BYU at UCF Breakdown: Week 8, Oct. 24, 2026

The story

BYU arrives in Orlando at 6-0, ranked No. 2 in the AP poll and winners of six straight, most recently a 28-24 escape against Notre Dame on Oct. 17. UCF sits at 3-3 and has lost two in a row. The Cougars supply nearly all the dependable fantasy pieces, while UCF's options face one of the better defenses in the Big 12.

The angle

A 43.5-point total makes this a lower-scoring game, so steady volume beats big-play hopes. BYU carries an implied 25.5 points behind an offense averaging 33.5 a game, while UCF sits at an implied 18.5 against the ninth-best pass defense in FBS. That is the hurdle for every UCF receiver. BYU's catches are spread around, which favors the steadiest shares.

Start 'em

Bear Bachmeier has become BYU's run game as well as its starting QB. He has taken 39 percent of the team's carries over the last three games, up from 11 percent before that, averaging 12.3 carries and 73 rushing yards alongside 205 passing yards a game. He is averaging 25.9 points this season and 29.7 over his last three, with a high of 36. UCF is an above-average defense against quarterbacks, but his legs travel. He has cleared 14 points in four of his last five games. Call him a safe floor, because those carries keep producing even when the passing game stalls.

Legend Glasker has 23 percent of BYU's catches over the last three games, about 4.3 a game, plus a couple of carries. He is averaging 17.9 points this season and 13.8 over his last three, with a 29.1-point ceiling. UCF is above average against receivers, which is manageable rather than daunting. Kyler Kasper (BYU) shares the work, but Glasker has outscored him over the last three games, 13.8 points a game to 11.5. Start Glasker, since he holds the most reliable receiving role in this game.

Walker Lyons has carved out a bigger slice of the passing game. He has caught 3.7 passes a game over the last three, about 19 percent of BYU's catches, up from 2.3 earlier. He is averaging 9.5 points over that stretch and 7.3 this season, peaking at 15.9 against Notre Dame. UCF is above average against tight ends. Start him, because his rising catch total gives him a sturdier role than most tight ends in this game.

Risky plays

Caden Piening has been a real factor when involved. He caught seven passes for 60 yards and a touchdown in the 42-28 loss at Oklahoma State on Oct. 10, and UCF Knights On SI reported he has become the lead receiving tight end. He has played in four of UCF's six games and averages 10.5 points over his last three, with a high of 19. He holds about 13 percent of the team's catches, and BYU fields the ninth-best pass defense in FBS. He is risky, given a thin share against a stingy secondary.

Josh Derry is UCF's top target and has been climbing. He has averaged seven catches a game over the last three, up from 2.3 before that, good for 28 percent of the team's catches. He is averaging 18.5 points over that span and 11.7 this season, with a high of 25.4. The obstacle is BYU, the seventh-best defense against wide receivers. He is risky, since a strong role meets the toughest matchup on the board.

Injuries and timeshares

UCF's Alonza Barnett is listed Questionable and has played in two of UCF's six games. CBS Sports reported he is expected to miss another start, and Sports Illustrated reported UCF is expected to start Keyone Jenkins. UCF's Taevion Swint and Caleb Rollerson are out. BYU's LJ Martin is out, expected to miss at least a month after his injury against TCU on Oct. 3, per ESPN's Pete Thamel.

TL;DR

Lean on Bachmeier's rushing floor, start Glasker and Lyons, and treat UCF's Derry and Piening as risky against BYU's pass defense.