ORLANDO — UCF’s hopes of returning to a bowl game in Scott Frost’s first season back on the sidelines reached a pivotal point Saturday afternoon. The Knights (4-3, 1-3 Big 12) ended a three-game slide against similarly rebuilt and injury-ravaged West Virginia (2-5, 0-4 Big 12) at the Acrisure Bounce House.
The win was UCF’s first ever against the Mountaineers, erasing an 0-for-4 record. It also marked the Knights’ first win in the month of October since 2022.
They rolled up 579 yards of offense and sacked WVU seven times.
Tayven Jackson got the start at quarterback with Cam Fancher injured. Jackson threw two touchdowns to Chris Domercant, and Jaden Nixon ran for two touchdowns after halftime. West Virginia averaged 2.7 yards per play, getting TD runs from Khalil Wilkins and Diore Hubbard.
The Daytona Beach News-Journal provided live updates, scores and highlights from the game. Scroll down for a play-by-play recap.
Watch UCF vs West Virginia live on Sling
UCF vs West Virginia score updates
Final score: UCF 45, West Virginia 13
UCF’s nearly three-year October winless run is over, in dominant fashion.
The Knights rolled up 579 yards of total offense, and sacked West Virginia quarterbacks seven times in a 45-13 blowout. UCF improves to 4-3 overall, and 1-3 in the Big 12.
Tayven Jackson threw two touchdowns to Chris Domercant, and Jaden Nixon ran for two touchdowns after halftime. West Virginia (2-5, 0-4) averaged 2.7 yards per play, getting TD runs from Khalil Wilkins and Diore Hubbard.
Davi Belfort tacks on 1st career UCF TD
Redshirt freshman quarterback Davi Belfort turned a broken play into his first career touchdown, a 10-yard keeper, to extend UCF’s lead over West Virginia to 45-7 with 4:17 to play.
Belfort connected with Caleb Rollerson for a 39-yard completion, marked out at the 1 after an officials’ review. The Knights are up to 556 yards of total offense, averaging 8.2 per play.
UCF’s Noe Ruelas nails 51-yard field goal
Noe Ruelas drilled a 51-yard field goal, set up by Antione Jackson’s 26-yard punt return, and UCF leads West Virginia 38-7 with 9:40 remaining in regulation.
John Walker notched UCF’s seventh sack of the day on the previous defensive series. The Knights have a 484-197 advantage in total yards, and a 24-0 scoring edge since the start of the second half.
Jaden Nixon breaks game open with 83-yard TD
Jaden Nixon and UCF are running away from West Virginia. The redshirt senior popped a seam for an 83-yard touchdown, and the Knights have a 35-7 lead with 2:11 left in the third quarter.
The Knights have scored 21 unanswered points in the second half, and have rolled up 467 yards of total offense.
Nixon and Myles Montgomery have combined for 206 rushing yards in the game.
Scoop and score: UCF defense adds another TD
UCF produced its first takeaway in 13-plus quarters, and cashed it in for another touchdown.
Keli Lawson scooped up Khalil Wilkins’ fumble, jarred free by a Nyjalik Kelly sack, and ran it 32 yards into the end zone. UCF leads West Virginia 28-7 with 10:40 to play in the third quarter.
Five different Knights have a sack in the game, and West Virginia has mustered just 33 passing yards as a team.
Jaden Nixon TD run restores UCF’s 2-score lead
Tayven Jackson hit Duane Thomas Jr. and Caleb Rollerson for clutch third-down throws, and Jaden Nixon took a sweep 12 yards for a touchdown to give UCF a 21-7 lead over West Virginia with 11:53 left in the third quarter.
UCF went 92 yards on nine plays in its first drive after halftime.
Jackson is 20-of-29 passing for 252 yards and two touchdowns.
West Virginia misses field goal; UCF leads 14-7 at halftime
Kade Hensley pushed a 44-yard field goal attempt wide left as time expired in the first half, allowing UCF to maintain a 14-7 lead at the break over visiting West Virginia.
A pair of UCF mistakes granted West Virginia a chance for points. Oliver Straw picked up 12 yards on a fake punt, and Nyjalik Kelly committed an unnecessary roughness for hitting Mountaineers quarterback Khalil Wilkins out of bounds on a third-and-long throwaway.
UCF holds a 250-140 advantage in total yards, but two fourth-and-one failures have proven pivotal in keeping it a one-score game. Tayven Jackson has completed 16 of 23 throws for 187 yards and two touchdowns, both to Chris Domercant.
Myles Montgomery has 49 rushing yards on eight attempts. Domercant leads all receivers with four catches and 80 yards.
UCF stuffed again on 4th-and-1
UCF brought in extra blockers, yet still failed to convert on fourth-and-one — this time at West Virginia’s 13-yard line. The Knights marched 65 yards in 12 plays, but could not extend their 14-7 lead on the visiting Mountaineers.
Since he broke loose for 39 yards on UCF’s opening play from scrimmage, Myles Montgomery has gained five yards on six carries.
Khalil Wilkins scrambles for West Virginia TD
West Virginia capitalized on the short field as Khalil Wilkins scrambled for a 6-yard touchdown. The Mountaineers trail UCF 14-7 with 14:19 left in the second quarter.
Wilkins replaced Scotty Fox Jr. and provided a jolt to the Mountaineers’ offense, gaining 33 yards on three rushing attempts.
UCF leads West Virginia 14-0 after 1st quarter
UCF holds a 14-0 lead over West Virginia at the end of the first quarter, courtesy of two Tayven Jackson touchdown passes to Chris Domercant.
The Knights’ defense pitched a first-quarter shutout for the sixth time in seven games this fall and sacked West Virginia freshman quarterback Scotty Fox Jr. four times.
UCF gained 174 yards in the period, averaging 10.2 per play. Khalil Wilkins replaced Fox at quarterback, and he has rushed twice for a team-high 27 yards.
West Virginia stops UCF on 4th down
Myles Montgomery could not convert on fourth-and-one from UCF’s 40-yard line, and West Virginia’s offense will get a look at a short field.
Khalil Wilkins replaced Scotty Fox Jr. at quarterback and picked up first downs on his first two rushing attempts.
UCF produces more 4th-down magic, goes up 14-0
Tayven Jackson and Chris Domercant connected for a second, fourth-down touchdown bomb in the opening quarter. Domercant hauled in a 34-yard pass from Jackson, doubling UCF’s lead over West Virginia to 14-0 with 4:54 left in the first.
Jackson is 6-of-9 passing for 113 yards. Domercant has 74 receiving yards on his two catches.
UCF has outgained West Virginia 165-29 through the game’s opening 10-plus minutes. Cole Kozlowski and RJ Jackson Jr. recorded sacks for the Knights’ defense.
Tayven Jackson throws opening-drive, 4th-down TD
UCF polished off a 97-yard opening drive with a crucial fourth-down conversion as Tayven Jackson slipped out of the pocket and found Chris Domercant for a 40-yard touchdown pass. The Knights take a 7-0 lead on West Virginia with 11:33 left in the opening quarter.
Myles Montgomery got the Knights away from their own goal line with a 39-yard run to open the drive.
RJ Jackson Jr. registered his first UCF sack on the team’s first defensive series, wrapping up true freshman Scotty Fox Jr. on third-and-seven.
UCF starting tackle Paul Rubelt will miss West Virginia game
UCF will be without starting left tackle Paul Rubelt for Saturday’s game against West Virginia. The 6-foot-11, 310-pound senior was downgraded from questionable to out on the Big 12 Conference’s final availability report, released 90 minutes prior to kickoff.
Rubelt played 54 of UCF’s 90 offensive snaps last week at Cincinnati. For the year, he has a 66.1 overall grade, per Pro Football Focus — including an 81.4 mark in pass protection.
Quarterback Cam Fancher and edge rusher Sincere Edwards are also among the Knights’ seven absences.
West Virginia expected to start true freshman QB
True freshman Scotty Fox Jr. is expected to start at quarterback for West Virginia, according to a report from 247Sports’ Mike Casazza. Fox would be the first true freshman to start behind center in a game for the Mountaineers since Fred Wyant in 1952.
A consensus three-star recruit from Mentor, Ohio, Fox has played in four games this fall, completing 5 of 8 passes for 114 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He has run the ball 12 times for 92 yards, including a 59-yard TD against Robert Morris.
West Virginia ruled 10 players out for Saturday’s game against UCF, including a pair of QBs — Nicco Marchiol and Jaylen Henderson.
What time does UCF vs West Virginia start?
What TV channel is UCF vs West Virginia on today?
UCF vs West Virginia predictions
UCF vs West Virginia injury updates
For the Knights, Fancher was ruled out with an undisclosed injury despite playing the entirety of last week’s game. Jackson is healthy, Frost said on his radio show with UCF play-by-play broadcaster Marc Daniels, so it can be assumed he will return to the starting lineup.
Sophomore defensive end Sincere Edwards will be sidelined for the first time this season. Redshirt senior safety Jayden Williams is on track to miss a fourth straight game with a broken thumb. Left tackle Paul Rubelt and backup QB Jacurri Brown are questionable.
For West Virginia, quarterback Nicco Marchiol (foot), running back Jahiem White (knee) and wide receiver Jaden Bray (foot) have been ruled out for the season. Linebacker Ashton Woods was set to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery this week, Rodriguez said. Defensive lineman Hammond Russell IV, who has 12 tackles and 2½ TFLs, is also out.
Palatka native Tye Edwards gained immediate cult-hero status after gashing Backyard Brawl rival Pittsburgh for 141 rushing yards and three touchdowns, but he has not played since due to a lingering hip injury. Rodriguez said the 6-foot-2, 225-pound redshirt senior is seeing a specialist in Alabama “because it’s still not getting right” during his radio show Oct. 13.
Who is starting for UCF football at quarterback?
With Cam Fancher out, Tayven Jackson looks primed to return to the starting lineup. The redshirt junior has made four starts this season, completing 65% of his passes for 906 yards, three touchdowns and one pick. He has also rushed for three scores.
Jacurri Brown or Davi Belfort will serve as the primary backup, depending on Brown’s injury status.
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. West Virginia final score, highlights, recap
Reporting by Chris Boyle, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
