The UCF Knights face significant challenges as they prepare for their final regular-season game, taking on No. 11 BYU. Under the guidance of head coach Scott Frost, the team has become one of the most penalized squads in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), accumulating 85 penalties this season.
Scott Frost on Accountability for UCF Penalties
Scott Frost acknowledges the penalties and takes responsibility for the team’s performance. “As much as we talk about work on those things not happening, that’s kind of who we are right now; and we have to wear that,” he mentioned after a recent game against Oklahoma State.
Types of Penalties
The Knights have struggled primarily with pre-snap penalties. The most common fouls include:
- False starts
- Illegal shifts
- Motions and substitutions
- Delays of game
Pre-snap penalties constitute approximately 47.67% of UCF’s total penalties. Notably, false starts alone make up over 29% of this count.
Impact of Penalties on Performance
Holding penalties follow false starts as the next most frequent infraction, accounting for 39% of the team’s penalties. Frost deemed the three holding penalties against Oklahoma State as “unfortunate.” Overall, the Knights’ offense has incurred 61 penalties, representing a striking 67.21% of the total.
Defensive penalties are not far behind, with 23 infractions recorded. During a game against West Virginia, the defense resulted in more penalties than the offense, tallying four to three. However, the offense showed a concerning trend, with one game where they managed to record fewer than four penalties.
Upcoming Challenges and Optimism
Despite these setbacks, UCF has managed to secure five wins this season, moving closer to bowl eligibility. The Knights’ offense has drawn significant attention, with the potential for penalties matching those of the least-penalized teams in the FBS.
As the team gears up for their match against BYU, they are focused on overcoming these challenges. Tight end Dylan Wade stated, “We overcame those setbacks by staying together, guys encouraging guys.” The crucial game is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. as UCF seeks its sixth win of the season.
