Former Auburn football head coach Gus Malzahn has tasted defeat for the very first time as the lead voice of the UCF locker room.
The Louisville Cardinals outlasted the Knights in spectacular fashion 42-35 after Jaylin Alderman took back a deflected Dillon Gabriel pass back to the dish to go ahead for good.
That happened right after Tre’mon Morris-Brash picked off UL Malik Cunningham on the previous play, giving the Knights hope.
Those hopes were dashed, and Auburn football fans reveled in it:
The Gus Malzahn Experience ™️ is officially underway for UCF fans. https://t.co/rVB6XVw410
— Pablo Escobarner (blue chek) (@PabloEscoburner) September 18, 2021
It’s Reverse-2013 for Gus.
— Van Allen Plexico (@VanAllenPlexico) September 18, 2021
The Gus special: heartbreak @FifthQuarterUCF
— Jake “JBOY” Crain (@JakeCrain_) September 18, 2021
Not Gus getting Gussed
— Justin Lee (@ByJustinLee) September 18, 2021
— 🥶Ho🅿️efulAUFan🥶 (@HopefulAUfan) September 18, 2021
Hate to see it
— Ben (@BenDupreeJR) September 18, 2021
That's the craziest game ending I think I've ever seen.
— Misti Wells (@misti3046) September 18, 2021
Heading into Friday night’s contest, the Knights were favored by a touchdown. Given Louisville’s struggles on the offensive end Week One against Ole Miss–whose defense was suspect just one season ago–tonight’s loss was shocking on many levels.
Cunningham went for 265 yards to Gabriel’s 188, though the UCF signal-caller did end up with three touchdowns through the air.
Cunningham ended up with three TDs overall with two coming via his legs. He led the Cardinals in rushing yards and had just two less yards on the ground than Knights running back Johnny Richardson’s game-high 101.
UCF now faces an uphill climb to even make a New Year’s Six bowl, with their College Football Playoff hopes on life support.
Malzahn’s hopes for the program may take a bit more time than Knights fans would want, but their imminent Big 12 entry ensures a bright future either way.