Keyone Jenkins’ record night helps UCF push past TCU to open Big 12 play

Keyone Jenkins didn’t realize he’d set a school record until after UCF’s 21-13 win over TCU on Saturday.

Read more Bianchi: It’s official after Gators crush No. 4 Ole Miss — Jon Sumrall awakens the beast!

“We don’t look at the statistics,” Jenkins said humbly.

The Knights quarterback, in his second start for injured Alonza Barnett III, set a program record by completing 95% (19 of 20) of his passes, a mark previously held by current quarterbacks coach McKenzie Milton.

His only incompletion came on a third-and-1 late in the first quarter. After the miss, he hit on 14 consecutive completions, tying another school record also held by Milton.

“He makes good decisions and I thought he made some special plays tonight,” said coach Scott Frost. “If he’s 19-for-20, maybe we’re stupid coaches and we ought to let him throw it a little more.”

Jenkins said he was much more at ease in his second start, after a rough 7-for-17 for 86 yards in UCF’s 44-30 win over Georgia State last week.

“I was way more comfortable from last Saturday to this Saturday,” said Jenkins, who finished with 160 yards passing and a touchdown. “It’s me just getting more relaxed and getting through my progressions.”

Both teams played a sloppy game in front of a rowdy crowd at Acrisure Bounce House Stadium, with six combined turnovers and 15 penalties, but UCF’s defense was once again on point, holding the Horned Frogs to just three points in the second half. On the season, the Knights have allowed just 15 second-half points.

The win moves UCF to 3-1 for the fifth straight season and improves the Knights’ overall record to 2-0 against TCU (2-2). It’s also the second straight season in which UCF has opened Big 12 play with a win.

UCF’s defense got an early takeaway when cornerback Jayden Bellamy punched the football out of TCU receiver Ed Small’s grasp. Safety Braeden Marshall recovered it and returned it into Horned Frogs territory.

“We started off fast with a punch-out and then a fumble recovery, and then I felt like that set the tone for the rest of the game,” said Bellamy.

The Knights capitalized on the miscue as running back Taevion Swint scampered down the right side of the field for a 13-yard touchdown run. It was Swint’s second rushing touchdown of the season, giving UCF an early 7-0 lead.

TCU responded quickly as Jaden Craig found senior receiver Jordan Dwyer for a 43-yard reception on the first play of the next drive, putting the Horned Frogs deep in UCF territory. Six plays later, Jeremy Payne plunged into the end zone to tie it 7-7.

As perfect as Jenkins’ performance was, the senior did fumble the ball twice.

The first time came on a quarterback sneak on a third-and-1 at the TCU 45; however, the Horned Frogs failed to convert.

UCF had squandered opportunities of its own, including a fourth-and-2 at midfield at the start of the second quarter, but Jenkins was stopped short, giving TCU excellent field position. The Horned Frogs drove down to the 11 but stalled, settling for a 29-yard field goal by Nate McCashland.

Read more As GOP revives anti-trans playbook, Democrats try to turn the page

The Knights responded with an impressive 75-yard drive capped off by Jenkins finding tight end Caden Piening at the TCU 5 as the redshirt freshman dragged three defenders into the end zone. It was Piening’s first career touchdown reception as UCF retook the lead, 14-10.

“I saw the safety roll over and Lightz (Jenkins) put it on me and I did what I could to get in the end zone,” said Piening.

Bellamy came up with the second takeaway of the game, picking off Craig in the second quarter.

UCF got into the red zone before the half, but TCU safety Kylin Jackson stripped the ball from Jenkins’ hands, ending a sure-fire scoring opportunity and sending the Knights into intermission leading 14-10.

TCU put together a 15-play drive that took more than nine minutes off the clock on its first possession of the second half, but penalties and a sack forced the Horned Frogs to settle for a 46-yard field goal by McCashland, cutting the lead to 14-13.

UCF responded with their own double-digit play drive, going 75 yards on 11 plays before running back Landen Chambers plowed into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown, pushing the Knights’ advantage to 21-13.

TCU’s McCashland missed on a 50-yard field goal attempt on the following possession.

The Horned Frogs got the ball back with five minutes left and quickly marched down the field to the UCF 28, but pressure from defensive tackle Jeffson Lafontant forced Craig to overthrow a receiver and was picked off by cornerback Antione Jackson.

It was the fourth turnover of the game for UCF and ninth takeaway of the season. Last season, the Knights had just 14 takeaways.

TCU had one more shot, but Small fumbled a pitch from Payne and Thomas Collins recovered it to end the game.

While the Horned Frogs managed more yards (343) than UCF (266), they also had 11 penalties for 86 yards and allowed four quarterback sacks.

UCF is back on the road as it continues Big 12 play, heading to No. 25 Houston next Saturday (noon, ESPN2).

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.

Read more AI ads are popular in the 2026 midterms, but state laws haven’t stopped a lack of disclosure