The UCF Knights losing streak increased to three games as the Knights fell short against the Cincinnati Bearcats 19-13. The Knights offense continues to struggle to develop any consistency as the season hits the halfway point. It’s knee-jerk reaction time.
New Quarterback(s)…
Before the game, we learned that UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson had been benched and freshman EJ Colson would be starting. What we didn’t find out until the game was underway was that UCF head coach Gus Malzahn would be running a two-quarterback system against Cincinnati as redshirt sophomore Jacurri Brown would be alternating with Colson.
Colson can run, but Brown looked more comfortable on the field. UCF’s offense continued to be very run-heavy and Cincinnati dared the Knights to throw it. Colson still needs some refinement on his accuracy, but showed some flashes of potential. His first completion was memorable for the wrong reasons as running back Johnny Richardson had his second fumble of the game. Richardson was pulled and did not see the game after the second fumble.
…Not New Offense
The offense moved more with Brown at quarterback. The highlight was a 28-yard run that helped lead to UCF’s lone scoring opportunity of the half. His arm, while far from perfect, was able to connect with Kobe Hudson on some big plays, including a 15-yard strike to tie the game at ten in the third quarter. The defense crashed against the run and RJ Harvey was held in check with 17 carries for 94 yards. If you subtract his big 31-yard run, he’s 16 carries for 63 yards, which isn’t going to cut it. Myles Montgomery had minimal playing time and Peny Boone did not carry the ball at all.
Unfortunately, the offense still struggled to move the ball consistently with redzone offense being an issue. The Knights were three for three on scoring in the redzone but had to settle for a pair of field goals in the process. The offense recorded their longest drive of the season of 93 yards and ended up with three points. UCF’s offense once again did better in the second half compared to the first, which has become a recurring theme.
So Why Was KJ Jefferson Benched
With the offense sputtering, head coach Gus Malzahn felt it was time to make a change at quarterback. “We felt like we needed a change. We needed a spark.” He felt that Colson had several good practices to earn the start and planned to rotate him and Brown. With Brown being the hot hand, he stayed in during the second half. Malzahn commended Jefferson’s response to the news. “KJ’s a winner. He handled the situation like a champion would.”
However, on game day during warmups, Jefferson’s body language might tell a different story. It gave an impression of frustration and defeat. Warm-up throws lacked velocity or accuracy and it seemed that Jefferson was simply going through the motions. This body language could be seen in UCF’s previous losses. It would not be a surprise to not see Jefferson play anymore this season. Fans in the stadium cheered loudly when a new quarterback was introduced and in the realm of NIL, donors might be more reluctant with their cash if they feel the team is not making sound decisions. At 3-3 on the season, Malzahn and his staff might soon start focusing on the future.
The Defense Rose to the Occasion
Coming into the game, Cincinnati had the second-best offense in the Big 12 and the UCF defense rose to the challenge. The Knights offense outgained the Bearcats 397-338. Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby averages just shy of 300 yards passing per game and UCF limited him to only 241 yards. Also, he had one interception coming in and the Knights picked him off twice. The Knights recorded two sacks and eight tackles for loss.
There are still areas of concern that need work. On multiple occasions, the defensive players were caught in the wrong position and used bad angles to try and make stops. This allowed the Bearcats to go nine of sixteen on third down and be on the field for over 33 minutes. Tackling improved compared to the Florida game, but it is still a work in progress.
Now What?
The team is facing a three-game losing streak. Wide receiver Kobe Hudson was bluntly honest during the press conference. When asked about the leadership between last year and this year, Hudson said, “Last year, I let a lot of stuff slide…this year, Ima check it, so there won’t be all that bickering and all that crying…You can bank on a much better team next week.” Last year, the Knights lost five in a row before finishing their season with a 6-7 record. At 3-3 on the year and a challenging schedule ahead, the team is staring at the real possibility of missing their first bowl game since 2015 when the team went winless.
Hudson’s honesty was used in an uplifting way by giving truthful, but encouraging words to the freshman Colson. “I believe in him…I got your back. You’re going to mess up. It’s football. Nobody’s perfect, so don’t hang your head.”
Uniform Review
UCF went back to white/black/white. Today is UCF’s salute to service game. In the past, the Knights equipment team had used various special helmet decal stickers. This year, the unique sticker is on the back of the helmet. Outside of that sticker, it’s a typical 2024 uniform, which has completely gone black and white.
The predicted score was 31-27 Cincinnati. The preview was written when KJ Jefferson was still the starter for UCF. It was also written a little earlier than usual due to Hurricane Milton. UCF’s defense rose to the occasion and kept a potent Cincinnati offense in check while the offense was still coming together with a new quarterback. I was a little off on the score, but correct on the result. Next week, the Knights go on the road to play at Iowa State.
Stat Leaders
Passing:
UCF: Jacurri Brown: 13/20 for 207 yards, 1 TD, 0 Int
CIN: Brendan Sorsby: 25/38 for 179 yards, 1 TD, 2 Int
Rushing:
UCF: R.J. Harvey: 17 carries for 94 yards, 0 TD
CIN: Corey Kiner: 17 carries for 83 yards, 0 TD
Receiving:
UCF: Kobe Hudson: 5 catches for 38 yards, 1 TD
CIN: Xzavier Henderson: 7 catches for 60 yards, 0 TD
Game Notes:
- The series is tied 5-5.
- RJ Harvey now has 455 career rushing attempts. He passes Mark Giacone and Latavius Murray to move up to eight all-time at UCF.
- Kobe Hudson has caught a pass in 29 consecutive games. That is tied with Rannell Hall for eighth all-time at UCF.
- Sorry it’s not my best, but I got benched for another player.
