BYU Cougars at UCF Knights

Injuries noted

BYU Cougars: LJ Martin (out) — RB #4 listed Out on the Big 12 Update 2 report; Kyle Sfarcioc (questionable) — OL #64 listed Questionable on the Big 12 Update 2 report

UCF Knights: Taevion Swint (out) — RB #4 listed Out on the Big 12 Update 2 report; DJ Bell (out) — DB #5 listed Out on the Big 12 Update 2 report; Duane Thomas Jr. (probable) — WR #7 listed Probable on the Big 12 Update 2 report; Caleb Rollerson (out) — WR #13 listed Out on the Big 12 Update 2 report; Alonza Barnett III (questionable) — QB #14 listed Questionable on the Big 12 Update 2 report; Lewis Carter (out) — LB #20 listed Out on the Big 12 Update 2 report; Jayden Jennings (probable) — LB #38 listed Probable on the Big 12 Update 2 report; Bruno Dall (probable) — EDG #41 listed Probable on the Big 12 Update 2 report; Kyle Hicks (probable) — LS #44 listed Probable on the Big 12 Update 2 report; Trenton Turner (probable) — DT #54 listed Probable on the Big 12 Update 2 report; Jacob Maiava (questionable) — OL #55 listed Questionable on the Big 12 Update 2 report; Owen Spell (out) — OL #61 listed Out on the Big 12 Update 2 report; Tyler Gibson (out) — OL #75 listed Out on the Big 12 Update 2 report; RJ Jackson Jr. (out) — DT #95 listed Out on the Big 12 Update 2 report

QUARTERBACK

• Bear Bachmeier is BYU's confirmed starter

  8.27 Y/A

  Bear Bachmeier is BYU's confirmed starting quarterback. KSL's October 19 report reproduces BYU's depth chart for the October 24 UCF game, listing Bachmeier first at quarterback ahead of Treyson Bourguet and Enoch Watson. 2026 line: 1257 passing yards, 65.8% completions, 8.27 yards per attempt, 9-2 TD-INT over 6 games.

• Keyone Jenkins is UCF's projected starter

  6.78 Y/A

  Keyone Jenkins is UCF's projected starting quarterback. October 22 reporting expects Jenkins to make his fifth consecutive start against BYU. No retrieved team announcement confirms the starter. Alonza Barnett III remains questionable in the October 23 availability update. 2026 line: 780 passing yards, 71.3% completions, 6.78 yards per attempt, 8-3 TD-INT over 5 games.

PACE & SCRIPT

• BYU @ UCF carries a 43.5 market total

  43.5

  BYU at UCF is posted at 43.5, 8 points below the slate median, so the market expects a low-scoring game where every possession counts. The sheet has no injury or matchup notes to explain it. Short fields from turnovers or a long return score would push it the other way fastest. On a low number like this, a single non-offensive touchdown changes the math a lot.

MISMATCH

• BYU: 56.5% on third down to UCF's 36.1%

  56.5 VS 36.1

  BYU is converting 56.5% of third downs over 6 games, up from 42% last season. UCF sits at 36.1%, near its 33.9% last year. BYU's rate is high for a six-game sample and likely to come down, but staying on the field keeps drives alive and wears a defense out. UCF's defense has to get off the field on third down, or the Knights will see far fewer possessions at home.

REPLACEMENT

• LJ Martin (RB) is out for BYU

  OUT

  RB #4 listed Out on the Big 12 Update 2 report Big 12 availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 21:00:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• Taevion Swint (RB) is out for UCF

  OUT

  RB #4 listed Out on the Big 12 Update 2 report Big 12 availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 21:00:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• DJ Bell (DB) is out for UCF

  OUT

  DB #5 listed Out on the Big 12 Update 2 report Big 12 availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 21:00:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• Caleb Rollerson (WR) is out for UCF

  OUT

  WR #13 listed Out on the Big 12 Update 2 report Big 12 availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 21:00:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• Lewis Carter (LB) is out for UCF

  OUT

  LB #20 listed Out on the Big 12 Update 2 report Big 12 availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 21:00:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• Owen Spell (OL) is out for UCF

  OUT

  OL #61 listed Out on the Big 12 Update 2 report Big 12 availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 21:00:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• Tyler Gibson (OL) is out for UCF

  OUT

  OL #75 listed Out on the Big 12 Update 2 report Big 12 availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 21:00:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

• RJ Jackson Jr. (DT) is out for UCF

  OUT

  DT #95 listed Out on the Big 12 Update 2 report Big 12 availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-23 21:00:00 CT) (2026-10-23)

SITUATIONAL

• BYU: 56.5% third-down conversion rate to UCF's 36.1%

  20.4 PP

  BYU is converting 56.5% of its third downs, way above last season's 42%, and that kind of rate tends to fall back. UCF is a little better than last year's 33.9%. BYU staying on the field controls the clock, but expect that number to cool, which narrows the edge a bit.

• UCF has 7 more days of rest

  7d vs 14d

  BYU plays on a normal week of rest while UCF gets two full weeks at home after its bye. The extra seven days give UCF time to heal bumps and install a few wrinkles specific to BYU, while BYU prepares on the standard weekly schedule. The edge is real but modest, since a regular week is routine for every team. Use it as a tiebreaker in a close read, leaning slightly toward the rested home side.

TEAM RECORD

• Big 12 game: BYU 3-0, UCF 1-2 in conference

  CONFERENCE

  These two share the Big 12. BYU is 3-0 against it, UCF is 1-2. 2026 standings through 2026-10-24.