UCF is hoping to avoid letting Saturday’s letdown at Kansas State snowball into something bigger.
In each of the past two seasons, the Knights have experienced the fresh promise of 3-0 starts swiftly deteriorate due to a pair of painful five-game losing streaks. Each dashed the hopes and trajectory of their respective seasons.
In 2023, UCF suffered a disappointing 44-31 defeat at Kansas State in its Big 12 opener. This setback was compounded by a heartbreaking 36-35 loss to Baylor, which sent the Knights into a downward spiral. However, the team managed to rally, winning three of its last four games, ultimately earning a spot in a bowl game.
Even greater struggles marked the following season.
UCF faced a humiliating 48-21 loss against Colorado and eventual Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. It was the start of a painful five-game losing streak against Florida, Cincinnati, Iowa State and BYU. Ultimately, the Knights struggled to regain their footing, resulting in a disappointing 4-8 season record.
“Sometimes when those things happen, it’s because you’re just losing close games and you’re fighting and that’s football. You win some, you lose some,” said coach Scott Frost, who is in his first season in his second stint at UCF. “Other times, when that happens to teams, guys can cash it in a little bit. I don’t expect this team to do that.
“That doesn’t mean we’ll win the next one. It doesn’t mean we won’t. This league is going to be a battle every week. But I feel great about the players we have on this team. We’re going to keep fighting.”
UCF is coming off a frustrating loss on the road against Kansas State, where the Knights trailed by as much as 17 points to the Wildcats before eventually falling, 34-20. This marked the fourth consecutive loss in the Big 12 for the program and the fifth straight road loss.
“It’s a learning experience, more than it is heartbreak,” said running back Myles Montgomery. “We want to win every game, but the reality is that’s hard. It’s really hard to do. The only thing you can do is look at it with a fine-tooth comb and figure out where we can get better at.”
Five things learned from UCF’s loss at Kansas State
The Knights found comfort in knowing that their team never backed down on Saturday, pushing through until the very last moment.
Nothing illustrated the team’s determination quite like starting quarterback Tayven Jackson.
He exited the game in the first half after enduring an AC strain in his left shoulder. With his arm cradled in a sling, he sat on the sidelines in street clothes. Yet, in a remarkable show of resilience, the redshirt junior suited up once more, stepping back onto the field to try and lead the Knights to a comeback.
“We could have laid down, but we didn’t. We kept fighting and tried to claw and scratch our way out. We did a good job, but we didn’t do enough,” Jackson said after the loss.
UCF (3-1, 0-1 Big 12) needs to shake off its recent loss quickly, as they have an upcoming clash against Kansas (2-2, 1-1 Big 12) this Saturday at Acrisure Bounce House Stadium. This marks the team’s Big 12 home opener, adding extra excitement to the matchup.
“You’ve got to put your ego down,” center Carter Miller said on Monday. “You’ve got to go into the film room and say, ‘Hey, I messed this up, I messed this up,’ and you’ve got to go fix what you messed up. You’ve got to correct the little things.”
#UCF center Carter Miller on the impact of losing OL coach Shawn Clark. pic.twitter.com/LiQzVf1Fez
— Matt Murschel (@osmattmurschel) September 29, 2025
“Flush it. Flush the loss. It’s a new week, a new game and a different team,” added linebacker Lewis Carter. “Just attack this week. Prepare every day as if it were our last day. Watch film harder, practice harder. Just do everything harder and just come out with the W.”
Throughout the grueling days of fall camp and the early weeks of the season, Frost has consistently lauded his team’s impressive work ethic. He firmly believes this dedication will be vital as they navigate the challenges that come with a demanding Big 12 schedule.
“We might win three in a row, or we might lose three in a row. We might win one, lose one, but no matter what, we’re going to keep coming to work and trying to give ourselves a chance the next week and the players have got to do the same thing,” he said.
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.
