Cougars wrap regular season with 41-21 win over UCF

PROVO, Utah — Despite a slow start, No. 11 BYU outscored UCF 41-7 in the game’s final three quarters to pick up a 41-21 senior day victory Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

The Cougars conclude the regular season with an 11-1 overall record, undefeated at home, and will now prepare to face No. 5 Texas Tech next week in the Big 12 Conference Championship game.

The offense found its rhythm against UCF behind three rushing touchdowns from LJ Martin and two explosive scores from Parker Kingston, who finished with a career-high 181 all-purpose yards that included a 55-yard punt return touchdown. Bear Bachmeier delivered one of his most efficient outings of the season, completing 21 of 25 passes for 289 yards for one touchdown and orchestrating a pair of 75-yard touchdown drives in the third quarter. His 84 percent completion percentage is a career high.

Defensively, BYU held UCF to 42 rushing yards and forced two critical turnovers. Evan Johnson picked off a pass in the first quarter for his fourth interception this season. Jack Kelly, who recorded six tackles, two sacks, and three quarterback hurries, knocked the ball loose in the fourth quarter for his second forced fumble of the season and ninth of his career, with Raider Damuni picking up his first career fumble recovery. The Cougars also finished with eight quarterback hurries and five tackles for loss while allowing just one UCF touchdown over the final 55 minutes of the game.

BYU’s offense totaled 407 yards and posted its seventh game this season with 30 or more points. Carsen Ryan added 85 receiving yards, while Martin closed the day with 130 all-purpose yards and his second three-touchdown performance of the season. The Cougars controlled the line of scrimmage throughout the second half, averaging 6.3 yards per play and converting key third downs to maintain momentum.

First Quarter

BYU won the toss and deferred to the second half, giving UCF the opening possession. The Knights moved the ball steadily downfield, converting an early third-and-4 and later breaking off an 18-yard run to reach the BYU 35. A holding penalty erased a potential touchdown and briefly shifted momentum back toward the Cougars, but UCF answered with a pair of short completions to move inside the BYU 10.

Despite BYU’s defense tightening near the goal line, the Knights finished the 13-play drive with a 4-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead with 9:27 remaining in the first quarter.

After a 10-yard loss on BYU’s first play on offense, the Cougars were forced off the field with a three-and-out.

UCF took over near midfield after a 21-yard punt return and moved quickly downfield. The Knights converted a third-and-1 at the BYU 30, then used a pair of short gains to reach the 21. Another run moved the chains before UCF quarterback Tayven Jackson hit running back Agyeman Addae for a 20-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 14-0 late in the first quarter.

Cody Hagen’s 35-yard kickoff return gave BYU solid field position at its own 35. After two short runs from Martin, the Cougars converted on third-and-6 when Bear Bachmeier found his brother Tiger Bachmeier for a 6-yard gain to move the chains. Bear Bachmeier followed with a 26-yard completion over the middle to Ryan, moving BYU to the UCF 29. He then scrambled for 7 yards, and Martin added a 3-yard run for another first down as the Cougars ended the quarter at the UCF 19, trailing 14-0.

Second Quarter

A strong start to the second quarter helped swing momentum in BYU’s favor as Martin bounced left for a 14-yard gain to the UCF 5. He followed with a 4-yard run to the 1, then finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown. With Will Ferrin’s extra point, the Cougars cut the Knights’ lead to 14-7.

The Knights began their next series at the 25, but pressure from Tausili Akana and Kelly forced an incompletion. Off of a reverse, Evan Johnson intercepted a short pass intended for the quarterback at the UCF 29.

After the turnover, Martin gained 9 yards on two carries before a false start. Bear Bachmeier picked up a first down with a 9-yard keeper, but the drive stalled and Ferrin missed a 40-yard field goal wide left.

A quick three-and-out from the Knights gave BYU the ball at the UCF 46. Martin opened the series with a pair of carries and picked up 8 yards on third-and-2 to move the chains. Enoch Nawahine added 4 yards before Bear Bachmeier hit Jojo Phillips for 13 yards to the 21. On the next play, Bear Bachmeier found Ryan for a 20-yard gain to the 1. Martin powered in on the next snap for the touchdown, and Ferrin’s extra point evened the score at 14-14 with 4:54 remaining in the second quarter.

Another UCF three-and-out gave BYU the ball at its own 20, where Bear Bachmeier opened with a 13-yard completion to Phillips. He followed with throws to Ryan, Martin and then back-to-back gains of 15 and 28 yards to Kingston, moving the Cougars to the UCF 21. A run from Martin and a face-mask penalty advanced the ball to the 9 before a sack pushed BYU back. Bear Bachmeier answered with an 8-yard pass to Martin to set up fourth down, and Will Ferrin knocked through a 26-yard field goal to give BYU a 17-14 lead at halftime.

Third Quarter

A touchback opened the second half with BYU at its own 25 and Bear Bachmeier started the drive with back-to-back 8-yard runs to the 41. He followed with a 9-yard pass to Martin, who added a 12-yard carry into UCF territory. Bear Bachmeier then found Ryan for 22 yards to the 16 and hit Kingston for 6 to keep the drive moving. Martin followed with back-to-back 3-yard runs before taking a direct snap and scoring from 4 yards out. Ferrin’s extra point pushed BYU’s lead to 24-14 with 8:54 left in the third quarter.

UCF opened the drive at its own 25 but immediately went backward as Akana broke through for a 5-yard sack. An incompletion, an intentional grounding call and another sack from Kelly left the Knights punting from deep in their own territory. Anthony Venneri’s 39-yard punt reached the BYU 45, where Kingston fielded it and ran 55 yards for a touchdown. Ferrin added the extra point to extend the advantage to 31-14 for the Cougars.

UCF put together a steady drive, aided by a personal foul that moved the ball near midfield. The Knights converted a fourth-and-1 and later connected on a 33-yard pass to reach the BYU 8. A short run set up second-and-4, and a throw out of the backfield in a jumbo package resulted in a 4-yard touchdown. The extra point narrowed the gap to 31-21 with 3:24 remaining in the third frame.

Bear Bachmeier jump-started the next series with a six-play, 75-yard drive, scrambling left to hit Noah Moeaki for 11 yards before adding another 11-yard completion to Ryan to reach the UCF 47. Two short runs from Martin set up fourth-and-3, and Bear Bachmeier delivered again, firing over the middle to Kingston for a 46-yard touchdown that stretched the Cougars’ lead to 38-21. The march took just 2:37.

UCF advanced to its own 38 on a short gain before the quarter ended with BYU ahead 38-21.

Fourth Quarter

UCF opened the fourth quarter with an 11-yard completion to reach its own 49, but on the next play Kelly forced a fumble on a quarterback pressure and Damuni recovered at the UCF 46. BYU was unable to capitalize as Martin opened the drive with 14 yards on two carries, but a string of short gains ended the possession and Ferrin missed a 48-yard field goal.

On the ensuing drive UCF again would struggle to solve the BYU defense, opening with two incompletions and a 7-yard gain to bring up fourth-and-3. The Knights converted on a 19-yard pass to move into BYU territory, but a false start, a short run and an incompletion on fourth down ended the series, turning the ball over at the BYU 38.

Bear Bachmeier opened the next series by finding Nawahine for 7 yards, then connected with Kingston for a 21-yard gain that moved the Cougars to the UCF 34. Short gains from Martin and Hagen set up a long field-goal attempt, and Ferrin drilled a 50-yarder to extend the lead to 41-21 with 3:53 left in the game.

The Knights started at their own 25, but after a short gain and an incompletion they had their third-down pass broken up by Damuni. Another incompletion on fourth-and-4 forced a turnover on downs at the UCF 31.

McCae Hillstead entered at quarterback and Nawahine picked up 7 yards on a run to the left, but a series of short gains brought up fourth-and-10 and BYU took a knee with less than a minute remaining on the clock, giving the Knights the ball back. A few final plays got the game to zeroes as the Cougars closed out the 41-21 win.

Up Next

BYU travels to Arlington, Texas, for the 2025 Big 12 Championship Game on Saturday, Dec. 6, where the Cougars will face No. 5 Texas Tech at AT&T Stadium. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT. Watch on ABC or purchase your tickets now.