during the second quarter at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn ImagesWhile the outcome might have been predictable, UCF's performance in the opening quarter was anything but. The Knights sizzled in the opening 10 minutes on a chilly day in the mountains.
Jackson shook off a near-fumble on the Knights' second play to fire across his body and hit Waden Charles for a 16-yard, chain-moving completion. Despite a pair of penalties, including a potentially backbreaking downfield hold on Chris Domercant to wipe out a touchdown, the Knights finished their opening possession in style as Jackson whipped a 4-yard play-action pass to Dylan Wade.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWade, a junior from Orlando, set a new single-season program record for touchdown catches by a tight end in its FBS era. He has five on the year, including four in the Knights' final three games.
UCF's defense fed off the momentum right away and collapsed the pocket around Bachmeier, resulting in a sack for junior linebacker Lewis Carter. The Cougars went three-and-out, gaining no yards, and Antione Jackson returned the ensuing punt 21 yards, just shy of midfield.
Seven plays later, the Knights struck again when Jackson found freshman running back Agyeman Addae all alone in the left flat for a 20-yard touchdown — the first career score for the preferred walk-on from Miami. Jackson completed 10 of his first 12 throws on the afternoon.
"We were just executing at a high level," Jackson said. "That's our offense. … That's what it should look like and what it will look like."
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAgyeman Addae turns in surprising 2-touchdown day
PROVO UT - NOVEMBER 29: Agyeman Addae #35 of the University of Central Florida Knights rushes the ball during the first half of their game against the Brigham Young Cougars at LaVell Edwards Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)Addae entered fall camp as the Knights' No. 5 running back and finished third on the depth chart due to season-ending injuries for Stacy Gage and Taevion Swint.
Addae thrived in an expanded role and flashed real potential as a pass-catching, change-of-pace back for the future. He secured a team-high five receptions on six targets for 62 yards, and he executed a gadget pass, taking a direct snap and tossing it to Jackson for a 4-yard score in the third quarter.
"It means everything to be a contributor. I want to help the team win, just like all of us," Addae said.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"(UCF) showed love, nothing but love. They never turned me down. They gave me an opportunity and, shoot, I took it."
Redshirt senior Myles Montgomery, a vocal supporter of Addae's since the dog days of August, felt pride watching his protege succeed in what will be his final collegiate game.
"We were kind of teasing him all week about that (trick) play because it was a little bit sketchy," Montgomery said. "But it was good to see that. I told him on the sideline, ''I'm your biggest fan.' I'm going to be with him forever."
Duane Thomas Jr. totaled 91 scrimmage yards on eight touches, Waden Charles had four receptions for 50 yards and Wade had four grabs for 31 yards. All of those players, and Addae, have at least one year of eligibility remaining — forming a potential skill-position foundation for the Knights in 2026.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementScott Frost hopes BYU, Texas Tech reach College Football Playoff
Nov 29, 2025; Provo, Utah, USA; BYU Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake, right, speaks with UCF Knights head coach Scott Frost before the game at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn ImagesBYU ripped off 31 unanswered points in the middle quarters to dispel all hope of an unlikely UCF upset, capped by Kingston's 55-yard punt return touchdown — the third of his career.
The Cougars scored on four straight drives in that span, running 33 plays and amassing 276 yards. BYU forced two turnovers, but both of those possessions ended in missed field goals.
BYU sewed up its spot in next week's Big 12 title game late Friday when Arizona upended Arizona State, perhaps a factor in its sleepy start. The Cougars square off for a rematch with Texas Tech at noon in Arlington, Texas, with the winner earning automatic entry into the College Football Playoff.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAs of the Nov. 25 CFP rankings, BYU is the first team out of the 12-team field; the projected ACC (Miami, Virginia or SMU) and Group of Five champions (Tulane, North Texas or James Madison) are ranked lower. Having faced them both, Frost believes BYU and Texas Tech are worthy of at-large bids.
"I hope it is (a two-bid league)," Frost said. "I think it's good football. Playing both those teams, they're both really good teams and, on any given day, could play with about anybody in the country. I'm certainly pulling for the league."
The SEC seems assured of at least five spots with Texas A&M, Georgia, Ole Miss, Oklahoma and Alabama projected in as of Tuesday. Defending national champion Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon would represent the Big Ten, and Notre Dame — despite early losses to Texas A&M and fellow at-large hopeful Miami — holds a spot as an independent.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: UCF Knights football takeaways from Big 12 road loss to BYU Cougars
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