Saturday’s matchup between the UCF Knights and the Baylor Bears came down to the wire, and one play in particular at the end of the game got the college football world talking after it looked like UCF was dead in the water during an improbable fourth-down conversion.
The UCF Golden Knights found themselves facing a fourth-and-five with just 1:02 remaining in the fourth quarter trailing by one point.
It was obviously a must-make conversion in order to have any chance of winning the game, and UCF did just that in a very unconventional way.
Baylor brought pressure on the play, which forced UCF quarterback Timmy McClain to run all the way back to his own endzone from the original line of scrimmage at the 30-yard line.
He was then able to avoid two Baylor defenders to throw a 40-yard pass to the first down marker, which was miraculously caught by RJ Harvey for the first down.
https://twitter.com/MrMatthew_CFB/status/1708254866454229022
It’s one of the most unbelievable plays of the season thus far, and fans could not believe what they saw, which they detailed on social media.
How in the WORLD did Baylor let UCF get a first down here? https://t.co/MERII09SXW
— Kendall (@_kendallrjones_) September 30, 2023
That #UCF first down may have been one of the greatest 4th down conversions.
— Chance Freeman (@ChanceFreeman4) September 30, 2023
OH MY GOOOOODNESSSS UCF WOWWWWWW🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
THIS IS THE PLAY OF THE YEAR.
UCF QB TIMMY MCCLAIN WITH A 4TH DOWN CONVERSION FOR THE AGES WITH THE GAME ON THE LINE.https://t.co/ehtiqnDpcJ
— First Class Prospects (@FCProspects_) September 30, 2023
https://twitter.com/namigzz/status/1708255113528352863
love this stupid sport https://t.co/GyX0GhrCG0
— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) September 30, 2023
How can you not be romantic about college football https://t.co/fwwhw1IgZp
— John Barchard | Monetize Philly (@JohnBarchard) September 30, 2023
This ridiculous conversion gave UCF a chance to salvage a win in this one, but it would unfortunately be for not. UCF kicker Colton Boomer was given a 59-yard field goal chance to win the game as time expired, but he came up short on the attempt.
Colton Boomer’s 59 yard FG attempt is well short as time expires.
FINAL: Baylor 36, #UCF 35
Knights absolutely blow it in their Big 12 home opener. Allowed 29 unanswered points. Led 35-7 in the third. pic.twitter.com/s74NJnbjYy
— Daren Stoltzfus WESH (@DarenStoltzfus) September 30, 2023
With the loss, UCF falls to 3-2 on the year. But that remarkable fourth-down conversion is a play that fans will be talking about for quite some time…
