UCF keeps bowl hopes alive with 17-point rally over Oklahoma State

By Canadian Press on November 22, 2025.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Noe Ruelas hit a 34-yard field goal with 57 seconds left to help UCF complete a 14-point comeback over Oklahoma State and escape with a 17-14 victory on Saturday night.

Braeden Marshall intercepted Zane Flores on the first play after the go-ahead field goal to seal the game for the Knights and send the Cowboys to their 10th straight loss.

UCF quarterback Tayven Jackson threw for 271 yards on 16-for-25 passing, completing two touchdown passes to Dylan Wade, helping to erase a 14-point deficit.

The Knights opened the second half with an 83-yard touchdown pass to Wade. UCF then broke through for the tie with 9:12 left in the fourth quarter when Jackson found Wade in the end zone on a fourth-and-goal at the 2.

Wade finished with four catches for 145 yards, adding a 50-yard catch and run to help set up the go-ahead field goal.

It was part of a dominant second half for the Knights where they kept the Cowboys from getting a first down until early in the fourth quarter after the game was tied. That was Oklahoma State’s only first down in the second half.

Oklahoma State tallied 201 yards of total offense in the first half, but managed only 27 in the second half.

That was a letdown after Oklahoma State controlled the line of scrimmage throughout the first half. Flores threw for 105 of his 124 yards in the first half, finding Gavin Freeman for a 5-yard pass to open the scoring midway through the first quarter. Flores added a rushing touchdown to make it 14-0 with 50 seconds before halftime.

Flores was just 2 for 9 in the second half.

The takeaway

Oklahoma State: Oklahoma State lost another heartbreaker, falling for the 10th straight game.

UCF: UCF kept its bowl hopes alive with the victory. The Knights need a win next week to secure a bowl game.

Up next

Oklahoma State closes its season at home against Iowa State on Saturday.

UCF closes its regular season on Saturday at No. 11 BYU.

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Philip Rossman-reich, The Associated Press

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