UCF is Pop-Tarts Bowl Crazy Good Team of the Week

UCF is Pop-Tarts Bowl Crazy Good Team of the Week

DALLAS (FWAA) – The UCF Knights stunned No. 2 BYU, 39-31, in double overtime Saturday at the Acrisure Bounce House in Orlando, earning their first victory over an Associated Press top-five opponent in program history. For handing the previously unbeaten Cougars their first loss of the season, the Knights earned the Pop-Tarts Bowl Crazy Good Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Oct. 24, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.

UCF’s fourth selection is its first since a 45-3 victory over No. 15 Oklahoma State in 2023. The Knights also earned the honor in 2013 and 2018, the latter following a 38-13 victory over No. 19 Cincinnati that extended their winning streak to 23 games. This is the 333rd selection in the award’s 25 seasons.

UCF (4-3) outgained BYU 463-373 and did not commit a turnover before a Homecoming crowd of 45,112. Quarterback Keyone Jenkins completed 25 of 41 passes for 293 yards and accounted for four touchdowns, including a 25-yard scoring pass to Josh Derry that forced a second overtime. Jenkins then connected with Grayson Brousseau for a four-yard touchdown and Tyren Hornes for the two-point conversion before the Knights’ defense stopped BYU on four consecutive plays from the eight-yard line to seal the upset.

“I’m happy for our kids,” UCF head coach Scott Frost said. “The message all week was we put ourselves in position to have a chance at the end against three really good teams, and we haven’t got it done. This is the best team we’ve played, I’ve got so much respect for them. I’m happy for UCF, a win like this has been a long time coming for us.”

The victory was UCF’s fourth over an AP top-10 opponent and 11th over a ranked opponent. Its previous highest-ranked victory came against No. 6/5 Baylor in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl. The Knights host Baylor on Friday in their annual Space Game.

The FWAA has recognized a National Team of the Week since the 2002 season. Weekly candidates are evaluated by the FWAA All-America Committee. Today’s announcement will also be featured on the Cover 3 Podcast, hosted by Chip Patterson, Tom Fornelli, Danny Kanell and Bud Elliott of CBS Sports.

Each honored team will receive a delivery of assorted Pop-Tarts and a custom-crafted game ball from Big Game USA, the Dallas-based manufacturer of handcrafted American-made footballs.

Florida Citrus Sports is a not-for-profit event-management organization dedicated to positively impacting the Orlando region while enhancing the quality of life in Central Florida through world-class events. Its annual events include the Citrus Bowl, the Pop-Tarts Bowl, the Florida Blue Florida Classic, the Camping World Kickoff and the FC Series. For more information, visit FloridaCitrusSports.com.

Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of approximately 1,200 men and women who cover college football. Its membership includes journalists, broadcasters, publicists and key executives involved in the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com.