BYU was one of college football's early-season darlings before meeting Utah State last Friday night. Not only did the Aggies pull off a surprise road upset, the Cougars also lost quarterback Taysom Hill for the season to a broken left leg. Backup quarterback Christian Stewart came in for Hill in the second quarter and struggled through the remainder of the game, finishing 10-of-29 for 172 yards and three interceptions. Aside from the obvious loss in the passing game, Hill was also BYU's leading rusher.
How to watch BYU vs. UCF: Game guide, TV schedule, streaming, odds
After BYU’s season came crashing down, the Cougars have a chance to rebound vs. UCF.
Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
One loss certainly doesn’t doom a season, but BYU’s last game was costly.
The Cougars draw UCF on Thursday night in Orlando. The Knights have won their last two games, albeit against Bethune-Cookman and Houston. Previously, UCF dropped its first two games to Penn State and Missouri. Assuming the Cougars are able to move the ball with Stewart at the helm, they should be able to get back on track vs. the Knights.
How to watch, listen, and stream
Game time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Online streaming: WatchESPN
The numbers
Rankings and records: BYU is 4-1 and unranked (it dropped out of both the Coaches Poll and the AP Top 25 after the loss to Utah State). UCF is 2-2 (1-0 AAC) and unranked.
Vegas: UCF opened as, and remained, a three-point favorite.
Weather forecast: 79 degrees, 0 percent precipitation.
Two things at stake
BYU has already dropped out of the polls and lost Hill for the season. As Vanquish The Foe points out, there’s still one silver lining apparent at this point:
All the hype and excitement that Cougar fans once had is now gone. BYU has a lot of work to do, especially on the defensive side of the ball, but the season is far from over. The Cougars still have a shot at double-digit wins if they can regain their composure and get Stewart comfortable in the offense.
UCF, meanwhile, will get another tough test before getting ready for the heart of AAC play (if there is such a thing). After facing BYU, UCF gets Tulane and Templte at home before traveling to UConn.
One big matchup
Christian Stewart vs. UCF's defense: UCF forced Houston into three turnovers last weekend, though it was also outgained, 331-228. Underdog Dynasty praised the defensive effort -- UCF allowed only four field goals with solid red zone defense. The Knights remain pitiful on offense, ranking 122nd with 279.3 yards per game. If Stewart is able to improve on his first career start, he might be able to limit the drop-off from Hill. Back in fall camp, BYU offensive coordinator Robert Anae was complimentary of Stewart, and said that the Cougars' offense only always one "script" because of his similarities to Hill.
“He can run. He can really run. He can do some of the same things as Taysom. Both of those quarterbacks are in a level that is very efficient and they are similar.”
Further reading
For more on BYU, head to Vanquish The Foe. For more on UCF, check out Underdog Dynasty.
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