UCF’s homecoming game just got a lot bigger.
The Knights will host No. 2 BYU fresh off the Cougars’ 28-24 upset win over Notre Dame.
When asked in his Monday press conference how he helps his players not get too pumped up to play the No. 2 team in the country, UCF head coach Scott Frost didn’t sound too worried.
“It’s homecoming,” he said. “It’s the Big 12. Everybody’s pretty close. I think BYU is the best of the bunch, obviously. There’s some arguments to be made for some other teams too, but I think they’ve done a really good job.
“They’re big and long and physical. They got a really good quarterback. There’s no holes. They’re solid players everywhere. They know what they’re doing. They’re well-coached. It’s an awesome opportunity for us on homecoming to go shoot our shot and I think our kids will be excited.”
Frost rooted for the Big 12 while he watched BYU’s victory over Notre Dame, he said.
“I think it was a really good win for BYU and for our league,” he said. “I was happy for Kalani and that group. Looked like a special environment. Really good game against two really good teams, and BYU came out on top. It was good for the Big 12.”
BYU is the highest-ranked team UCF has ever hosted, surpassing the 2007 No. 6-ranked Texas Longhorns, according to On3.
“I think BYU deserves to be ranked where they are,” Frost said. “I think it ought to be based on your record and your wins and losses, and they’ve won everyone that they’ve played. So, they deserve it right now.”
UCF’s areas to improve
UCF starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III has missed the last four games due to a hamstring injury and is expected to miss the game against BYU, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Keyone Jenkins has started in Barnett’s place.
The Knights are coming off their bye week and are 3-3 this season with wins against Bethune-Cookman, Georgia State and TCU and losses to Pittsburgh, Houston and Oklahoma State. Of UCF’s three losses this season, two have been by 10 points or fewer.
“We’ve played well enough to win, and we haven’t played well enough to win,” Frost said. “I’m happy with our team’s effort. I think we can find a little more. That’s part of the reason I want them to be fresh. But when you think you’re giving everything you have, usually there’s more in there.”
Frost attributed it to mentality and injuries.
“When we get into situations where we’re ahead or have a shot in the fourth quarter, we can’t just play the same as we’ve been playing,” he said. “That’s where it’s got to get really intense and our guys got to look for opportunities to make plays and and make a few more.”
“... We’ve had several opportunities where we can make one play here or there that would have flipped a couple of these games. I want our guys hunting for those opportunities.”
On facing Bear Bachmeier
Frost had high praise for BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier, calling him one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Against UCF last year, Bachmeier completed 21 out of 25 passes for 289 yards and a touchdown.
“Bear played really well against us,” Frost said. “He’s played well since he’s got there. He’s unique because he can really throw it, but he’s big and he can take off and run it when he needs to. They run some options with him and you know they count on him to run it when they need a play.”
Frost added that his defense will need to make a few plays to keep Bachmeier and BYU’s offense off the field.
He also called BYU the “deepest team” UCF has faced so far this season.
“I think they’re bigger and longer than some of the other teams we’ve played,” he said. “That makes it hard to run the ball up the middle, to stop the run just with their size and and the depth that they can throw at you.
“I think there’s a lot of good teams in this league and there’s not much difference between anybody. But there’s some definitely unique things about BYU that make them really good.”
Looking back at the last matchup between BYU and UCF
When asked about last season’s 41-21 loss in Provo, Frost first credited the environment at BYU.
“That was a fun game,” he said. “What a cool environment out there. My hat’s off to them because, not only they’re a good team, but that their fans were great. It was just a good environment. I think their players are good people. The coaches are good people. It’s a fun game to play because of some of those things.”
UCF had a 14-0 lead before BYU scored its first touchdown of the game in the second quarter. On the Knights’ next drive, wide receiver Duane Thomas Jr. threw an interception on a trick play.
UCF kept its lead after a missed field goal by BYU, but their luck quickly changed. Their next three possessions ended in punts, including one that BYU returned for a touchdown, giving BYU a 31-14 lead.
The Knights were never able to recover.
“If you’re going to even have a chance against team like this, you got to play well in all three phases and you got to play well for four quarters,” Frost said. “We played a really good first quarter and played good in stretches some other times, but we were a little outmanned and outgunned last year. And I think we’ve gotten better. So, we got to try to have the same kind of start and sustain it through four quarters.”
