UCF will once again be without starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III when the Knights host No. 2 BYU on Saturday, according to a report from Pete Thamel. Barnett is still recovering from the hamstring injury he suffered in UCF’s Sept. 12 loss at Pitt and is not expected to start against the Cougars. Instead, Keyone Jenkins is set to make his fifth consecutive start for the Knights.
The news is significant not just for UCF, but for the Big 12 race as a whole. BYU enters the week undefeated and ranked No. 2 in the country, putting the Cougars firmly in the College Football Playoff conversation. A road trip to Orlando looked like one of the more dangerous remaining hurdles on BYU’s schedule, but UCF’s continued quarterback situation changes the dynamic considerably.
Barnett arrived at UCF with high expectations after a standout career at James Madison and was viewed as one of the most impactful transfer quarterbacks in the Big 12. However, his season has been derailed after just two games. The veteran has been sidelined since the injury against Pittsburgh, forcing head coach Scott Frost to turn to Jenkins for an extended stretch.
To Jenkins’ credit, he has kept the Knights competitive and shown flashes of why he was a coveted transfer addition himself. But asking any backup quarterback to knock off an undefeated BYU team is a tall order, especially against a defense that has emerged as one of the best units in the Big 12 this season.
Jenkins has completed 70% of his passes this season, throwing for 806 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions. In his last outing against Oklahoma State, he went 30/42 for 265 yards and four touchdown passes in a 42-28 loss in Stillwater. The Knights will be trying to snap a two-game slide on Saturday against the Cougars.
For BYU, the objective remains simple: avoid a letdown after last week’s emotional win over Notre Dame and continue its march toward Arlington. For UCF, the challenge becomes even steeper as the Knights try to pull off one of the season’s biggest upsets without their starting quarterback available once again.
