The UCF Knights made a statement Saturday night at Acrisure Bounce House, rolling past the North Carolina A&T Aggies with a jaw-dropping 68–7 victory in front of more than 44,000 fans.

After a weather delay of roughly 75 minutes, UCF wasted no time taking control. Jaden Nixon electrified the crowd with a 96-yard kickoff return touchdown—marking UCF’s first opening-return score since 2010 and the first kickoff-return TD of any kind since 2017.

Offense Living Up to ‘Fast’

Quarterback Tayven Jackson caught the momentum, leading two lightning-quick touchdown drives and capping both with his own rushing scores. Meanwhile, Nixon kept churning, finishing with 156 rushing yards on just four carries, including dazzling runs of 87 and 66 yards.

Backup Jacurri Brown picked up the second-half pace, bursting for 106 rushing yards on five carries—including a 60-yard dash to the end zone.

Defense Strikes Back

UCF’s defense joined the party early. Nyjalik Kelly forced a strip-sack, with Rodney Lora scooping up the fumble in the end zone for a defensive touchdown. UCF achieved the rare feat of scoring in all three phases—offense, defense, and special teams—all in the first quarter.

The Aggies’ lone score came late, a 17-yard run from Shimique Blizzard with under three minutes remaining. UCF outgained A&T 560 yards to 200 and forced three turnovers.

Marching Knights Bring the Bounce House to Life

Beyond the fireworks on the field, the UCF Marching Knights delivered a show of their own, bringing the Bounce House crowd to its feet with a stirring medley of the Armed Forces themes. Their powerful tribute not only celebrated America’s servicemen and women but also amplified the energy inside the stadium, creating one of the night’s most memorable moments.

Final UCF Knights Takeaways

  • Special Teams Sparked It All – Jaden Nixon’s historic kickoff return set the tone and energized the team and fans alike.

  • Offense: Lightning Strikes Often – Jackson and Brown proved UCF’s depth at quarterback, while Nixon’s explosive runs stole the spotlight.

  • Defense: Opportunistic and Dominant – Forcing turnovers and scoring on defense made it a complete performance.

  • The Marching Knights Factor – Their patriotic medley helped make this game feel bigger than football, cementing a true Bounce House experience.

Charge On, Knights!

Photo Source: UCF