UCF Suffers Crushing 30-3 Loss at Baylor, Road Woes Continue

UPDATE: UCF faced a shocking defeat against Baylor, losing 30-3 on October 14, 2023, marking yet another setback in their troubling road performance. This loss represents the Knights’ seventh consecutive defeat away from home, intensifying pressure as they prepare to host Houston this Friday in the much-anticipated Space Game.

The defeat highlights a dismal trend for UCF, who now holds a 3-11 record in away games since 2023. Coach Scott Frost expressed frustration, stating, “We’ve got to earn one on the road. It’s not going to be given to us, and we’ve got to play a lot better than that to do that.” The Knights struggle on the road is compounded by their average of just 12 points per game while allowing at least 28 points in three games this season.

UCF’s offensive performance was particularly concerning, as they managed only 74 rushing yards against a Baylor defense that had previously ranked near the bottom in rushing defense. Frost noted, “Maybe the things that they’ve struggled with or the early game decision to maybe throw on that first drive, that’s stuff we need to do on the post-mortem.” The team’s rushing attack is in dire need of improvement, as their current output is the lowest since they recorded 84 yards in a loss to Navy in November 2022.

On the other side of the ball, Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson showcased his skills, completing 73% of his passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns. His performance highlighted UCF’s defensive struggles against dual-threat quarterbacks, a challenge they will face again this week against Houston’s Conner Wegman.

Despite the dismal outing, Frost is committed to sticking with quarterback Tayven Jackson, who threw for 151 yards but had two interceptions. “I’m ready to ride with him. We’re going to ride with him next week,” Frost said, emphasizing that the offensive shortcomings were not solely on the quarterback.

In a rare highlight for the Knights, kicker Noe Ruelas managed a 45-yard field goal, marking his 11th consecutive successful attempt. However, his streak ended during the third quarter when he missed a 53-yard attempt, which would have tied his career long.

As UCF looks to rebound from this disappointing loss, the upcoming game against Houston on Friday will be critical for the Knights. Fans are eagerly anticipating how the team will respond and whether they can finally break their road losing streak.