BYU vs UCF Picks and Predictions for Saturday October 24 2026
BYU just beat Notre Dame, and now I’m supposed to believe the Cougars are going to fly across the country and play their best football again seven days later? Maybe they will. But this is exactly the sort of game that makes me nervous about laying points with a ranked team. BYU visits UCF at the Bounce House in Orlando on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 PM ET on FOX. The Cougars are favored by 7.5 points, and the total is 45.5. Early forecasts suggest temperatures in the mid-70s with a small chance of rain and a breeze around 9 mph. Nothing too concerning there. The real question is whether BYU has anything left emotionally after beating the second-ranked Fighting Irish. Check out our free college football picks for more predictions.
BYU Just Won The Biggest Game Of Its Season
BYU is 6-0, and Saturday’s 28-24 victory over Notre Dame was a big one. The Cougars led 21-10 at halftime, watched the Irish come back, then made the plays they needed in the fourth quarter. Notre Dame was the highest-ranked opponent BYU has beaten since that famous Miami game in 1990. That’s quite a Saturday afternoon in Provo. Now comes the hard part. The Cougars have to put it behind them. They’ve already won at TCU this season, so playing away from home isn’t some new adventure. But Orlando is a long trip, and UCF has had an extra week to prepare.
BYU’s defense deserves plenty of credit for the Notre Dame win. The Irish moved the ball, but the Cougars forced them to settle for field goals at important moments. That saved the game. The offense wasn’t quite as steady after halftime. BYU had trouble sustaining drives and gave Notre Dame opportunities through special-teams mistakes. That’s what bothers me about this matchup. UCF has been decent defensively, and the Knights have enough speed to punish sloppy play. BYU can certainly move the ball, but I’d like to see the Cougars avoid those stretches where the offense disappears for a quarter.
Bear Bachmeier had himself a strange but memorable game against Notre Dame. He threw for 224 yards, rushed for two touchdowns, caught another touchdown pass, and threw the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter. That’s a busy afternoon. Running back LJ Martin missed the game, and his availability is worth watching this week. BYU needs its running game to help take pressure off Bachmeier, especially against a defense that’s had extra time to prepare. The Cougars have enough talent to win this game. I’m just not convinced they’ll win it comfortably.
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UCF Has Had Time To Get Ready
UCF is 3-3 overall and 1-2 in Big 12 play. The Knights started 3-1 before losing to Houston 27-17 and Oklahoma State 42-28. Those aren’t embarrassing losses, but they show where UCF stands against the better teams in the conference. The Knights have had a bye since the Oklahoma State game, and that’s a pretty good advantage when the opponent just spent Saturday fighting Notre Dame for four quarters. UCF is back home, too. The Bounce House can get loud, and I’d expect a pretty good crowd with an undefeated BYU team coming to town.
UCF’s defense has been competitive for much of the season, although Oklahoma State exposed some problems. Giving up 42 points isn’t going to win you many Big 12 games. The Knights have to tackle better and keep BYU from turning short passes into big gains. Offensively, UCF has been throwing the football better lately. The Knights scored 28 against Oklahoma State, which isn’t terrible. They need to find a way to run the ball consistently, though. If BYU can sit back and make UCF throw on every third down, this could become a long afternoon.
Keyone Jenkins has given the passing game some life since taking over a bigger role. He’s been willing to push the ball downfield, and that’s something UCF needs against BYU. The Knights aren’t going to win by handing the ball off 40 times and hoping the Cougars get tired. They need a few explosive plays. But Jenkins also has to protect the football. BYU’s defense has been good at making opponents pay for mistakes, and UCF can’t afford to give away short fields. The extra week should help with the game plan. Whether it helps with execution is another question.
BYU vs UCF Picks and Predictions
UCF +7.5 (-110)
I’m taking UCF and the points. BYU is the better football team. No argument there. The Cougars just beat Notre Dame, and they’ve earned their undefeated record. But I don’t love laying more than a touchdown with a team coming off a huge emotional win and traveling from Utah to Florida. UCF has had extra rest, and the Knights have enough offense to keep this interesting. BYU might win by ten or fourteen if the defense takes over. That’s the risk. But I think UCF hangs around, especially early, and makes the Cougars work for it. Give me the Knights and the 7.5 points.
Under 45.5 Points (-110)
I’m going under 45.5. BYU has been winning with defense, and I don’t expect the Cougars to suddenly turn this into a track meet. UCF has had two weeks to prepare defensively, and I think the Knights will try to keep Bachmeier from getting comfortable. The concern is UCF’s passing game. If Jenkins hits a couple of long touchdowns, this number could get away from us. But BYU held Notre Dame to 24 points, and I think the Cougars can keep UCF somewhere around 17 or 20. A 24-20 BYU win sounds about right. That gets us the cover with UCF and the under.
Final Picks: UCF +7.5 (-110) and Under 45.5 Points (-110)
This article was completed on October 18, 2026. Betting lines, player availability, and weather forecasts may change before Saturday’s kickoff.
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