No. 9 Iowa State narrowly remained undefeated at 7–0 with a last-minute 38–35 win over UCF in Ames on Saturday night.
Quarterback Rocco Becht scored on a one-yard run to give the Cyclones a 36–35 lead with 30 seconds remaining in the game. Becht then ran in a two-point conversion attempt for a 38–35 margin.
Iowa State’s game-winning drive started with just 1:47 left on the clock, and they went 80 yards in 11 plays. A pass interference call on UCF defensive back B.J. Adams gave the Cyclones a first-and-goal from the 4-yard line. Three plays later, Becht ran in the go-ahead score.
Becht threw for 274 yards, completing 20-of-46 passes with a touchdown and two picks. He added 97 yards rushing and two scores on 20 carries. Carson Hansen also rushed nine times for 91 yards, and Jaylin Noel had eight receptions for 153 yards.
The Knights were lifted by big plays throughout the game. The dagger appeared to be an interception returned 70 yards by Braeden Marshall. That would have been UCF’s second pick 6 of the game with Brandon Adams’ 63-yard TD just before halftime. Amazingly, Marshall thought he scored a touchdown but dropped the ball before crossing the goal line.
Replay reviews overturned the score. However, no one from either team recovered the ball after Marshall dropped it so UCF maintained possession and had first-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Running back RJ Harvey scored on the next play to give the Knights a 35–27 lead.
UCF scored on its first possession, driving 75 yards in just six plays, highlighted by a 46-yard run by Harvey. Quarterback Jacurri Brown finished the drive with a 6-yard touchdown run.
That was only the beginning for the senior running back, who rushed for 178 yards and a touchdown in the first half on 16 carries. In the process, he became the fourth UCF rusher to compile 3,000 yards in his career.
Harvey added an 80-yard touchdown in the second quarter that tied the score at 14–14. He finished with 196 yards and two scores on 25 rushes. Brown added 151 yards rushing and two more TDs on 12 carries.
Iowa State stayed tied with BYU atop the Big 12 and takes its 7–0 record into a bye next week. After that, the Cyclones face Texas Tech. The Red Raiders are in a three-way tie for second in the Big 12 with a 3–1 conference mark (Cincinnati and Colorado are also 3–1).