Penalties Decide Wild Finish as UCF Beats BYU in Double Overtime

The UCF Knights pulled off a stunning 39–31 double-overtime win over the No. 2 BYU Cougars on Saturday in Provo, Utah. The game ended in wild fashion, with key penalty calls deciding the outcome late in regulation and in overtime. BYU had been one of the top teams in the country, coming off a big upset win over Notre Dame the week before. Instead of staying on a roll, the Cougars fell victim to a thrilling comeback by UCF.

The craziness started near the end of the fourth quarter. BYU blocked a field goal attempt by UCF kicker Will Stone with just 11 seconds left on the clock. Stone recovered his own blocked kick and ran the ball forward 2 yards, which seemed to stop any chance UCF had of winning in regulation. However, when Stone recovered the ball, his helmet completely flew off his head, which stopped the game clock.

After that, the referees had a long debate about what had happened on the play. They had thrown a flag for a facemask penalty against BYU, but then decided to pick it up and not call the foul. This was a huge deal, because if the penalty had been called, UCF would have gotten 15 extra yards and another chance to kick a game-winning field goal. Instead, with no penalty called and no time left, the game went to overtime.

Fox Sports rules expert Mike Pereira explained what should have happened on the play. He said that if the facemask penalty had been enforced, UCF would have received an extra untimed down to try to win in regulation. Many viewers and fans were confused by the officials' decision not to call the penalty. The ruling meant BYU got a lucky break — at least for a little while.

But BYU's good fortune did not last long. In the second overtime period, UCF made a successful field goal to take the lead, and then referees called a roughing-the-kicker penalty on BYU defensive end Kendal Wall. Wall had fallen into the UCF kicker after the kick, and the penalty gave UCF a fresh set of downs. The Fox broadcast announcers made it clear they did not agree with the call on the field.

UCF made the most of their second chance by scoring a touchdown and converting a 2-point conversion to stretch their lead. BYU got the ball back and drove down the field, but quarterback Bear Bachmeier's final pass fell incomplete on fourth-and-goal, ending BYU's hopes. UCF coach Scott Frost and his team celebrated a massive road win. The ending left many fans arguing about whether the referees had gotten the big calls right.