Saturday, September 20
Orlando, Fla. (Acrisure Bounce House)
3:30 PM
North Carolina
2-2 , 0-0
9
at
34
UCF
3-0 , 0-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
North Carolina
0
3
6
0
9
UCF
10
10
7
7
34
Photo by: Julian Bright
UCF Downs Tar Heels, 34-9
September 20, 2025 | Football
ORLANDO—UCF dominated throughout and defeated North Carolina, 34-9, on Saturday afternoon at the Acrisure Bounce House.
Knights quarterback Tayven Jackson compiled 289 yards of total offense for UCF. He completed 25 of 32 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown while also running 10 times for 66 yards and score.
The Knights built a 20-3 halftime lead and never allowed the Tar Heels to mount a signifcant offensive threat in the first meeting between the two schools.
UCF (3-0) snapped Carolina's (2-2) two-game winning streak and starts its season with three consecutive wins for the second year in a row.
Gio Lopez threw two first-half interceptions to create short fields for UCF, while Jackson completed 16 of 20 passes in the first half for 148 yards and a touchdown.
In the second half, the Knights outscored Carolina, 14-6.
Overall, Lopez completed 11 of 14 attempts for 87 yards with two interceptions. Max Johnson replaced an injured Lopez late in the third quarter and finished 11 for 19 for 67 yards and a touchdown in mop-up duty.
UNC ran the ball 25 times for 63 yards, an average of 2.5 yards per attempt.
Up Next
The Tar Heels have a bye in their schedule next weekend before beginning the Atlantic Coast Conference portion of their season. UNC will host Clemson in its conference opener in Kenan Stadium on October 4 at a time to be determined.
How It Happened
First Quarter
• The Knights took the opening kickoff and marched 75 yards in 13 plays for a touchdown in a span of 6:37 when Jackson ran to the right side for a 13-yard score.
• On Carolina's subsequent offensive drive, UCF's Horace Lockett deflected a Lopez pass, which Nyjalik Kelly intercepted and returned four yards. The Knights took over at the UNC 23-yard line.
• The Tar Heel defense stiffened and limited UCF to a 36-yard field goal after a three-play drive, but Carolina trailed, 10-0, after 15 minutes.
Second Quarter
• Five minutes into the second quarter, Noe Ruelas connected on a 41-yard field goal to make the score 13-0 UCF. At that point of the game, the Knights had an advantage in total offense of 137 to 2.
• UNC's defense forced its first punt of the game with 3:21 remaining in the first half.
• The Tar Heels pulled within 10 points at 13-3 after Rece Verhoff's 40-yard field goal with 1:23 left before the break.
• UCF completed a dominant first half by taking advantage of a blown coverage with a 17-yard pass from Jackson to Kylan Fox with 13 seconds left before halftime to make the score 20-3 at halftime.
Third Quarter
• Carolina took the kickoff to start the second half and punted after a three-and-out drive.
• UCF muffed the ensuing punt and was fortunate to recover the ball and retain possession, taking advantage with a six-play, 64-yard drive in under three minutes to go ahead by a score of 27-3.
• Lopez converted a fourth-and-one opportunity with a rush up the middle with 6:34 left in the quarter but suffered an injury and left the game after going 11 for 14 throwing the ball for 87 yards and two interceptions.
• Johnson capped a 19-play touchdown drive when he connected with Kobe Paysour for a TD with 1:08 left in the period. The two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving UCF with a 27-9 lead after a UNC drive that lasted 8:40.
Fourth Quarter
• UCF was able to milk the clock for much of the fourth quarter, including converting a fourth-and-one play with 6:42 to play.
• The Knights added a five-yard TD run by Jaden Nixon with 1:57 to go, capping an 18-play drive in almost 11 minutes to run out the clock,.
Inside the Numbers
• UCF out-gained Carolina, 209 to 97 in the first half, including 61 to 29 on the ground (a first-half season-low on 14 carries for the Tar Heels) and 148 to 68 through the air.
• In the first half, the Knights had 14 first downs (to UNC's seven) and nearly doubled Carolina's time of possession, 19:13 to 10:47.
• The Tar Heels controlled much of the action in the third quarter but still trailed, 27-9, entering the final 15 minutes.
Follow Tar Heel football on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Knights quarterback Tayven Jackson compiled 289 yards of total offense for UCF. He completed 25 of 32 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown while also running 10 times for 66 yards and score.
The Knights built a 20-3 halftime lead and never allowed the Tar Heels to mount a signifcant offensive threat in the first meeting between the two schools.
UCF (3-0) snapped Carolina's (2-2) two-game winning streak and starts its season with three consecutive wins for the second year in a row.
Gio Lopez threw two first-half interceptions to create short fields for UCF, while Jackson completed 16 of 20 passes in the first half for 148 yards and a touchdown.
In the second half, the Knights outscored Carolina, 14-6.
Overall, Lopez completed 11 of 14 attempts for 87 yards with two interceptions. Max Johnson replaced an injured Lopez late in the third quarter and finished 11 for 19 for 67 yards and a touchdown in mop-up duty.
UNC ran the ball 25 times for 63 yards, an average of 2.5 yards per attempt.
Up Next
The Tar Heels have a bye in their schedule next weekend before beginning the Atlantic Coast Conference portion of their season. UNC will host Clemson in its conference opener in Kenan Stadium on October 4 at a time to be determined.
How It Happened
First Quarter
• The Knights took the opening kickoff and marched 75 yards in 13 plays for a touchdown in a span of 6:37 when Jackson ran to the right side for a 13-yard score.
• On Carolina's subsequent offensive drive, UCF's Horace Lockett deflected a Lopez pass, which Nyjalik Kelly intercepted and returned four yards. The Knights took over at the UNC 23-yard line.
• The Tar Heel defense stiffened and limited UCF to a 36-yard field goal after a three-play drive, but Carolina trailed, 10-0, after 15 minutes.
Second Quarter
• Five minutes into the second quarter, Noe Ruelas connected on a 41-yard field goal to make the score 13-0 UCF. At that point of the game, the Knights had an advantage in total offense of 137 to 2.
• UNC's defense forced its first punt of the game with 3:21 remaining in the first half.
• The Tar Heels pulled within 10 points at 13-3 after Rece Verhoff's 40-yard field goal with 1:23 left before the break.
• UCF completed a dominant first half by taking advantage of a blown coverage with a 17-yard pass from Jackson to Kylan Fox with 13 seconds left before halftime to make the score 20-3 at halftime.
Third Quarter
• Carolina took the kickoff to start the second half and punted after a three-and-out drive.
• UCF muffed the ensuing punt and was fortunate to recover the ball and retain possession, taking advantage with a six-play, 64-yard drive in under three minutes to go ahead by a score of 27-3.
• Lopez converted a fourth-and-one opportunity with a rush up the middle with 6:34 left in the quarter but suffered an injury and left the game after going 11 for 14 throwing the ball for 87 yards and two interceptions.
• Johnson capped a 19-play touchdown drive when he connected with Kobe Paysour for a TD with 1:08 left in the period. The two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving UCF with a 27-9 lead after a UNC drive that lasted 8:40.
Fourth Quarter
• UCF was able to milk the clock for much of the fourth quarter, including converting a fourth-and-one play with 6:42 to play.
• The Knights added a five-yard TD run by Jaden Nixon with 1:57 to go, capping an 18-play drive in almost 11 minutes to run out the clock,.
Inside the Numbers
• UCF out-gained Carolina, 209 to 97 in the first half, including 61 to 29 on the ground (a first-half season-low on 14 carries for the Tar Heels) and 148 to 68 through the air.
• In the first half, the Knights had 14 first downs (to UNC's seven) and nearly doubled Carolina's time of possession, 19:13 to 10:47.
• The Tar Heels controlled much of the action in the third quarter but still trailed, 27-9, entering the final 15 minutes.
Follow Tar Heel football on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Team Stats
UNC
UCF
Total Yards
217
366
Pass Yards
154
223
Rushing Yards
63
143
Penalty Yards
50
40
1st Downs
14
23
3rd Downs
5
5
4th Downs
3
4
TOP
26:13
33:47
1st Quarter
UNC 0, UCF 7
UCF - Jackson,Tayven 13 yd run (Ruelas,Noe kick), 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 06:37
UNC 0, UCF 10
UCF - Ruelas,Noe 36 yd field goal 4 plays, 5 yards, TOP 01:26
2nd Quarter
UNC 0, UCF 13
UCF - Ruelas,Noe 41 yd field goal 14 plays, 42 yards, TOP 07:44
UNC 3, UCF 13
UNC - Verhoff,Rece 40 yd field goal 7 plays, 29 yards, TOP 01:48
UNC 3, UCF 20
UCF - Fox,Kylan 17 yd pass from Jackson,Tayven (Ruelas,Noe kick) 6 plays, 83 yards, TOP 01:04
3rd Quarter
UNC 3, UCF 27
UCF - Montgomery,Myles 1 yd run (Ruelas,Noe kick), 6 plays, 64 yards, TOP 02:57
UNC 9, UCF 27
UNC - Paysour,Kobe 8 yd pass from Johnson,Max () 19 plays, 80 yards, TOP 08:40
4th Quarter
UNC 9, UCF 34
UCF - Nixon,Jaden 5 yd run (Ruelas,Noe kick), 18 plays, 93 yards, TOP 10:26
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
11
TD
1
YDS
67
INT
0
Players Mentioned
Quarterback
/ Football
Wide Receiver
/ Football
Kicker
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