UCF rallies from 21 down in second half to beat TCU

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Gus Malzahn's makeover at UCF passed a frenetic first Big 12 test Saturday night as the Knights rallied from 21 points down in the third quarter to beat TCU 35-34.

UCF didn't lead until 36 seconds were left in the game, when KJ Jefferson, one of 50 new players in the program this season, threw a 20-yard strike to Kobe Hudson, who took a shot on the play at the goal line but held on to the ball.

"He just kept saying, 'Just give me a shot, give me a shot. I know I'm going to make the play,'" Jefferson said of Hudson.

Added Hudson: "That is the best win I ever had in my life."

Malzahn ranked it at the top of his four-year UCF career, comparing it to his first season when the Knights mounted a 21-point comeback to beat Boise State.

"The difference is we were on the road [against TCU], and this was a very talented team," Malzahn said.

TCU's Josh Hoover threw for 402 yards and four touchdowns, completing 35 of 52 passes with his main target, Jack Bech, catching nine passes for 200 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown early in the third quarter to give the Horned Frogs a 28-7 lead.

UCF simplified its offense in the second half, according to Malzahn, to focus on feeding RJ Harvey, the Knights' All-Big 12 back who ran for 1,416 yards last season. Harvey finished with 29 carries for 180 yards and two touchdowns and caught one pass for 29 yards and another score.

"He's one of the best backs in college football," Malzahn said. "I think each week he's proven that."

UCF finished 2-4 on the road in 2023 in its first year in the Big 12, part of a 6-7 season. Malzahn said he hoped to find a veteran quarterback to step in this year, and Saturday's result was why he wanted his offense to run through the hands of Jefferson. The quarterback said he was in pain from a collision on the second drive but refused to come out of the game.

"I think you just saw it," Malzahn said. "He's a veteran guy. He didn't flinch, and he was real positive. I mean he wasn't healthy, guys. He's a tough guy."

The game's drama lasted until the clock expired. First, the Knights had to kick the winning extra point, which wasn't a given, considering TCU blocked three kicks in the game -- two field goal attempts and an extra point attempt. After Colton Boomer delivered, TCU got the ball back and drove to the UCF 40, where true freshman kicker Kyle Lemmermann attempted a 58-yard field goal as the final seconds ticked off the clock. The kick had the distance but missed wide to the right.

Jefferson said he had his face covered trying to avoid watching the kick.

"Coach Malzahn walked by me and said, 'Uncover your face and watch it. We've got this won already. Let's get ready to enjoy the moment,'" Jefferson said.

UCF is 3-0 heading into a bye week, with Colorado up next in Orlando, Florida, on Sept. 28. In a wide-open Big 12 race, the Knights hope the confidence from the comeback win carries over.

"We'll carry this the rest of the year, and we'll go down fighting," Malzahn said. "We will believe at the end."