It all began when a few fans climbed to the top of the north side of Acrisure Bounce House Stadium during the second quarter of UCF’s home finale against Oklahoma State.
More fans soon joined them, taking off their shirts and waving them defiantly.
What started as a small group quickly turned into a wave of shirtless supporters. The trend had taken hold in Orlando and was in full swing on Saturday afternoon.
Whatever the cause, this display ignited a spark in a struggling UCF team as the Knights rallied to secure a 17-14 win over the Cowboys on Senior Day.
Kicker Noe Ruelas connected on a 34-yard field goal with 57 seconds left for the win.
Safety Braeden Marshall intercepted Oklahoma State quarterback Zane Flores to seal the win.
“Shout out to them. That’s when we started rallying,” said Ruelas, who was named a Lou Groza semifinalist earlier in the week. “I’m not going to lie, but it was a big section up there. It’s been going around in college football, and it was fun to see it tonight.”
UCF (5-6, 2-6 Big 12) snapped a three-game losing streak while moving one game closer to being bowl eligible after missing out last season. The victory is also the 40th career win for Scott Frost in 8 seasons.
“Saying it wasn’t a great first half is probably an understatement,” Frost said. “But the message at halftime was my challenge all week, which was that we’ve got to play hard and we’ve got to play fast. They came out and got a spark on the first play and the defense played a tremendous second half.”
Oklahoma State (1-10, 0-8 Big 12) did not resemble a team ranked No. 122 in total offense as the Cowboys efficiently moved down the field on their opening possession. Flores connected with receiver Gavin Freeman in the flat for a 5-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead.
It was the third time in the last four games that UCF allowed a touchdown on the opponent’s opening possession.
The Knights’ initial possession didn’t go as planned as pre-snap penalties continued to be a downfall. A false-start penalty turned what could have been a manageable 4th-and-1 into a challenging 4th-and-6, ultimately forcing UCF to punt instead of going for it.
The defense stepped up on OSU’s next possession, stopping the Cowboys on a 4th-and-1 at the UCF 39.
But quarterback Tayven Jackson’s pass to Carl Jenkins Jr. was tipped and intercepted by cornerback Cam Smith. It was Jackson’s seventh interception of the season and the fifth consecutive game in which he’s thrown a pick.
UCF failed to score in the first quarter for the sixth time this season.
Oklahoma State tacked on an additional touchdown late in the second quarter as Flores scampered six yards into the end zone with 50 seconds left in the half.
UCF linebacker Cole Kozlowski (43) breaks up a pass intended for Oklahoma State running back Rodney Fields Jr. (20) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/Special to the Sentinel)
UCF running back Jaden Nixon (5) rushes for yardage past Oklahoma State cornerback Raymond Gay II (27) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/Special to the Sentinel)
UCF kicker Noe Ruelas (16) celebrates his game-winning field goal with long snapper Dalton Riggs (47) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/Special to the Sentinel)
UCF wide receiver Waden Charles (19) runs past Oklahoma State safety Landyn Cleveland, center, and cornerback Raymond Gay II (27) after catching a pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/Special to the Sentinel)
UCF quarterback Tayven Jackson (2) scrambles for yardage past Oklahoma State defensive tackle Iman Oates (99) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/Special to the Sentinel)
UCF kicker Noe Ruelas, right, kicks his game-winning field goal during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/Special to the Sentinel)
UCF defensive back DJ Bell (5) breaks up a pass intended for Oklahoma State wide receiver Terrill Davis (2) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/Special to the Sentinel)
UCF quarterback Tayven Jackson, who finished 16 of 25 for 271 yards, looks to throw during the first half of the Knights’ victory against Oklahoma State on Saturday. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/Special to the Sentinel)
UCF linebacker Cole Kozlowski (43) breaks up a pass intended for Oklahoma State running back Rodney Fields Jr. (20) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/Special to the Sentinel)
Despite Saturday’s win against lowly Oklahoma State, UCF coach Scott Frost knows his team has a long way to go. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/Special to the Sentinel)
Oklahoma State quarterback Zane Flores (6) escapes from the pressure of UCF defensive tackle John Walker (55) and defensive lineman Nyjalik Kelly (9) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/Special to the Sentinel)
Oklahoma State wide receiver Gavin Freeman (17) scores a 5-yard touchdown on a pass play between UCF defensive back Braeden Marshall (4) and linebacker Cole Kozlowski, right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/Special to the Sentinel)
UCF athletics director Terry Mohajir looks on from the sideline before an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/Special to the Sentinel)
Fans wave their shirts in the stands during the first half of an NCAA college football game between UCF and Oklahoma State, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/Special to the Sentinel)
UCF linebacker Keli Lawson (0) and defensive back Phillip Dunnam (2) pursue Oklahoma State wide receiver Gavin Freeman (17) after a pass catch during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/Special to the Sentinel)
Oklahoma State cornerback Ladainian Fields (9) intercepts a pass intended for UCF wide receiver Waden Charles (19) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/Special to the Sentinel)
Oklahoma State safety Parker Robertson (8) and safety Kenneth Harris (23) break up a pass intended for UCF wide receiver Waden Charles, center, during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/Special to the Sentinel)
UCF quarterback Tayven Jackson (2) throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/Special to the Sentinel)
UCF cornerback Jayden Bellamy (29) breaks up a pass intended for Oklahoma State wide receiver Terrill Davis (2) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/Special to the Sentinel)
UCF wide receiver Waden Charles, right, runs after catching a pass in front of Oklahoma State safety Parker Robertson (8) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/Special to the Sentinel)
Oklahoma State wide receiver Terrill Davis (2) is tackled by UCF linebacker Lewis Carter, left, and defensive back Phillip Dunnam (2) after catching a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/Special to the Sentinel)
UCF head coach Scott Frost, right, greets players arriving to the stadium before an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/Special to the Sentinel)
UCF head coach Scott Frost, left, follows players arriving to the stadium before an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/Special to the Sentinel)
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UCF linebacker Cole Kozlowski (43) breaks up a pass intended for Oklahoma State running back Rodney Fields Jr. (20) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/Special to the Sentinel)
Jackson was intercepted for the second time on UCF’s next possession as the Knights went into the half scoreless for the first time since the opener against Jacksonville State on Aug. 28.
“I hate throwing picks, but it’s a part of the game,” said Jackson, who finished 16 of 25 for 271 yards with two touchdowns. “Everyone throws picks. Go watch football on TV, but I’ve got to fix those areas, too, because that hurt us. I’ve got to learn from them.”
The redshirt junior redeemed himself a bit to start the second half, finding tight end Dylan Wade open racing down the sideline for an 83-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 14-7. It was the longest touchdown pass of the season for the Knights and the second straight game with a touchdown for Wade.
“We actually knew about the play all week,” Wade said. “We knew it was going to be a big hitter and he called at the right moment, first play out of half.”
It was a back-and-forth affair after that as both teams struggled to get much going offensively.
After UCF drove inside Oklahoma State territory, getting to the Cowboys’ 2 and facing a 4th-and-2, Jackson found Wade for his second touchdown of the game, tying things up at 14 apiece with 9:12 left.
Wade finished with a career-high 145 yards on four catches and two touchdowns.
After surrendering 14 points and 207 yards in the first half, UCF’s defense played lights-out after halftime, with the Knights allowing just one first down and 27 yards.
“The defense played a great second half,” said Frost. “I wish we could do that the whole game and just really grind down on somebody, but you can’t. I can’t say anything bad about the way that the defense played in the second half.”
UCF finished with 396 yards of offense while holding Oklahoma State to 228 yards.
The Cowboys have lost 10 straight games this season for 17 consecutive conference losses.
The Knights wrap up the regular season with a trip to face No. 11 BYU on Saturday.
Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.