HOUSTON, October 26, 2026 — UCF head football coach Scott Frost has been named Paul “Bear” Bryant National Coach of the Week following the Knights’ come-from-behind,39-31 double-overtime win over BYU on Saturday.
The game was UCF’s first overtime game since December 2, 2017, when the Knights beat No. 16 Memphis in the AAC Championship Game. That game was also a double-overtime UCF win – one of the Knights’ 13 in a season where Frost was named the 2017 Paul “Bear” Bryant National Coach of the Year.
The American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, presents the Bear Bryant Awards annually to celebrate excellence in coaching, to honor Coach Bryant’s legacy and to raise awareness and critical funds for its mission. The coaching legend died from a heart attack in 1983, just 28 days after his final victory and retirement.
Saturday’s game was a closely-contested affair that saw neither team claim more than a one-score advantage. Trailing 14-10 in the closing moments of the first half, Keyone Jenkins connected with Landen Chambers on a six-yard touchdown strike with four seconds left, capping an 11-play, 75-yard drive and giving UCF a 21-17 halftime lead.
BYU reclaimed the lead on the opening possession of the second half, but UCF reclaimed the lead on its next possession, and held the lead until the 12:09 mark of the fourth quarter, when BYU’s Matthias Dunn knocked home a 47-yard field goal to tie the game at 24-24.
Both defenses held for the remainder of regulation, sending the game to overtime.
After BYU and UCF traded scores in their first overtime possessions, UCF opened the second overtime with another touchdown and subsequent two-point conversion. BYU had the opportunity to tie the contest, driving to the UCF four-yard line on its second play, but the UCF defense forced incomplete passes on the next three downs to seal the win for the Knights.
Each week through the remainder of the season, the Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards will recognize a coach for leading their team to an exceptional victory. The Paul “Bear” Bryant National Coach of the Week is chosen by a committee of national college football media members. Frost’s selection follows previous selections of Auburn’s Alex Golesh, Oklahoma’s Brent Venables, Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri’s Luke Fickell, Ole Miss’ Pete Golding, Oklahoma State Eric Morris, Western Michigan’s Lance Taylor and Memphis’ Charles Huff.
Fans can follow the lead up to January’s annual Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards Ceremony at facebook.com/bryantawards, x.com/bryantawards or Instagram.com/bryantawards or the hashtag #BryantAwards. To attend the exclusive, VIP experience visit bryantawards.org.
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