Quarterback: C

Saturday’s game for Bear Bachmeier wasn’t his best by any stretch of the imagination. Bachmeier wasn’t the major reason for the loss, but his pedestrian stats compiled, which included just 50 percent passing for 257 and just 37 yards rushing on 15 carries didn’t prove nearly enough. Due to the massive struggles by the Cougar defense, Bachmeier needed to raise his game in order for the Cougars to come away with the win, and although he contributed two touchdown passes, his interception thrown, on top of relatively inaffectiveness in the run game equate to a C grade.

Running backs: C-

Sione Moa was back in the lineup, but didn’t do much. The oft-injured Timpview product contributed just 36 yards on his 13 carries as the Cougars didn’t show much of a consistent run game. Preston Rex fared better with his 42 yards on just five carries, which included a long of 27 yards, but overall the group did little to enhance BYU’s effort to make up for a woeful defensive performance.

Receivers/Tight ends: B

We’ll begin with the good, which was Kyler Kasper hauling in six receptions for 129 yards and a touchdown while proving to be BYU’s lone effective offensive weapon throughout most of the good. Legend Glasker had a quiet game until the first overtime period when he caught a 28-yard reception and finished with four receptions overall for 54 yards. Tight end Walker Lyons was relatively quiet following his big game versus Notre Dame last week and dropped a pass in the endzone during the second overtime period that could have worked to extend the game rather than ending it.

Offensive line: C+

The offensive line didn’t help enough to aide BYU’s lagging rush game while proving simply average in providing Bachmeier with enough time to throw the football. The unit had to make do without the services of starting right guard Kyle Sfarcioc, and when his replacement, Trevin Ostler, left the game with injury, the overall production took a hit.

Defensive line: D+

Where did the pass rush go? Time and again BYU’s defensive front failed to take down UCF quarterback Keyone Jenkins nor even force him out of his comfort zone, which impacted the game considerably. The unit also allowed too many gaps during too many rushing attempts and otherwise didn’t force the type of action Cougar fans have grown accustomed to so far this season, although a huge goal line stand toward the end of regulation gives the unit at least some boost.

Linebackers: D

Missed tackles were everywhere during Saturday’s loss, and most of those were by BYU’s otherwise very good linebacker group. Most notable was senior linebacker Isaiah Glasker failing to bring down a UCF receiver in the open field during a 3rd-and-17 situation which proved to be one of the most impactful plays in the entire game. Cade Uluave was the best player in the unit, yet again, but didn’t do near enough to raise the grade for what was a subpar unit in the loss.

Safeties/Cornerbacks: C+

The Cougar defensive backs weren’t the main problem, although the group didn’t do nearly enough to raise the defensive’s meager play throughout the loss. Due to a lack of pressure on most passing plays, the Cougar cornerbacks were taxed with way too much time to keep effective coverages and gave up too many chunk plays, as a result. The tackling was also suspect and the group forced no turnovers to neutralize BYU’s own debilitating turnover toward the end of the first half.

Special Teams: B

Matthais Dunn did well kicking through a game-tying 47-yard field goal, and the overall kick and return units were solid, but not necessarily effective enough in providing any sort of advantage. Punter Fuller Shurtz was also effective in averaging 45.8 yards on his four punts despite the sea level and rainy conditions.

Coaching: C-

The offensive play-calling wasn’t nearly up to the par established during BYU’s huge win over Notre Dame the week prior. Following the BYU defense’s huge stand during a 4th-and-goal situation from just outside the goal line, BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick opted to go hyper-conservative, running the ball three straight times instead of trying for an aggressive late minute touchdown which could have won the football game. On defense BYU flat out wasn’t ready to play, and at least some of that has to be put on the coaching staff. For whatever reason the otherwise very good Cougar defense appeared unprepared to take on UCF’s offensive system and didn’t adjust much, if at all, throughout the game’s 60 minutes of regulation and two overtime periods.