No. 11 BYU (8-0) led from start to finish as the Cougars rolled to a 37-24 road victory over UCF (3-5) at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
Quarterback Jake Retzlaff threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns — with no interceptions — and also added a rushing touchdown to lead the Cougars to a dominating victory Saturday afternoon in front of 42,000 fans — in what felt like a home game for the team.
The win not only assured the Cougars would be going into the Holy War showdown against Utah undefeated, but BYU’s college football playoff chances took a huge jump (61%) as well as its chances to playing in the Big 12 title game in December at AT&T Stadium — home of the Dallas Cowboys.
Surprisingly, BYU beat UCF at its own game.
Running the ball.
Big 12 Football: BYU, Iowa State Following TCU’s Playoff Run In 2022
After UCF racked up more than 350 yards rushing against then-No. 9 Iowa State on the road the previous week, the Knights came into Saturday’s game favored after BYU gave up more than 250 yards on the ground in a come-from-behind victory over Oklahoma State.
Luckily the game is played on the field and not on paper as oddsmakers were expecting another similar outing for UCF like thye did against Iowa State. Boy were they wrong.
BYU used the ‘underdog’ disrespect to their advantage as they dominated in all areas of the game and left no doubt who is the king atop the Big 12 right now.
The Cougars rushed for 252 yards and nearly eclipsed 500 total yards. The Cougars had the ball for 40 minutes compared to just 20 minutes for the Knights. LJ Martin led the way for BYU as the running back ran for 101 yards and touchdown, while Hinckley Ropati added 83 yards on 13 carries to lead the ground attack.
BYU had the highlight of the day thanks to a fake field goal in the first half. Holder Sam Vander Haar received the snap and then quickly — without even seeing where kicker Will Ferrin was — threw the ball between his legs which Ferrin caught with one hand and then rushed for a first down. The play went viral on social media with everyone talking about it.
The drive ended with a field goal, one of three kicks for Ferrin on the day.
Here’s all the reactions in BYU’s win over UCF:
BYU dominates UCF to remain undefeated 😤 pic.twitter.com/pvg7UGzREC
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 26, 2024
Perfection headed back to Provo.#Big12FB | @BYUfootball pic.twitter.com/S9Ww9U8546
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) October 26, 2024
COME MEET THE BOYS AT THE AIRPORT TONIGHT‼️ SIGNATURE AVIATION IN PROVO @ 1AM pic.twitter.com/3LHpODzMVb
— The ROC (@byuROC) October 27, 2024
Stay humble and hungry. Love these players. Focused, tough, resilient. Go Cougs!!! @BYUfootball https://t.co/B0jP3PiDTe
— Jay Hill (@CoachJayHill) October 27, 2024
So proud of our players.
Love our players. Love the great people I work along side with. Love our culture.Humble and Hungry
Love & LearnGo Cougs!!!🤙🏽 https://t.co/4LQCupF6e0
— Sione Pouha (@Pouha91) October 27, 2024
Man, BYU has a legit shot to go 12-0. That game in two weeks at Utah is going to be amazing drama
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) October 26, 2024
When are we gonna start talking about BYJew for Heisman? All proceeds go to @jretz11 https://t.co/LVoLRt86Yp pic.twitter.com/UxtDasWDX7
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) October 26, 2024
In August, ESPN FPI gave BYU a 4,356 to 1 odds of starting the season 8-0.#BYUCPL @gregwrubell @975Hans
— CougarStats (@CougarStats) October 26, 2024
This is becoming a pattern with BYU opponents pic.twitter.com/yGC7gxeNcE
— SUNNY COUGS (@SUNNYCOUGS) October 26, 2024
The perfect football weekend doesn’t exs… pic.twitter.com/ibF60fRrBA
— COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS BEST (@NegativeEquity_) October 27, 2024
Perfect sports day: achieved.
— Boney Fuller (@boneyfuller) October 27, 2024
DONT GIVE COSMO ANY IDEAS
— Jason 📱✈️🌪️ (@OmgItsJason1984) October 27, 2024
Your sacrifice is appreciated.
— BYU Blue (@BYUbluThru) October 27, 2024
Nope, keep the disrespect pointed our direction. The cougs play best when they have a chip on their shoulder. Keeps them hungry. 😋
— RoyalStrongTrue (@healeybomb) October 26, 2024
What a trick play from BYU!
Never seen a fake field goal like that before. The holder threw it between his legs 🤣#BYU #UCF #GoCougs #Big12 #Big12FB #CFB pic.twitter.com/qNS8xJ24CE
— Justin Giles (@JustinGiles_) October 26, 2024
BYU with one of the most beautiful fake FGs of the season. Shoutout to the holder for taking this to the next level. pic.twitter.com/Z7oE8paZXp
— Max Olson (@max_olson) October 26, 2024
Best team in the Big 12 tbf
— Ben (@TheHurricaneBen) October 26, 2024
ARod: So the holder does a no look flip between his legs, the kicker catches it with one hand, then has a run pass option.
Kalani: [Long pause]… I love it! pic.twitter.com/vxy7L9ix27
— Sporty (@SportyMcSports) October 27, 2024
BYU special teams coach Kelly Poppinga to former semi-pro Australian rules football player Sam Vander Haar: "Hey, Sam, can you snap the ball between your legs while kneeling on the ground?"
Vander Haar: "No problem, mate."#BYUFootball— Darnell Dickson (@DarnellWrites) October 26, 2024
The funniest thing about this season for BYU is even after being undefeated so far, after every game every fan is fully convinced we will lose the next game 😂
— Jake McCleary (@JMCCLEARY_10) October 27, 2024
People still haven't caught on to BYU's secret underground fan trafficking ring. No one ever questions why they leave with more fans than they came with…
"Go for a game, you won't come out the same — it's the BYU way", a victim
(it's something in those dang CougarTails™!) https://t.co/Fz8bAijJQr
— I’m VolCoug Aight (@volcoug) October 27, 2024
Not going anywhere!
— I’m VolCoug Aight (@volcoug) October 27, 2024
Sources: Vegas has set BYU as a 3 point underdog to BYE next weekend. pic.twitter.com/DOEoO0Zxbz
— CougarStats (@CougarStats) October 26, 2024
Great win BYU Cougars,,,8-0… I can not wait to visit Lavell Edwards stadium….#BYUFootball
— ByuMomma (@uclagrad90) October 26, 2024
No joke, BYU scored a touchdown right when this Falcon 9 was lifting off 50 miles east of the stadium. 🚀 @SpaceX pic.twitter.com/5brXumD1z4
— Michael Jolley (@mjolley22) October 26, 2024
lol BYU was an underdog in this game
— locked on big 12, america’s conference. (@LOBig12) October 26, 2024
— Landan Sorensen (@chele5792) October 26, 2024
#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/kuXBFrwqCL
— BYUfan! (@BYUcougar123) October 26, 2024
BYU’s Defense 😮💨
— Khyiris Tonga (@khyiristonga) October 26, 2024
THESEEEEE COUGARSSSS LESSSS GOOOOOO
— Tei Nacua (@TeiNacua) October 26, 2024
With the exception of an 18-point outing at now-ranked SMU, BYU has scored between 34 and 41 points in every other game this season.
— Greg Wrubell (@gregwrubell) October 26, 2024
In its last three games, BYU handed:
Arizona its second of four straight losses
Oklahoma State its fourth of five straight losses
UCF its fifth of five straight losses
Next up, BYU faces a Utah team on a four-game losing streak.
— Greg Wrubell (@gregwrubell) October 27, 2024
I can get you a Book of Mormon if you want
— Mase (@MasonOfA_) October 27, 2024
I LOVE BYU!!!!!!
— Coach Alletto (@nalletto) October 26, 2024
The only thing more unpredictable than the start to BYU’s season is Jay Hill and Aaron Roderick’s play calling.
It’s been a Master Class in coordinating.
Jay Hill’s defensive calls are more random than a car leaping with arms and legs. pic.twitter.com/PF1NvLpXVp— Hans Olsen (@975Hans) October 27, 2024
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Big 12 Football: BYU, Iowa State Following TCU’s Playoff Run In 2022
