Terrible Defense Ends BYU’s Undefeated Season

After the 84-yard touchdown drive by BYU, the defense would allow UCF to quickly get near midfield before a UCF snafu would help BYU. A high snap would give the Knights a third-and-14. UCF would fail to convert on third down and would punt it to the Cougars. The BYU offense would go the wrong way and go three-and-out. UCF would quickly get into the BYU red zone. The first quarter would end with UCF inside the BYU ten-yard line.

Second Quarter

The Second quarter would open with UCF finishing off their touchdown drive and tying the game. BYU’s offense would go cold, going three-and-out and giving the ball right back to the Knights. UCF moved the ball into the red zone with ease. BYU would luck out when the Knights missed a wide-open receiver for a touchdown and had to settle for a field goal. UCF made it and took the lead, 10-7.

BYU went back to the ground game on their next offensive possession. Three straight runs would open things up for another chunk play from Kyler Kasper. BYU would go back-to-back to Kyler Kasper; this one should’ve been a touchdown, too, but Kasper was ruled out at the one. The BYU rushing game would flounder with back-to-back handoffs to Sione Moa. But then, the Bear would do it himself. They’d fake to Moa and have Bachmeier run behind two offensive linemen lined up at tight end and retake the lead, 14-10.

BYU’s defense would force a big three-and-out and get the ball back to Bachmeier with around two minutes to go. The Cougars would turn it back over to UCF when a Bachmeier pass bounced off the head of a defensive lineman and was intercepted. UCF would mount their own quick drive and get a score of their own. The Knights’ touchdown would give them the 17-14 lead at the half.

Second Half

BYU would open the half with a good option to Preston Rex. Rex would get 27 yards and get BYU into UCF territory. But BYU would get nothing on three straight plays, setting up a big fourth down. Once again, BYU’s playmaker was Kyler Kasper. Kasper got 14 yards when the Cougs needed four. Bachmeier would throw to Phillips over the middle, and BYU would have first and goal at the UCF four-yard line. Sione Moa would be welcome back by finishing the drive off with a touchdown. BYU would lead 21-17.

It wouldn’t last long, though. A flurry of missed tackles and a 3rd-and-17 conversion allowed by the BYU defense would get UCF to score and retake the lead, 24-21. BYU would answer with an early fourth-quarter field goal, and the game would be tied 24-24 with about 12 minutes to play in Orlando.

Down the Stretch

After an insane fourth quarter ended with a 24-24 tie and some horrible officiating, the game would go to overtime. BYU would get the ball first and face a third-and-13 before Bachmeier, and his favorite target would strike. Bear would hit Legend Glasker on a crossing route for a 27-yard touchdown pass and take a 31-24 lead.

UCF would score on their first play in overtime. I thought they’d go for two, but they did not. The Knights would have to settle for a field goal in their second overtime, but a bogus roughing-the-kicker call would give them a chance at a touchdown, and they’d get it, plus the two-point conversion, for a 39-31 lead. BYU would falter after getting first-and-goal to go and lose in double overtime. BYU’s national championship dreams went from as high as they’ve been since 1984 to completely gone in only seven days.

Up Next, Arizona State

BYU will get Arizona State at home next week on Halloween. ASU is struggling this year, but so was UCF, and the BYU defense made them look like a top-five offense. This wasn’t on the BYU coaches. They maybe should have been more aggressive, but the players gave them no reason on either side of the ball or special teams to have faith in them. The defense just couldn’t stop self-destructing, and in the end the offense joined them in doing so when the pressure was at its peak. The Cougars are still alive for the College Football Playoff and the Big 12 Championship, but national championship-winning teams don’t meltdown as BYU did against UCF.