Just one yard.
That’s how close UCF was to tying the game late against Kansas on Saturday night.
Three chances for the Knights to gain those three feet and equalize the score with the Jayhawks.
If football is a game of inches, UCF needed just 36 inches to turn the tables on what had otherwise been a disastrous second half. Instead, the team fell short, both figuratively and literally, as quarterback Cam Fancher was stopped shy of the end zone.
Consequently, Kansas pulled out a 27-20 win, while UCF suffered its second consecutive loss and its fifth straight against a Big 12 opponent. The loss also prevented the Knights from winning their first game in October since a 25-21 win over Cincinnati on Oct. 29, 2022.
Just a matter of inches stood in the way of UCF improving to 4-1 for the first time since 2022. Instead, the Knights find themselves at 3-2 for the third consecutive season, facing a daunting challenge with a road game at Cincinnati (4-1, 2-0 Big 12) on Saturday.
The Bearcats, coming off an impressive 38-30 win over then-No. 14 Iowa State, are favored by 13 points over the Knights.
It’s the small details that have prevented the team from getting over this two-game slump.
“The frustrating thing is just having a great opportunity to win a game and take a step forward and not getting it done,” coach Scott Frost said on Monday. “We had plenty of chances and we were certainly in the game, but it’s frustrating to let one of those go.”
Five things learned from UCF loss against Kansas
UCF was certainly in both of the previous two losses, including two weeks ago in a 34-20 loss at Kansas State. Despite falling behind 24-7 early on, the Knights cut the lead to 31-20 midway through the fourth but failed on several missed opportunities. A false start and a delay of the game penalty snuffed out a potential touchdown chance, while a failed 4th-and-2 ended another drive.
A pair of false start penalties in the fourth quarter short-circuited a crucial drive by the Knights into Kansas territory, forcing a punt. It’s been a recurring theme throughout this season.
“We didn’t have false starts during the game until it got tight right there and we had a couple guys make mistakes,” Frost said. “That’s just being eager and not having been in that situation enough.”
Frost emphasizes the importance of patience to his young players, many of whom have never faced those situations before arriving at UCF.
“The first time my dad took me fishing, he told me, when a fish takes the hook, you have to be patient and wait for it to really take it before you set the hook. I didn’t do that because I was so excited in that situation,” recalled Frost. “After living for a while, you realize this isn’t a big deal. Let it happen and make it work.”
For linebacker Cole Kozlowski, it comes down to the little things that the Knights need to do better.
“We need to be assignment sound and people need to be in the right gaps,” said Kozlowski, who secured his first sack of the season against the Jayhawks. “If one person is out of a gap, it’s a 12-yard gain on a 2nd-and-11. If we’re all locked in, this defense could be even better than what we have so far.”
One thing Frost believes is that his team has the proper makeup to handle this rough patch, regardless of the outcome.
“This group is going to keep fighting,” he said. “I know these guys. We might win this week, we might lose and that’s not going to change how we approach the next week. This group cares about each other and they’re going to keep fighting and improving.”
Added Kozlowski: “We’re one step away from these wins. I feel like we’re one play away from these wins. If we can keep rolling, it should be good.”
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.
