UCF Allows 21 Straight Points in Blowout Loss to No. 18 Oklahoma State

The UCF Knights collapsed in the second half, allowing 21 unanswered points in their 42-28 loss to the No. 18 Oklahoma State Cowboys on Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium.

UCF (3-3, 1-2 Big 12) has given up 48 straight second-half points in back-to-back weeks. A trend is forming: the team starts first halves strong and crumbles in second halves.

The Knights have scored 31 first-half points: 10 in last week’s loss to the then-No. 20 Houston Cougars and 21 against the Cowboys (4-1, 3-0 Big 12).

UCF quarterback Keyone Jenkins and Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker put together a first-half shootout. Jenkins had three touchdowns, and Mestemaker had two (one passing and one rushing) entering halftime.

Knights coach Scott Frost and offensive coordinator Steve Cooper dove deep into their playbook. They called jet sweeps for wide receiver Josh Derry, and challenged their quarterback to push the ball downfield.

Frost tricked the Cowboys’ defense with a red zone play-action pass. Jenkins completed a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Grayson Brousseau, putting the Knights up 7-0.

Brousseau poetically caught his first career touchdown reception against his former team.

Mestemaker responded with an 11-yard rushing touchdown on a read option, capping a seven-play drive to even the score.

Jenkins continued the scoring onslaught with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Derry to one-up their opponents. The senior quarterback has settled into his starter role with star transfer Alonza Barnett III sidelined.

Both teams continued to exchange blows in the second quarter with Oklahoma State scoring 14 points to UCF’s seven.

The Knights turned to the deep passing game, an aspect of the offense that’s been missing this season. Jenkins still struggled to complete those passes, but Waden Charles drew a pass interference on the defense to put the team in scoring position.

Wide receiver Tyren Hornes, who has gotten more playing time in the last two games, caught his first career touchdown after Jenkins missed him on a wide-open deep pass.

UCF and Oklahoma State entered halftime tied at 21 apiece.

Frost’s squad proved it can hang with ranked opponents, but that wouldn’t last for long. The Knights' defense held the Cowboys to a field goal in the third before collapsing in the fourth.

They allowed 18 unanswered points before Jenkins threw a 4-yard touchdown to tight end Caden Piening.

UCF enters its bye week on a two-game losing streak and hosts the No. 8 BYU Cougars at 3 p.m. on Oct. 24 at the Acrisure Bounce House.