Will BYU go undefeated against UCF? -Deseret News

ORLANDO, Fla. – On the front of the press box overlooking the “Bounce House” – also known as FBC Mortgage Stadium, home of UCF football – are words declaring the Knights the 2017 National Champions.

The phrase drew a lot of attention and a lot of ridicule because UCF wasn't the “real” national champion that year. In most minds, it was Alabama, the winner of the College Football Playoff.

The Knights clinched the title by going undefeated in the regular season (12-0) and then defeating Auburn in the Peach Bowl after being rejected for a spot in the CFP.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott and state lawmakers passed a resolution on Jan. 8, 2018, declaring UCF was the true national champion, and shortly thereafter there was new signage at the Bounce House — apparently reflecting that nickname received because the stadium vibrated and shook when the fans jumped in unison.

In that environment, the undefeated, 11th-ranked BYU Cougars — who also captured a national championship (1984) — arrive Saturday with much to win and much to lose.

But will anyone be jumping around in black and gold?

UCF (3-4, 1-3), which hasn't come close to matching its 2017 season and has lost four straight games, hosts BYU (7-0, 4-0) with the goal of improving on its season. The Knights can play loosely and freely.

So the pressure is squarely on BYU in a Big 12 game that begins at 1:30 p.m. MDT and will be nationally televised by ESPN.

Will the Cougars be up to the task? Or will the Knights get some revenge for the 49-23 loss suffered by Zach Wilson and Co. in the 2020 Boca Raton Bowl some 200 miles away?

It's UCF's home game, but people here aren't sure what kind of crowd they can expect given the season coach Gus Malzahn's team is playing. Two of the losses in their four-game sweep came at home – including a 48-21 loss to Coach Prime's Colorado Buffalos on September 28th.

All is not well in Orlando.

It's the exact opposite for top-ranked BYU, which is 7-0 for the fifth time in program history and is second under head coach Kalani Sitake.

The Cougars expect pressure to be a privilege they've earned with their unexpectedly good start.

“We feel really good about the team and the general mindset of the team, but we definitely have some things we need to address,” Sitake said Monday. “I love the team dynamic, the leadership in our program, the way the guys are coached. We just have to keep building on it.”

One of the issues that needs to be addressed is BYU's defense, which looked more like the 2023 version than the first half of 2024 version in last Friday's 38-35 win over Oklahoma State. The Pokes ran for 269 yards and were 9 of 13 on third down.

Don't look now, but UCF is more dangerous on the ground than OSU was before it marched up and down the field against the Cougars. This is especially true now that Malzahn has found a capable dual-threat quarterback in Miami transfer Jacurri Brown.

Brown is the type of dual-threat signal-caller that has given BYU fits in the past.

“It's a complicated scheme. We have to do our best. They do a lot of good. They do a lot of different things that we haven’t necessarily seen this year,” BYU defensive coordinator Jay Hill said after declaring Tuesday’s practice one of the best of the season for the Cougars.

“We have to be confident in our tasks. “We need to limit the couple of big plays we gave up last week,” Hill continued. “Obviously it was a big deal in last week’s game. I think our guys will be absolutely ready. Yes, it’s a good challenge for us.”

Oklahoma State's performance on the ground was its highest since West Virginia ran the Cougars for 336 in Morgantown last year, which was the last time BYU played in the Eastern Time Zone.

“The last trip back East didn’t go well for us,” offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick admitted. “We didn’t play well.”

Was the narrow win over a mediocre OSU team an anomaly for the Cougars or a signal that the second half of the season will be much more difficult than the first? BYU has a bye next week and then travels to Utah for the rivalry game on November 9th.

“I don't want to call it a wake-up call, but I think when everyone starts talking about how great you're playing, how great you are, then it only takes the two big runs in the first half before you start to get excited asking what “You do,” Hill said. “If it weren't for the two big runs and the last drive (that OSU had), we played a lot of good football. But it definitely leaves a bit of a bitter taste in your mouth.”

After playing last Friday, BYU had another day to prepare for the Knights, who played Saturday. That advantage is offset somewhat by having to travel 1,900 miles across the country (BYU flew in on Thursday after practicing in Provo on Thursday morning).

“The extra day of preparation and rest to get your body healthy can be huge,” Hill said Tuesday. “Today we looked fast and fluid, perhaps better than we have in a few weeks. I thought it was a big deal to have an extra day.”

Cougars on air

No. 11 BYU (7-0, 4-0) at UCF (3-4, 1-3)

• Saturday, 1:30 p.m. MDT

• At FBC Mortgage Stadium (capacity: 45,301)

•Orlando, Florida

• Television: ESPN

• Radio: 102.7 FM/1160 AM