West Virginia at UCF
Where: Acrisure Bounce House Stadium
When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
TV: TNT/TruTV/HBO
Weather: 79 degrees with 0% chance of precipitation
Latest line: UCF by 7.5 points
Coaches: Scott Frost, 3rd season at UCF, 22-10 (38-41 overall); Rich Rodriguez, 19th season at West Virginia, 62-30 (138-95 overall).
Quick slant: UCF is searching for its first-ever win over West Virginia. The Knights are 0-4 all-time in the series, including a 31-21 loss to the Mountaineers in Morgantown last season. … A win on Saturday would snap a three-game losing streak and avoid a four-game slide for the third consecutive season. … This is just the second time UCF has been featured in a 1 p.m. kickoff slot since 2015.
About UCF (3-3, 0-3 Big 12): UCF couldn’t overcome an early double-digit deficit midway through the second quarter at Cincinnati as the Knights lost their third straight game, 20-11 to the Bearcats last Saturday. UCF finished with a game-high in total offense (413 yards), total plays (90) and time of possession (39:44), but couldn’t overcome a season-high 10 penalties. Cam Fancher started his second game of the season at quarterback, stepping in for the injured Tayven Jackson. Fancher finished with 330 yards of total offense, including 108 rushing yards.
About West Virginia (2-4, 0-3 Big 12): West Virginia gets back to work after an off week. The Mountaineers are coming off a disappointing 38-24 loss at BYU on Oct. 3. The Cougars rushed for four touchdowns — three in the first half — as they built up a 28-10 halftime lead. Redshirt freshman quarterback Khalil Wilkins, who was making his first start, finished with a rushing touchdown but also threw two interceptions in the loss.
3 things to watch
1. The Mountaineers currently rank fourth in the Big 12 for rushing offense, even after losing their starting running back, Jaheim White, to a season-ending injury in Week 2. Additionally, backups Tye Edwards and Cyncir Bowers have had their own struggles with injuries. Redshirt freshman Diore Hubbard has stepped up as well.
2. UCF is among the most penalized teams in the conference, with the Knights having been flagged 44 times this season. The majority of those penalties (31) have come on the offensive side of the football, including 15 false start penalties, which is more than the entire defense has been penalized.
3. The Knights have generated just one takeaway during their current three-game losing streak and haven’t forced a turnover in back-to-back games. The program is 12-11 over the past three seasons when the defense forced at least one takeaway and just 1-6 when failing to get a turnover since joining the Big 12 in 2023.
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.
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