UCF got off to a strong start against Kansas in their Big 12 home opener, but the Knights couldn’t hold onto their lead, ultimately losing to the Jayhawks 27-20, on Saturday.
This marks their second consecutive loss and the fifth straight defeat against a conference rival.
The Knights are back in action at Cincinnati on Saturday at Nippert Stadium. In the meantime, here’s a look at five key takeaways from UCF’s latest setback.
Quarterback remains uncertain
For the second straight game, starter Tayven Jackson found himself on the sidelines with his left arm in a sling. Jackson was knocked out of Saturday’s game late in the third quarter and, unlike the previous week, there was no miraculous return for the redshirt junior.
Coach Scott Frost indicated that Jackson’s injury was “nothing major” and that X-rays were negative, but his status for playing at Cincinnati remains up in the air.
Cam Fancher, who started the opener against Jacksonville State on Aug. 28, came into the game in Jackson’s absence and nearly tied the game late in the fourth quarter. The redshirt senior has been limited since returning from a back injury.
“We’ve got to do a better job around whoever’s playing quarterback to make sure to put them in good situations,” Frost said.
Backup Jacurri Brown was out for Saturday’s game while recovering from an AC strain he suffered in the team’s loss to Kansas State.
Defense could have used Horace Lockett
Redshirt junior defensive tackle Horace Lockett was surprisingly listed as out on the player availability report released by the Knights this week.
It turns out Lockett suffered a torn pectoral muscle in the Knights’ 34-20 loss at Kansas State and had season-ending surgery on Friday.
“He’s been great at the beginning of the season, so I feel terrible for him,” Frost said.
The 6-foot-6, 355-pound Lockett has made a significant impact on UCF’s defensive line. According to Pro Football Focus, he ranked as the second-best defender on the team heading into this weekend, just behind edge rusher Nyjalik Kelly.
He had the fourth-best pressure rate (7%) on the team behind Malachi Lawrence (22%), Sincere Edwards (14%) and Kelly (12%).
Young receivers get opportunity
Following UCF’s loss at Kansas State, Frost lamented about his receivers appearing to be gassed in the second half against the Wildcats. He vowed to try to get some of the younger players more action in the future.
The future appears to be now as Waden Charles, Chris Domercant and Carl Jenkins Jr. saw significantly more targets in the loss to Kansas.
Charles had 3 catches for 34 yards, Domercant had 3 catches for 15 yards and Jenkins saw his first catches (2 for 21 yards) of his career.
“I told them after the game how much I was proud of them,” said junior receiver Duane Thomas Jr., who led the team with 5 catches for 44 yards. “We all believe in them. It’s not like we don’t think they’re ready. They’re obviously ready.”
Myles Montgomery gives offense boost
Montgomery had perhaps his best quarter of play with the Knights in the first on Saturday, rushing for 96 yards on 9 carries with a touchdown. He finished with 110 yards on 22 carries with two touchdowns, although just 14 of those yards came in the last three quarters.
It was the second straight 100-yard rushing game of his career.
The Knights entered the weekend ranked sixth in the Big 12 in rushing offense, averaging 203 yards per game. They finished with 199 yards on Saturday.
Penalties continue to haunt Knights
UCF played relatively mistake-free football in the first half, but in the fourth quarter, when Fancher came into the game, the Knights were hit once again for multiple penalties on offense.
The offense was flagged for three false starts at the start of the fourth quarter.
“In the first half, we played discipline and penalty-free,” Frost said. “The first drive of the fourth quarter, we had it rolling and we had a 2nd-and-8 and we false-started. That killed the drive for all intents and purposes. We had a lot of chances to at least send this one to overtime.”
The Knights were flagged six times in the game for 45 yards.
Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.
