Ucf’s Double-ot Win Over No. 2 BYU Sparks Referee Backlash

WHO:

Pro Football Network - Rules analyst Terry McAulay explained an officiating error, prompting college football fans to question the officials.

CBS Sports - BYU wide receiver Kyle Kasper was the target of Bear Bachmeier’s near-touchdown pass in double overtime.

Deseret News - UCF coach Scott Frost said, “I think I’ve been part of a few of the coolest games in UCF history now, and that one’s right up there.”

Deseret News - Frost described Keyone Jenkins as “a legit starter” and said UCF was glad it had acquired him.

Deseret News - Frost praised BYU coach Kalani Sitake and said BYU deserved to be in the playoff.

CBS Sports - UCF quarterback Keyone Jenkins was the backup quarterback.

CBS Sports - BYU captain Keanu Tanuvasa received an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty.

CBS Sports - All-American safety Faletau Satuala blocked UCF kicker Stone’s field-goal attempt.

Pro Football Network - Barstool founder Dave Portnoy criticized the officials’ roughing-the-kicker call.

Pro Football Network - No. 2 BYU and UCF’s Knights were the teams involved.

Newsweek - The Big 12 officiating crew faced scrutiny over calls late in the BYU–UCF game.

Pro Football Network - Stewart Mandel and other college football analysts criticized the officials after the game.

WHAT:

CBS Sports - BYU’s loss came on the road, one week after the Cougars upset Notre Dame.

Deseret News - UCF remained unbeaten at home after the win.

Deseret News - BYU surrendered 170 rushing yards, lost the possession battle and turnover competition, and struggled to run the ball consistently.

Deseret News - Frost said UCF matched BYU’s physicality and outgained the Cougars by 100 yards.

Deseret News - UCF moved to 4-3 and was scheduled to face Baylor on a short week; Frost said the team would avoid hard practices and focus on getting players ready.

CBS Sports - The loss was only the second time in the AP Poll era that an AP Top 2 team lost to unranked opponents for three consecutive weeks; the other instance was in 2007.

CBS Sports - BYU had a matchup against No. 10 Utah still on its schedule after the loss.

CBS Sports - UCF stopped BYU on fourth down in double overtime; BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier then threw three incomplete passes from second-and-goal at the four-yard line, ending the game.

CBS Sports - UCF quarterback Keyone Jenkins connected with Utah native Gabe Brousseau for a touchdown and Tyren Hornes for the two-point conversion after a roughing-the-kicker call changed a field-goal attempt into first-and-goal at the four-yard line.

CBS Sports - BYU suffered its first loss to an unranked opponent since losing 17-13 to Kansas.

CBS Sports - BYU had won the previous week against Notre Dame.

Newsweek - UCF Football posted a cheeky postgame message trolling BYU after the overtime upset.

Pro Football Network - Robert Griffin III called the game, and fans expressed mixed opinions about his commentary.

CBS Sports - UCF beat BYU 39-31, earning its first win over an AP Top 5 team in program history.

CBS Sports - Jenkins threw for 293 yards, rushed for 35 yards and scored four touchdowns; Bear Bachmeier scored three touchdowns for BYU.

CBS Sports - Replay review ruled that Jenkins was pushing his arm forward with control, overturning an apparent strip-sack into an incomplete pass.

CBS Sports - Stone’s helmet came off during a tackle after he recovered his blocked kick, triggering a mandatory 10-second runoff that ended regulation.

CBS Sports - BYU moved to 3-1 in Big 12 play; its defense allowed 463 yards, and Bachmeier completed half of his passes.

Pro Football Network - UCF upset No. 2 BYU in a double-overtime game.

Pro Football Network - A roughing-the-kicker flag on BYU set up a UCF touchdown.

Pro Football Network - Portnoy called the flag “Worst Call Ever” and described it as a “BYU Screw Job.”

Newsweek - Officials faced renewed scrutiny over calls made late in the game.

Pro Football Network - Analysts used the remarks “Can’t Accuse the Big 12 of Protecting BYU on That One” and “These Refs Need to Be Fired” while criticizing the officiating.

WHERE:

Deseret News - UCF’s next game against Baylor was to be played at home.

Deseret News - The game was played in Orlando, Florida.

CBS Sports - The game was played at UCF, and BYU traveled cross-country for the matchup.

WHEN:

Deseret News - The BYU–UCF game was played Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026.

CBS Sports - BYU’s first loss to an unranked opponent since its 17-13 loss to Kansas came after that game on Nov. 16, 2024.

WHY:

Pro Football Network - The criticism followed the roughing-the-kicker flag that led to a UCF touchdown during its upset of BYU.

Newsweek - The Big 12 crew came under scrutiny because of calls late in the BYU–UCF game.

HOW:

CBS Sports - UCF coach Scott Frost had been trying to arrange a second game-winning field-goal attempt with a different kicker before the game went to overtime.

UCF stunned No. 2 BYU, winning 39 to 31 in double overtime for the first victory over an AP Top 5 team in program history. Backup quarterback Keyone Jenkins threw for 293 yards, ran for 35 and scored four touchdowns, while Bear Bachmeier accounted for three BYU scores. A controversial roughing-the-kicker penalty gave UCF first-and-goal, and Jenkins connected with Gabe Brousseau before Tyren Hornes added the two-point conversion. Officials faced sharp criticism over the call and other late-game decisions. BYU had one last chance in double overtime, but UCF stopped the Cougars on fourth down, and Bachmeier’s three incomplete passes ended the game. The defeat came a week after BYU upset Notre Dame and left the Cougars facing a key matchup with No. 10 Utah. UCF improved to 4-3, stayed unbeaten at home, and prepared to host Baylor on a short week.