The BYU Cougars went to UCF on Saturday trying to remain undefeated on the season, while UCF was looking to snap a four-game losing streak. The Knights entered the game as the favorites, despite their struggles. BYU needed a late comeback last week to beat Oklahoma State at home, while UCF nearly pulled off an upset against Iowa State in Ames.
On Saturday, it was BYU from start to finish, as the Cougars opened up the game with an eight-play, 75-yard drive to take a 7-0 lead and never look back on their way to a 37-24 win over the Knights.
Here are the top three takeaways from the game.
BYU Wins Both Sides of Halftime
The Cougars felt in control of this game from start to finish, but the real nail in the coffin came with how the Cougars handled each side of halftime. BYU took a two-possession lead at the end of halftime when Jake Retzlaff found Chase Roberts for a 62-yard touchdown to make it 24-10 heading into the break. Then, BYU got the ball to start the third quarter and the Cougars went on a methodical 10-play, 72-yard drive that took six minutes off the clock. The drive capped off with Retzlaff finding Mata’ava Ta’ase for a one-yard touchdown.
This made it a 31-10 game midway through the third quarter, and it felt like the game was basically over at that point. Retzlaff threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns and added another on the ground, as the Cougars improved to 8-0 with the win.
UCF Finds a Quarterback Who Can …Pass?
After Jacurri Brown threw an interception early in the fourth quarter of a 31-10 game, UCF turned to Dylan Rizk at quarterback. Yes, it was garbage time at that point, but Rizk played the best quarterback of any UCF quarterback in weeks. He finished 6/10 for 102 yards, one touchdown, plus four rushes for 31 yarsds.
Rizk is a former three-star prospect from the Class of 2023, according to 247Sports. He was ranked as the No. 49 quarterback in the class, per the 247Sports composite. UCF fans took to social media to celebrate and to ask coach Guz Malzahn why it took so long to put him in.
While UCF has lost five games in a row, Rizk might be the reason to find a glimmer of hope in Orlando right now.
Bye bye, BYU
BYU is 8-0 heading into its bye week and is well positioned to make the Big 12 Championship Game and potentially punch a ticket to the College Football Playoff.
Coming out of the bye week is the renewal of one of the best rivalries in college sports with BYU traveling to Utah for the Holy War. While Utah hasn’t come close to meeting expectations, you never overlook a rival. Then, BYU has Kansas and Arizona State, before wrapping up the season with Houston.
BYU hasn’t gotten much love from Vegas, and that’s why they’re 7-1 against the spread this season, but BYU should be expected to win each of these games down the stretch.
As long as they don’t spend their two weeks off reading their own press clippings, the Cougars are in an incredible position to make this a historic season in Provo.
