UCF survives late controversy, knocks off No. 2 BYU in OT as fans storm field in wild scene

And down goes BYU.The No.2-ranked Cougars dropped their first game of the 2026 college football season in a brutal 39-31 double overtime loss to unranked UCF on Saturday in Orlando, Fla.Central Florida (4-3, 2-2 Big 12) was a 6 ¹/₂-point underdog coming into Saturday’s game.But the Knights found a way to win and survive a string of controversial and confusing calls by officials late in the fourth quarter.

The Cougars (6-1, 3-1) nearly lost the game in regulation, but in the closing seconds, their special teams blocked what would have been a game-winning kick for the Knights.At first, officials called a penalty on BYU, which would have given UCF another chance to win.Upon further review, however, referees wound up calling a penalty on the Knights, which sent the game to overtime.After both teams scored touchdowns in the first overtime, UCF was gifted a fresh set of downs thanks to a roughing the kicker penalty while they originally were settling on field goal.

With the extra life, UCF punched in the go-ahead touchdown and a two-point conversion, putting the pressure back on the Cougars, who were ultimately stopped by the Knights’ defense for the loss.Knights fans mobbed the field after the Cougars failed to convert in double overtime, snapping a six-game winning streak by BYU, who upset then-No.2 Notre Dame the week before.Video postgame showed fans sliding down from the stands and storming the field, breaking out in “UCF” chants around the 50-yard line.The win for UCF marks the program’s highest ranked win in the team’s history, according to the school.“I’m proud of our kids,” Knights head coach Scott Frost said during a sideline interview after the game.

“I’m happy for UCF.That’s the weirdest end to a game I’ve ever seen.

I thought it would have taken 31 to win it — it should’ve if we got a sneak in.“I’m so happy for our kids.”...