The UCF Knights visited the Cincinnati Bearcats in their first confrontation as members of the Big 12 and picked up its first win in the new conference, 28-26.
The Knights (4-6, 1-5) held on to win its second game in a row over the Bearcats (2-7, 0-6) and take a lead in the all-time series at 5-4. The loss knocked Cincinnati out of bowl eligibility.
The Bearcats failure to score a touchdown inside the 20 in the middle of the fourth quarter, illustrated their season long problem. Cincinnati once again owned the sixty yards between the 20's, holding a 515-381 advantage in yards from scrimmage.
Cincinnati scored first on a 39-yard field goal by Carter Brown after the Bearcats, who are efficient between the 20's, drove 53 yards.
Aided by 30 yards in Bearcat penalties, UCF scored on an eight yard run by quarterback John Rhys Plumlee. One of the penalties, an illegal block below the knees by Bryon Threats, later resulted in his ejection for making contact with an official.
After a disastrous misthrow on a fourth and one play, Cincinnati starting quarterback, Emory Jones, was replaced by Brady Lichtenberg.
The Bearcats put a drive together after a fumble recovery by Eric Phillips but Xzavier fumbled on a 35-yard catch of a Lichtenberg pass. The Knights recovered at their own 12.
UCF drove 88 yards for a touchdown drive that ended with a 13-yard run by RJ Harvey.
Jones returned to lead a 73-yard drive that concluded with an 11-yard touchdown strike to Braden Smith.
The Cincinnati defense forced a three and out with 1:40 remaining in the first half, giving the Bearcats a chance to change the score from their own 34.
Jones was intercepted at the goal line by Nikai Martinez, who returned it to the UCF 26 to protect the Knight's 14-10 halftime lead.
The Bearcats took a lead, 17-14, with a two-yard run by Ryan Montgomery with 5:19 left in the third quarter. The seven-play, 75-yard drive featured a 40-yard completion to Donovan Ollie and a 29-yard run by Ryan Montgomery.
Plumlee made two key runs for first down on a pair of third and long plays to set up RJ Harvey's 25-yard run to regain the lead, at 21-17 with 0:31 in the quarter.
Cincinnati drove to the two on a 35-yard catch by Smith but a false start and two losses on running plays forced them to settle for Brown's 28-yard field goal.
Harvey ran for his third touchdown from one-yard out with 2:41 to finish off the Bearcats.
Kiner's six-yard run gave the Bearcats a shot at a two-point conversion to tie but Jone's pass was batted down in the end zone.
Corey Kiner led the Bearcats with the 114 yards. Ryan Montgomery rushed for 113 yards.
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