Know the Foe: UCF Knights

No. 11 BYU (7-0) is heading to the East Coast to take on the 3-4 UCF Knights on Saturday afternoon in Orlando.

The campus is only about a 45-minute drive away from Disney World. Many Cougar fans have, or are going to, take advantage of this.

UCF is in the midst of a four-game losing streak, but nearly beat No. 9 Iowa State on the road just last week.

BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff said the Knights "might be the best 3-4 team in the country."

Against Iowa State, new starting quarterback Jacurri Brown and senior running back RJ Harvey combined for 350 yards on the ground.

Saturday's game was Brown's first start of the season. He's been the backup to sixth-year transfer KJ Jefferson from Arkansas. This week, coach Gus Malzahn confirmed that Brown would be the starting QB moving forward. Brown is also new to the team coming over from the University of Miami.

UCF is currently ranked third in rushing offense in the entire NCAA. The Cougars rushing defense is ranked 64th — certainly something to keep an eye on.

Malzahn joined the program in 2021. Since he took over, the Knights have a 27-20 win-loss record including two nine-win seasons.

Photo by Stephen M. Dowell Orlando Sentinel

Prior to joining the Big 12 alongside BYU in 2023, UCF was a part of the American Athletic Conference for the last ten years. During their time there, the Knights amassed a 86-41 overall record.

Saturday marks the fourth matchup between these two teams. BYU leads the series 2-1 with a 43-29 win in the 2020 Boca Raton Bowl most recently.

Cougar fans may remember this spectacular catch from running back Lopini Katoa from that game.

UCF was founded in 1963, but didn't begin playing football until 1979.

The Knights are 10th in the Big 12 right now.

UCF will look to spoil the Cougars' undefeated record on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. (MDT) on ESPN.