UCF passed its first test of the season with flying colors after an impressive 73-6 win over Bethune-Cookman on Thursday.
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“Overall, it was a pretty good performance,” coach Scott Frost said Monday. “It’s what we asked them to do. They played hard and fast and the execution was pretty good.”
UCF tied a school record for most points in a game and the 67-point victory was the largest margin of victory in program history. Six different players rushed for at least one touchdown as the Knights amassed 560 yards of total offense.
Yet, Frost isn’t sold that his team did much to earn respect outside the program.
“We did what we were supposed to do last Thursday and nothing more,” he said. “Our chances to go out and earn anything are still ahead of us.”
If the victory over the Wildcats was the first test, it was nothing more than a pop quiz in comparison to this week’s tougher exam as the Knights hit the road to face Pittsburgh, the first of 10 Power Four opponents this season.
The Panthers are coming off their own season-opening blowout victory, romping over Miami of Ohio 59-14 on Saturday. Quarterback Mason Heintschel tied a school record with seven touchdown passes, finishing 31 of 41 for 453 yards as the Panthers amassed 646 total yards in the win.
“This will be one of our toughest tests all year, so we’re going to have to be ready to play at a really high level, and we’re going to need a higher level of execution than we had last week,” said Frost.
After being a 42.5-point favorite against Bethune-Cookman last week, UCF finds itself an 8.5-point underdog to Pitt on Saturday.
To add to the challenge, the Knights are mired in a nine-game road losing streak going back to the 2024 season. It’s a point that made Frost testy when asked about winning away from Acrisure Bounce House Stadium.
“I don’t want to make a big deal out of that,” Frost said. “Half of that (streak) didn’t have anything to do with me. Most of it doesn’t have to do with most of our players. (The media) can make a big deal of it. It doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that half our players weren’t here last year.
“This is a completely different team, and we’ll do the best we can to get them prepared and go try to play our best.”
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Pittsburgh total offensive yardage output against the RedHawks was the most by a Pitt team since totaling 707 yards in a 77-7 win over New Hampshire on Sept. 24, 2021.
Defensive tackle Horace Lockett believes the Knights’ defense will be up to the task.
“We’ll be ready for them in the trenches,” said the redshirt senior. “We’ll be ready to play five quarters. However long it takes. It doesn’t matter if it’s eight or nine overtimes. We’ll be ready.”
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Pitt’s defense, meanwhile, allowed 14 points — all in the first half — and just 289 yards.
Frost expected no less from a team coached by Pat Narduzzi, a former defensive coordinator.
“I’ve coached against Coach Narduzzi’s teams a few times. They’ve been unbelievable games and good battles. They do a great job on defense. We’re going to have to try to find some things that can work,” Frost said.
Pitt limited Miami to 28 rushing yards on 21 carries for a 1.29 yards-per-carry average.
If UCF hopes to find success Saturday, the Knights will need another strong effort on the ground. Against B-CU, the team rushed for 360 yards on 38 carries and averaged 9.5 yards per carry.
“We’ve just got to stick to what we know. Stick to all the things that coaches have prepared for us and go out there and do it,” said Landen Chambers, who rushed for 56 yards while scoring touchdowns on runs of 27 and 2 yards.
Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram at @osmattmurschel. Email: [email protected]. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.
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Up next
What: UCF (1-0) at Pittsburgh (1-0)
When: 3:30 p.m., Saturday
Where: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh
TV: ESPN2
Favorite: Pitt by 8.5 points