What had once seemed a strength for BYU was a horrible liability against UCF. BYU’s defense had its worst game since 2023. The 39 points they gave up to UCF were the most they had allowed since the first year of Big 12 play, when they fell 40-34 in double overtime to Oklahoma State.
UCF mauled BYU in every major statistical category, too. Coming into this game, BYU was allowing only 86.2 rushing yards per game, and they gave up almost double that, allowing 170 from UCF. The pass defense was allowing 188.5 yards per game, and UCF got over 100 yards more than that with 293 yards. They had almost 200 yards more in total yards than BYU usually allows. The Cougars were allowing 274.7 per game and gave up 463 in Orlando. The scoring was just as bad, averaging 15.2 per game and giving up over double that with 39 points allowed.
What the Defense Needs to Improve On
Finishing. Every failure in this loss can be attributed to the failure to finish. BYU would get pressure on the UCF quarterback but only sacked him once. The Cougars would get their hands on the ball defensively multiple times but just fail to reel in what would have been key turnovers. The defense didn’t finish on third downs, letting UCF convert way too many (more of that in a moment), and failing to get off the field. Letting a screen play gash you on third and 17 and keep a drive going is failing to finish. That drive, by the way, would be paid off with an enemy touchdown.
What the Defense Did Right
The lone bright spot for the defense was late in the game when UCF was knocking on the door. With 2:50 to go in the fourth quarter with the game tied 24-24, UCF had first-and-goal at the BYU three. The Cougars would stop UCF on four straight runs and force a turnover on downs. BYU’s offense would make it all for nothing, though, by going three-and-out and giving UCF more chances.
It was such an abysmal performance that there is no play or player of the game from this defense. Stupid penalties also very much plagued BYU. In the second overtime, with UCF kicking a field goal on fourth down, a bogus, yet avoidable roughing the kicker call gave UCF a first down, and they would score a touchdown shortly thereafter. Without that massive mistake, BYU would have at least extended the game to a third overtime, but instead, this example of self-sabotage helps explain the failures of this defense in this loss.
Defensive Stats of the Game
For the third straight game, BYU failed to force a turnover. Coming into the game, the only team forcing more turnovers over the past three seasons was Notre Dame. That drought is bad, but aside from the first time they gave up 39 or more points since 2023, BYU also gave up 463 yards of total offense. The worst of the bunch of bad stats goes to the BYU third-down defense. BYU allowed UCF to convert on third down a whopping nine times out of 16 attempts.
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