Overview

• The Knights controlled the game with 366–217 yardage, an 18-play, 93-yard, 10½‑minute fourth-quarter drive, 33:47 time of possession, and a 4-for-4 mark on fourth down.
• Quarterback Tayven Jackson went 25-of-32 for 223 yards with a touchdown and added a rushing score, distributing to nine different receivers.
• UNC starter Gio Lopez went 11-of-14 for 87 yards with two interceptions before exiting with a right leg injury in the third quarter; he will be evaluated, and Max Johnson led a 19-play TD drive in relief.
• Bill Belichick conceded UCF “played well, certainly better than we did,” citing “too many problems” for UNC to be consistent in the loss.
• UCF leaned into perceived slights after Belichick’s “Central” remark, with Scott Frost calling it “ammo,” and the school’s X account posted a trolling graphic referencing Belichick and Jordon Hudson, who was seen on the UNC sideline pregame.