Orlando, Fl. UCF wasted little time making its presence felt tonight.
The Knights opened the 2026 season with a statement, rolling past Bethune-Cookman 73-6 at the Acrisure Bounce House in a game that was essentially decided before halftime.
UCF’s offense struck on its second play from scrimmage when running back Duke Watson took his first carry 65 yards to the end zone, immediately setting the tone for what would become a long night for the Wildcats.
The Knights continued to pour it on throughout the first half, getting production from both sides of the ball. Defensive back Jayden Williams added to the early onslaught with a 47-yard interception return for a touchdown, turning a Bethune-Cookman mistake into another UCF score.
At quarterback, Alonza Barnett III, known as AB3, helped guide the Knights’ offense through an efficient first half. At halftime, Barnett was 11-for-17 passing for 158 yards with two total touchdowns, one passing and one rushing, and one interception.
With UCF controlling the game on both sides of the ball, the Wildcats struggled to find any offensive rhythm. Bethune-Cookman was held scoreless for nearly the entire night, with its first points not coming until the closing stages of the game.
UCF, meanwhile, continued to find ways to put points on the board and eventually reached 73 points.
The offensive explosion also put the Knights in the UCF record book. The 73 points tied the most points scored in a single game in program history, matching the 73 points UCF scored against Austin Peay on Oct. 28, 2017.
It was a history-making night in Orlando. Nearly nine years after setting that mark against Austin Peay, UCF once again reached the 73-point mark, adding another memorable performance to the program’s history. The Knights didn’t just open the season with a convincing victory—they matched one of the highest-scoring performances the program has ever produced.
The final score told the story: UCF 73, Bethune-Cookman 6. A dominant opener, a statement performance and a night that will go down in UCF history.
