UCF welcomed six-time Super Bowl champion coach Bill Belichick and his North Carolina Tar Heels to the Bounce House for the first time Saturday afternoon. The Knights (3-0), fresh off a bye week, remained unbeaten with a 34-9 rout in their marquee home date of the season.
Belichick coached UCF’s Scott Frost in the late 1990s during his tenure as the New York Jets’ defensive coordinator. The Jets selected Frost, who converted from quarterback to safety in the pros, in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft.
Redshirt junior quarterback Tayven Jackson got his second straight start at quarterback and accounted for two touchdowns.
UCF’s defense starred, holding UNC to 217 yards of offense. The Tar Heels drooped to 2-2.
The Daytona Beach News-Journal provided live updates, scores and highlights during the game. Scroll down for a play-by-play recap.
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UCF vs UNC score updates
Final score: UCF 34, UNC 9
UCF dominated this one from start to finish.
The Knights improve to 3-0. North Carolina falls to 2-2.
Jaden Nixon punctuates this one with TD
UCF’s Jaden Nixon trots in for a 5-yard touchdown and ends an 18-play, 93-yard drive that ate more than 10 minutes off the clock. The Knights are in full control, 34-9.
Max Johnson throws TD pass for North Carolina
Filling in for injured starter Gio Lopez, Max Johnson tossed an 8-yard touchdown pass to Kobe Paysour. North Carolina failed on the two-point conversion, and still trails by a three-score margin — 27-9 with 1:06 left in the third quarter.
Johnson, the son of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Brad Johnson, went 5 of 8 for 34 yards on the drive — a 19-play, 80-yard marathon that came at the expense of bleeding 8:40 off the clock.
It’s only the third touchdown UCF’s defense has allowed in 11 quarters.
Phillip Dunnam injury: UCF safety in medical tent
UCF starting safety Phillip Dunnam entered the medical tent after sustaining an injury on a third-down completion for North Carolina.
Tight end Dylan Wade exited the locker room with a sling on his left arm after suffering an apparent shoulder/clavicle injury on an 18-yard catch earlier in the third quarter.
Gio Lopez injury: Max Johnson in as UNC quarterback
Tar Heels QB Gio Lopez picked up a fourth-and-1 conversion but suffered a right leg injury on the play. He was helped off the field.
Max Johnson checks in behind center with 6:34 remaining in the third quarter.
Myles Montgomery pads UCF lead with 1-yard TD run
Myles Montgomery scored his first touchdown of the season, a 1-yard run, to increase UCF’s lead over North Carolina to 27-3 with 9:51 left in the third quarter.
Tayven Jackson broke off a 25-yard run, and fit an 18-yard throw through a tight window to Dylan Wade to set up the goal-to-go situation. UCF has 273 yards of total offense, averaging 6.2 per play against the Bill Belichick-coached Tar Heels.
Halftime score: UCF 20, North Carolina 3
North Carolina took a knee after the kickoff, and UCF heads into halftime with a 20-3 lead.
UCF caps impressive 2-minute drill with TD pass
Tayven Jackson found Kylan Fox all alone for a 17-yard touchdown pass, giving UCF a 20-3 lead over North Carolina with 13 seconds left until halftime.
The Knights went 83 yards in just six plays and 1:04, aided by a pair of Tar Heel defensive penalties.
Jackson is now 16 of 20 for 148 yards, and he has a rushing touchdown.
North Carolina gets on the board with 40-yard FG
Rece Verhoff connected on a 40-yard field goal, pulling North Carolina within 13-3 against UCF with 1:23 left until halftime.
Lewis Carter recorded UCF’s second sack of the half. The Knights have a 146-99 advantage in total yards.
Braeden Marshall makes diving pick for UCF in red zone
UCF’s defense allowed North Carolina to get into gear, but made up for it with a red-zone interception.
Jayden Bellamy deflected Gio Lopez’s pass into the air, and Braeden Marshall hauled it in at the 8-yard line for his third career pick. Lopez has not had a ball hit the ground today, going 5 of 7 for 48 yards and two interceptions.
North Carolina moved 63 yards on nine plays prior to the turnover.
Noe Ruelas kicks 2nd field goal; UCF leads 13-0
Noe Ruelas bailed UCF out for sloppiness inside the red zone, hitting a season-long 41-yard field goal. The Knights lead North Carolina 13-0 with 10:02 left in the second quarter.
UCF’s most recent drive covered 14 plays and 42 yards, and it ate 7:44 off the clock.
Tayven Jackson is 11 of 14 for 97 yards through the air.
UCF leads North Carolina 10-0 after 1st quarter
UCF will take a 10-0 lead into the second quarter after a dominant early display.
The Knights have outgained the visiting Tar Heels 108-2, highlighted by Tayven Jackson’s 11-yard TD run, Nyjalik Kelly’s interception and Sincere Edwards’ sack for a 15-yard loss on North Carolina’s second possession.
Jordon Hudson, Bill Belichick girlfriend, spotted on sidelines
Bill Belichick’s girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, was indeed seen on the Acrisure Bounce House sidelines during warmups Saturday.
Hudson has become a point of public intrigue this year, especially since Belichick arrived in Chapel Hill. She has attended all four the Tar Heels games this season.
UCF kicks field goal after turnover, takes 10-0 lead on UNC
Noe Ruelas knocked through a 36-yard field goal attempt, extending UCF’s lead over North Carolina to 10-0 with 4:51 left in the first quarter.
Tayven Jackson is 6-of-8 passing for 55 yards, and he has two carries for 15 yards and a touchdown.
Nyjalik Kelly secures 1st career interception
UCF’s defense forced a turnover on its first series of the game.
Horace Lockett deflected Gio Lopez’s pass, and defensive end Nyjalik Kelly hung on for his first career interception at North Carolina’s 23-yard line.
UCF marches 75 yards for opening-drive TD
UCF marched 75 yards on 13 plays for a touchdown on its opening drive, an 11-yard keeper for quarterback Tayven Jackson. The Knights lead North Carolina 7-0 with 8:23 left in the opening quarter.
Jackson, named the starter out of the bye week, completed 5 of 6 throws for 52 yards. He kept the drive alive with a 2-yard sneak on fourth-and-one from the Tar Heels’ 41. Marcus Burke pulled in two receptions for 35 yards.
UCF is 5 of 5 on fourth down to this point in the season.
Bill Belichick is on field at UCF
Yes, the six-time Super Bowl champion head coach is on the field at the Acrisure Bounce House. His Tar Heels just ran out of the tunnel.
Belichick met up with UCF head coach Scott Frost during pregame warmups.
Bill Belichick, Scott Frost meet up during pre-game warmups
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick and UCF head coach Scott Frost had a nearly two-minute chat and lengthy handshake during pregame warmups.
Belichick was Frost’s defensive coordinator for his first two seasons the New York Jets (1998-99). Frost converted to safety after playing quarterback at Nebraska.
Tayven Jackson named in UCF starting lineup during warmups
Tayven Jackson was announced as UCF’s starting quarterback during pre-game warmups ahead of Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. kickoff against North Carolina.
Jackson, a redshirt junior, rushed for two touchdowns in a 68-7 win over North Carolina A&T two weeks ago. He has completed 29 of 45 passes for 471 yards and two touchdown passes through UCF’s first pair of games.
Cam Fancher, who started the Knights’ opener against Jacksonville State, was cleared to return to practice earlier this week. He participated in walkthroughs.
How does Orlando weather forecast look for UCF vs. UNC football game?
It’s always a touchy subject early in the year. And so far during the 2025 college football season, UCF is two for two.
Two home games, two weather delays.
But the skies look pretty clear, and the temperatures sit in the mid-80s as of 2:10 p.m. Should be on target for the scheduled 3:30 kickoff.
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UCF vs North Carolina injury updates
UCF quarterback Cam Fancher (back) returned to practice and could play. Cornerback Jayden Williams is questionable with a thumb injury.
Who is starting for UCF football at quarterback?
Cam Fancher started the season opener but was injured in the first half with a back injury. He practiced for the first time this week, and coach Scott Frost was unclear whether he or Tayven Jackson would start vs. North Carolina. Fancher was 5 of 9 for 32 yards in the opener, while Jackson has started the season 29 of 45 for 471 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
UCF schedule 2025
Here is UCF’s schedule and results. All times Eastern.
*- Big 12 game
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: UCF football vs North Carolina: Final score, highlights, recap of Week 4 game
Reporting by Chris Boyle and Chris Vinel, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
