No. 11 BYU's explosive resurgence for three-fourths of the game marked the end of the UCF Knights' season at 5-7, and they failed to achieve a bowl berth for two consecutive seasons.

It was an up-and-down season for coach Scott Frost and his squad. Injuries and inconsistency made Frost's first season of his second tenure a roller coaster. The team and fans are waiting eight months until the return of college football in 2026. 

In the meantime, here are some of the trends and takeaways from UCF's 5-7 season under Frost's leadership.

FAILURE TO EXTEND DRIVES AND CONVERT THIRD DOWNS

One of the most significant struggles for the Knights this season was converting third downs to string together long drives. They converted 57 of 168 third downs (33.9%), ranking 14th in the Big 12. 

A key aspect of failing to convert third downs is analyzing how many three-and-outs the team has had across the season. Three-and-outs are drives teams fail to get a first down before the first fourth down, typically resulting in a punt. 

UCF recorded 25 three-and-outs in 12 games, and six was the single-game record in the heartbreaking loss against Houston in the Space Games. Early punts give opponents more possessions and tire the defense out due to little rest. 

"You'd like to see just a little bit more precision and execution," Offensive coordinator Steve Cooper said. "Big picture, just you have to execute no matter the circumstances. Doesn't matter who you're playing. And it's just a lot of the same stuff that we got to keep getting better at. And like I've always said, those are things you have to continue to work on in practice, and eventually the dam will break. So, we just got to keep chucking away at it."

Conference opponents like No. 11 BYU, No. 5 Texas Tech and Houston convert third downs at a 40% rate, ranking within the top seven. UCF must convert more third downs to create long, time-consuming drives and increase its scoring chances.

The Knights' Achilles Heel: Penalties 

Penalties are UCF's worst trend. The team is ranked 1st in the Big 12 in penalties with 91, one above Arizona State. These self-inflicted mistakes make extending drives much more difficult or negate positive, backbreaking plays that put the team in an advantageous position. 

The most common penalties for the Knights are offsides (11), holding (21) and false starts (29). Altogether, those three penalties account for 61 of the 91 penalties. The sheer amount of self-inflicted mistakes is attributed to the team's youth and inexperience.

"Where they're happening is the most frustrating to me because they're happening for the most part in the red zone," Frost said. "It's starting to be a pattern, and we have to address that. It's just in clutch moments, being able to calm yourself down and hear the snap count."

It is an encouraging sign that Frost is retaining most of his players from this year's roster into next season, which should help cut down drive-killing, negating penalties.

Increased Turnovers After 3-0 Start

UCF had one turnover in its first three games, a sign of poised decision-making and excellent ball security. However, they experienced an uptick in turnovers when conference play began. 

The team recorded five turnovers in its first Big 12 matchup against Kansas State: a fumble, two interceptions and a turnover on downs. Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch consistently preached about how the turnover battle influences who is likely to win the game. 

"They're huge," Grinch said. "It's the number one stat, man. You look at that thing, and it has its wins and losses, and you can circle back to that damn near every weekend both in college and in professional football."

The Knights turned the ball over 33 times while their opponents turned it over 17 times; compounded by the failure to extend drives, it showcased why the offense struggled and how opposing teams capitalized on the Knights' mistakes. 

What's Next For The Knights?

UCF's future is bright despite the negative trends that stunted the team. Frost is building a culture that players buy into because he rewards his talent with meaningful playing time regardless of class level. 

Multiple young players, running back Agyeman Addae, wide receiver Waden Charles and tight end Caden Piening, have earned playing time under Frost and contributed to the Knights' success. Also, most of the upperclassmen who aren't seniors are returning to play another year.

The trust built with his players and the experience they've accumulated will serve as the backbone of UCF's success next season, as they aim to snap a two-year postseason drought and cement themselves as one of the better teams in the Big 12.