On Saturday afternoon, Baylor staged a remarkable comeback in the face of a substantial third-quarter deficit of 35-7, ultimately triumphing over UCF, the recent addition to the Big 12, in the Knights’ inaugural conference home game. The Bears secured the victory by scoring 29 consecutive points, with the decisive moment being Isaiah Hankins’s 25-yard field goal with just 1:21 remaining in the game.
This victory marked Baylor’s most significant comeback ever, while UCF suffered their highest-ever points conceded in a comeback by an opposing team.
The UCF Knights made an impressive march down the field, with quarterback Timmy McClain’s fourth-down run to the Baylor 41-yard line as the highlight. On that play, McClain retreated all the way back to the 30-yard line, skillfully avoiding a tackle in the end zone before connecting with R.J. Harvey for a 16-yard gain at the UCF 46-yard line.
At the conclusion of the game, Colton Boomer’s attempt at a 59-yard field goal fell short, resulting in UCF’s loss.
The Bears achieved this unexpected comeback through two turnovers and four consecutive scoring drives. They closed the gap to just two points, 35-33, with just over six minutes left when Caden Jenkins recovered a dropped snap and ran 72 yards for a touchdown.
Although the Bears faced a challenging game, their unwavering faith kept them in the competition. Wide receiver Monoray Baldwin emphasized their single-minded focus on victory and supporting each other throughout the game.
Johnny Richardson made an explosive start for UCF, scoring a 79-yard touchdown on the opening play of the game, giving the Knights a 21-0 lead. Demari Richardson added to their lead with an 87-yard fumble-recovery touchdown, extending their lead to 28-7 by halftime.
After an initial touchdown drive in the third quarter, the Knights’ offense struggled to gain momentum. UCF managed only 98 yards before their final drive, with two turnovers, including an interception that led to a Baylor touchdown, and a fumble returned for a score.
Gus Malzahn of UCF acknowledged that their own actions contributed to their defeat, while the opposing side did what was necessary to secure the victory.
Blake Shapen’s return after missing three games due to an MCL strain brought stability to the Baylor offense. He completed 21 passes out of 34 attempts for 293 yards, with 105 of those yards coming in the second half. Baldwin had an impressive game, with seven receptions for 150 yards and one touchdown.
UCF’s McClain ended the game with 234 passing yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
Recovering Quarterbacks:
Blake Shapen’s return was a welcome sight for Baylor after his MCL injury during the season opener against Texas State.
UCF’s starting quarterback, John Rhys Plumlee, was dressed and warmed up but did not take the field, despite being ready to play. Malzahn explained that Plumlee had been cleared to play on Friday but was hesitant to put him in without a practice session. Plumlee had only participated in 7-on-7 drills. His availability for the next match against Kansas remains uncertain and depends on his response to this week’s workouts.
Power for the Future
Baylor’s victory over UCF, following a disappointing 1-3 start to the season, gave the players hope for a successful remainder of the year. Shapen emphasized the importance of unity and using this victory as motivation for the future.
Despite being predicted to finish sixth in the Big 12 before the season, Baylor currently holds a 1-1 record in conference play. They defeated the favored Knights by 11.5 points, marking their first victory over an FBS team this season.
A Swift Impact
UCF continued with its fast-paced offensive strategy, one of the most potent in the country. Johnny Richardson’s 79-yard touchdown run on the opening play of the game was the Knights’ longest play of the season and the first time they scored on the opening play in nine years.
UCF managed to score 28 points in the first half despite having possession of the ball for only 6 minutes and 58 seconds. Baylor controlled the ball for over 11 minutes in total, but UCF outperformed them in yardage, finishing with 469 yards compared to Baylor’s 446. UCF had an advantage in points and yards per game, but Baylor had more time of possession by a margin of 1 minute and 2 seconds per game.
UCF is quickly learning the distinct nature of football in the Big 12. Even with a home-field advantage, nothing is guaranteed in conference games.
UCF had hoped to commemorate their first Big 12 win against the same team they made a splash against 10 years ago in the Fiesta Bowl. However, they are still adjusting to playing full games in conference play and dropped to 0-2 in their initial Big 12 experience. UCF will visit No. 24 Kansas in the upcoming week, while Texas Tech will face Baylor in a home game.
