UCF Hosts No. 2 BYU in Highest-Ranked Visit in Bounce House History as Knights Seek Homecoming Upset

UCF hosts No. 2 BYU on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET at the Acrisure Bounce House in Orlando, the highest-ranked opponent ever to visit the stadium. The undefeated Cougars (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) arrive fresh off a 28-24 upset of then-No. 2 Notre Dame, while the Knights (3-3, 1-2) come out of a bye week trying to stop a two-game slide in front of a homecoming crowd. The game airs nationally on FOX.

BYU replaces the 2007 Texas team, then ranked No. 6, as the top-ranked visitor in Bounce House history, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal. UCF is 0-3 all-time against top-10 opponents at the stadium. Sportsbooks have BYU as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 43.5 points, according to DraftKings odds posted by ESPN.

Game information

• Matchup: No. 2 BYU (6-0) at UCF (3-3)
• Kickoff: Saturday, Oct. 24, 3:30 p.m. ET
• Site: Acrisure Bounce House, Orlando
• TV: FOX
• Line: BYU by 6.5, over/under 43.5

UCF's season so far

Scott Frost's second season back in Orlando started well enough. The Knights routed Bethune-Cookman 73-6 in the opener, then lost a 12-7 defensive struggle at Pittsburgh before bouncing back with home wins over Georgia State (44-30) and TCU (21-13).

The past two weeks have been harder. UCF led Houston 17-0 in the second half on Oct. 3 before losing 27-17, then trailed No. 18 Oklahoma State only 24-21 after three quarters on Oct. 10 before a fourth-quarter collapse, including a fumble return, sent the Knights to a 42-28 loss in Stillwater. That defeat extended UCF's road losing streak to 12 games. Saturday's game, at least, is at home, where the Knights are 3-0 this season.

Here is how UCF's first six games went:

Frost used the bye to rest his roster, holding only one practice while players lifted and ran. He told the Orlando Sentinel the staff decided being fresh was the best way to help the team for the stretch run, and said he does not want to peak in September but in late October and November.

The quarterback question

Starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III has been out since the Pittsburgh game with a hamstring injury and is expected to miss Saturday as well, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel. Frost has said Barnett is progressing but that he will not rush him back, telling the Sentinel he wants to be sure that if Barnett plays, he will not get hurt again.

That leaves Keyone Jenkins, who has started the last four games. Jenkins has completed 83 of 118 passes for 806 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions, according to ESPN, and Frost has said he has played better every game. Duke Watson leads the Knights with 483 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 70 carries, and Josh Derry is the top receiver with 28 catches for 304 yards.

The Knights have also been missing starters at receiver and on the offensive line. Receiver Duane Thomas Jr., offensive linemen Jacob Maiava and Owen Spell and linebacker Lewis Carter have all sat out starts, and Frost said some could return this week and others a week later, the Sentinel reported.

BYU's unbeaten run

BYU climbed to No. 2 in the AP Top 25 and No. 3 in the coaches poll after beating Notre Dame at home last Saturday. The Cougars entered that game ranked eighth.

Kalani Sitake's team has won with balance and defense, holding four of six opponents to 17 points or fewer:

Quarterback Bear Bachmeier has completed 100 of 152 passes for 1,257 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions. Frost called him one of the best quarterbacks in the country this week. Legend Glasker leads BYU with 444 receiving yards and three touchdowns, and LJ Martin has run for 344 yards and three scores. On defense, Tausili Akana has 3.5 sacks and linebacker Cade Uluave leads the team with 35 tackles.

Frost described BYU as the best of the bunch in the Big 12 and said the Cougars have earned their ranking by winning every game. ESPN's matchup predictor gives BYU a 70.7% chance to win.

Homecoming stakes

Frost framed the game as a chance his team should embrace. "It's an awesome opportunity for us on homecoming to go shoot our shot," he said, according to the News-Journal. Offensive tackle Preston Cushman urged fans to fill the stadium, saying a loud crowd is a huge factor for offenses on the road.

Cushman also said his body felt the best it has since fall camp, describing the first six games as season 1-A and the rest of the schedule as season 1-B, the Sentinel reported.

A win would be the biggest of Frost's second tenure at UCF, which he led to a 13-0 season in 2017 before leaving for Nebraska. It would also put the Knights back at .500 in Big 12 play with Baylor visiting next Friday.

Other Florida games Saturday

Two other Florida programs play at home Saturday, both at noon ET:

• Pittsburgh at No. 1 Miami: The unbeaten Hurricanes (6-0) host the Panthers (5-2), the team that beat UCF 12-7 in September, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. The game airs on ESPN, and Miami is a 19.5-point favorite.
• Rice at FAU: Florida Atlantic (4-2) hosts Rice (1-6) at Flagler Credit Union Stadium in Boca Raton on ESPNU. FAU is favored by 7.5 points.

What's next

After BYU, UCF stays home to face Baylor on Friday, Oct. 30, at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, then travels to Kansas on Nov. 7 with a chance to end its road skid. Home games against Arizona State and Iowa State and a trip to Colorado close the regular season. BYU returns to Provo to host Arizona State on Oct. 31.

For a UCF team that has faded late against ranked opponents, Saturday is a test of whether the bye week fixed its second halves, against a BYU team with a College Football Playoff path on the line.