One week removed from being the talk of the nation on the heels of 28-24 win over the No. 2-ranked Notre Dame, the Cougars are now left with little to no margin of error in their quest to gain a bid to the College Football Playoff, due to the unanticipated loss. But that’s how college football seems to be going this season with just about every team that has achieved a top 10 ranking taking an unexpected loss, and BYU proved no different during Saturday’s wild course of play.

So what went wrong?

Well, a lot of things from a lack of a serious run game, losing the turnover battle and incurring costly and untimely penalties, although it’s hard to argue that one single debilitating factor contributed more than BYU’s somewhat shocking inability to tackle.

Entering Saturday’s game at the Bounce House BYU held a No. 12 total defense ranking nationally which would face off against UCF’s very pedestrian 99th-ranked offense, which appeared to be the game’s biggest mismatch. But those numbers were flipped considerably with the Knights gashing the Cougars up and down the field to the tune of 463 yards of total offense which could well be argued as the primary reason for the loss.

“I wish I could sit here and just complain about the stuff that we did, but UCF put us on our heels and put us in some uncomfortable positions and actually did some really good things,” said BYU coach Kalani Sitake. “So I want to give them a lot of credit for what they’ve done, and they deserve the win.”

But that’s not to obscure the uncommon issues exhibited by his normally stingy defensive unit throughout the 60 minutes of play in regulation on top of two overtime periods.

“Maybe lack of technique, but also great skill in space … UCF had some great skill in space that made us miss, and it caused a lot of issues for us. And I think they tackled better than we did, and I think they’re just really hungry for this game, you know?,” Sitake offered.

Perhaps no player on UCF’s team proved tougher to tackle than quarterback Keyone Jenkins, who finished with 25-41 passing for 293 yards passing and three touchdowns and no interceptions. Time and again Jenkins would manage whatever pressure BYU’s front brought, buy ample time and then exploit a Cougar secondary tasked with covering receivers for way too much time on more than several occasions.

“He played a heck of a game,” said BYU linebacker Cade Uluave. “I think there were a lot of times he was elusive, getting out of the pocket and I could have done a better job containing the quarterback. He had a good game, and props to them.”

It wasn’t just Jenkins, however. BYU’s tackling failed to hold UCF primary running back Duke Watson, who finished with 93 yards on just 15 carries, in check on many occasions, although it was one of UCF’s more diminutive players — receiver Tyren Hornes, who provided perhaps the most memorable play. Tasked with a 3rd-and-17 situation with BYU leading 21-17 and with just under seven minutes remaining in the third quarter, the 6-foot, 175 pound receiver caught a pass in the flat and endured a blow from BYU linebacker Isaiah Glasker, bounced off it and proceeded to not only make a first down, but cover 56 yards in the process. Nine plays later saw UCF cross into the endzone for a 24-21 lead about four minutes later.

“We had some guys be a little selfish and do something that’s not even in their (responsibility), and against really good teams. They’re going to make you pay for that,” Sitake said of BYU’s defensive play in general.

On the offensive side of the ball the play was a bit better, although the Cougars made enough mistakes to compound the defensive issues. As mentioned, a lack of a running game stood prominent with Sione Moa, who saw his first action since leaving BYU’s opening season win over Utah Tech with injury, proving relatively ineffective with his 36 yards on 13 carries. Bear Bachmeier didn’t do much either on the ground, rushing for just 37 yards on 15 attempts.

Bachmeier also contributed a costly turnover that flipped the momentum and future course of the contest considerably toward the end of the first half. With BYU leading 14-10, Bachmeier had a pass tipped at the line of scrimmage during a 3rd-down situation that was picked off by the Knights deep in their own territory. That interception was turned into a touchdown several plays later and gave UCF a 17-14 lead at the break opposed to what could have been a 17-10 or even a 21-10 deficit.

“He missed on some throws that he is going to want to have back,” Sitake said. “I thought they did a good job controlling him in the run game, too … They out-gained us, they bested us in a lot of different ways. We just couldn’t get the right rhythm, but you have to give (UCF) credit for that.”

Despite all the issues, BYU found itself able to force overtime due in no small part to Matthias Dunn kicking through a tying 47-yard field and UCF unable to forge ahead with its own attempt from relatively the same distance due to a timely block by Faletau Satuala.

Leading off the overtime period was Legend Glasker hauling in a 28-yard touchdown pass that appeared, at the time, to stand as a strong possibility of standing as the game-winning score. But it took UCF just one play to match the touchdown as Jenkins yet again avoided a would-be tackle in the backfield to buy time and then find a wide open Josh Derry at the goal line to send the game into double overtime.

BYU forced UCF into a field goal attempt on the first possession of the second overtime period, although a controversial roughing the kicker penalty extended the possession and ultimately culminated with a 4-yard touchdown pass from Jenkins to Grayson Brousseau, which proved to be the game winner. BYU had an opportunity to match the score and ensuing 2-point conversion, but a 4th-down pass to tight end Walker Lyons in the endzone was dropped and UCF walked away with the win.

“This sucks. We’re all beyond pissed off, and it’s frustrating, but I have no doubt that we’re going to bounce right back,” concluded BYU receiver Kyler Kasper. “I mean, what else are you going to do — linger on it and and let it lead into next week? We’re not that type of team, man. Kalani’s going to … (help us) focus on the the things we’re supposed to be focused on and I think he did that this week and obviously it’s going to be frustrating, but Monday comes and we’re on to (Arizona State), We move past it.”