ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Jacoby Brissett threw for 262 yards and one touchdown and Matt Dayes scored on runs of 24 and 15 yards to help North Carolina State beat Central Florida 34-27 on Friday night in the Bitcoin Bowl.
Brissett threw a 37-yard TD pass to Johnathan Alston to put the Wolfpack (8-5) ahead for good in the second quarter. Running back Shadrach Thornton got N.C. State going early with an 18-yard scoring pass to Jaylen Samuels.
UCF (9-4) began the night ranked in the top 10 in fewest yards allowed per game, as well as pass efficiency, rushing and scoring defense. But the co-champions of the American Athletic Conference had no answers for Brissett and a supporting cast that amassed 488 yards of total offense – over 200 more than opponents averaged against the Knights during the regular season.