EA SPORTS College Football 25 UCF VS Kansas State

now trying to pass an all important road test as we'll see the number 19 team in the country the Kansas State Wildcats taking on another unit from the Big 12 the UCF Knights for EA Sports college football I'm reys Davis joined here in the booth as always by David Pollock and Jesse Palmer guys let's tee this one up the knights will kick it away to start us off running the daylight from inside is 25 maybe if he could have eluded just one or two more guys it would have been a big return but they'll mark it at the third the wild cats offense will get the first swing of the game this has an old school feel to it it's this running back makes his way onto the field and All Eyes Are Fixed they are blue on him yeah the old school because nowadays it's usually quarterbacks and the other guys that get all the attention but this guy's so good he is the focal point he's the guy everybody's looking to he's the tone Setter he's the physical Bell cow for this team he will get the rock early and often might as well give it to him again they bring him down and he's going to lose a yard on that one don't you love energetic defenses that fly around that make things happen the ones that get in the back field the running back tries to go somewhere where do you want him to go there there is nowhere to go nice job by the def defense great in the tackle for a loss on first down nowhere to run on that when he loses four on the carry this is a third and Long Johnson wants to throw it still looking on the Move get some yardage and gets down you just feel like throughout the course of this game this guy's just going to have to make plays like this right things aren't always going to be perfect and protection's not going to be ideal you're going to have to play with some effort make some scrambles make some things happen when plays break down at least try to put your offense in good positions wasn't able to get the first down there but now he makes this decision a little more interesting here on fourth so the UCF Knights offense will have its first possession of the game and a big key as this game unfolds is just how aggressive will he be throwing the football at a lock down corner like that yeah and when you're an elite quarterback you think you can do whatever you want to and you think you can make the right decisions I'm interested to see how much he'll test that cornerback on the other side you know there's a saying there's no defense for a perfect pass but he's got to be extra careful and sharp when he's throwing that guy's way that's the kind of play that can really get you going as they get it out to the 36 now on first down for this offense he's going to pass flushed out of the pocket got away from trouble and got rid of it and he'll step across the Sidelines after making a good gain on that one and you don't see that often when you running a screen and you're featuring the running back and setting it up but you go elsewhere it's nice job by the offense nice job by the quarterback in particular seeing the defense saying I can make a play somewhere else and there was nowhere to go for this quarterback and down he goes they've got it at the 41 third and short trying to keep the change moving from the gun wants to pass he'll get rid of it all kinds of room to throw that one in there oh and the defense in Chase mode and they finally get him down at the 35 as they get set to snap at time winding down here in the quarter used the play fake now to throw catch in the middle it's Pitman defense has dominated the early part of this game and the stats point that out emphatically both sides trying to find a little rhythm and efficiency and move the ball some here as we start the second quarter fast motion from the offense they'll run it from the gun the knights have a first down well they need two yards for that first down running back doing just enough to make sure he keeps this drive alive it's now first and 10 from the 24 yd line heret through a solid pick up there before the defense is able to make the stop after the productive first down play it's second and six looking to pass it's Jefferson got his man downfield he'll get it all the way down to the 8 yd line and the defense is feeling the heat the knights trying to pay off the threat on first and goal takes a snap wants to throw reels it in in the endzone touchdown Knights how about this these guys are going for two and what a nice start for this offense the throw game getting working getting the touchdown pass this quarterback getting a little bit of confidence this passing game getting in a rhythm nice start for this offense almost ready to kick it away after scoring the touchdown and that is not what they were after kickoff sails out of bounds an excellent field position for this offense kicking K ball will be placed at the 40 after that kick out of bounds here comes the offense on first down gives it to the back on the draw they bring him down and he's going to lose a yard on that one didn't get much done on that first play of the drive it's second and 11 off play action fires to the right got his man and they are pushing the ball down the field a big pickup on that one and the tackle is finally made big play offense and it has them threatening now first and 10 from the 25 quick strike complete touchdown Wildcats What A Catch and run for six Kanas that was a lightning fast drive that ends with a touchdown if you can string a few more drives like that together man we might as well get our popcorn out because we're going to get a lot of scoring lining up to cover the kick after that touchdown Drive UCF he'll start the return inside his five couldn't find a way to create that broken field as he stopped at the 25 the UCF offense back on the field ready to go to work that last touchdown Drive was surgical through the air Jesse it sure was and that's why this offense is so dangerous David because they can score in a hurry because of how efficient they are fires into traffic it's picked off and they'll drag him down after a good return on the interception really nice job there by the defense cuz I think they baited the QB into trying to fit that one in over the middle of the field remember it's a big Zone coverage they've all got their eyes on him back there in the pocket and he's drives his way into the end zone touchdown Kansas State Kanas one of the reasons this offense is so exciting to watch they've got guys that are dangerous after the catch and if this quarterback gets through his progression David he hits you in stride these guys will take it to the house man it's your job to do the rest right you hit me in stride where I don't have to stop running I don't have to break down it makes it so easy the connection between quarterback wide receiver you can tell this is a good one and that's why they got six on that play and they'll haul down the returner to start us on the next drive now the UCF offense ready to go back to work this lead in the half you're behind you'd love to create something before the break to build he's Off to the Races a huge gain on that one before he ran out of bounds and he has the first down a new set of downs after the completion going up top on first down quarterback strolling away from Heat just too much heat that time and they knock him down at the 31 well you just sort of felt like this defense had to do something to get this quarterback out of a rhythm right he's been picking them apart all Drive long and finally they come up with a sack got it in the middle it's Pitman he's there to make the stop but not before he sets up this offense first and goal from the seven defense is backed up shadow of the goal po trying to defend their own end zone it's complete they will score touchdown you seef getting aggressive here and going for two barrels ahead he's not going to get there as this defense stops the two-point conversion attempt and they hang on to this slim lead great starting point grabs it inside his 25 and here he comes running out of time here in the first half they're going to have to be efficient to put some points on the board before the break the give to the back he's knocked down in the back field he'll lose a couple first half in the books time now to join Kevin Connor in our halftime update all right guys looks like we've got a great scene there in Orlando and I get it a lot of coaches will say the difference between winning and losing comes down to stopping big plays and getting big plays but if you ask me it's more about how good you are on third down and how efficient you are in keeping drives alive those two stats can help you break the will of even the best defenses and help you come out on top and with that let's send it back to the guys just down the road from our EA Sports Studio at the bounce house thanks for that breakdown Kevin Kansas state will kick it off to start things in the second half coming out with it it's Townson that is a decision he will likely regret he brings it out of the end zone and he's knocked down at the 10 UCF has it once again what do you think about that maybe adjustments or attitude or attitude adjustment they've got to find a way to run the ball at least some here in the second half pass on the way it's picked off a return there would have just been icing on the cake they'll just have to settle for the cake at the 23 well this is just the type of field position this offense wants off the play fake on first down wants to throw pulls it in the endzone touchdown wild cats Kansas C that is exactly what most offenses will do big momentum play my defense creates a turnover I'm being aggressive I'm going for the big score the big play down the field they get rewarded they get the big passing touchdown about to kick it away after scoring the touchdown he'll bring it out it's Montgomery not a lot of space to be found good Hustle by the coverage team and they stop him at the 21 the UCF offense back on the field ready to go to work let's see if this drive goes better than the last one they were in and out quickly after the quick pick David yeah first play big mistake man now let's get this offense in a little bit of a rhythm maybe before you open it up again Palmer or do you trust him right away uh he seems to me like the guy maybe that just needs to kind of get into the flow of the game so maybe you get the running game going here and just give him some easy looks to let him get lathered up with a first down they'll snap it from the 32 they'll run it out of the shotgun slams ahead for a yard out to the 33 didn't get much on first down it's second and nine to throw it's Jefferson they get to him as he throws wide open downfield a huge play and they get it all the way to the 45 yd line looks as if we have an injury on that last play and we'll take a break to check him out the knights have it with a first and 10 here we go going to run it it's boom not a whole lot of room there three yards maybe second and seven you know it's so important for offens is to want to keep third Downs manageable the way you do that is by having success like that running the football on first down guys it's Kansas State who carries the lead into the quarter break they' built a cushion they've got a nice lead now the task is finished the deal as you take a look at the third quarter steps one more period to go to see who can make the winning plays and come home with the victory we start the quarter offense about to snap it on second [Applause] down the playaction fake [Applause] and that pass will be Jarred loose on second down that brings up third down if they can convert here that type of play can really give you a shot of momentum from the gun the ground game and how about that alertness and that swarming D to keep him from getting the first down down by multiple possessions you can't come up empty on this drive they'll go for it on fourth down and the defense makes the immediate tackle but he has enough for the first down offense walks to the line for play number seven of the drive he wants to throw that friends is a busted play incomplete after the quarterback and receiver couldn't connect it's second and 10 to the air it's Jefferson got rid of it in a hurry but he couldn't find his man it's incomplete the quarterback has got to just settle down and take a break bre threw a bad pick last Drive almost threw another one on that last play he's got to regain his Focus looking to throw it again fires deep toward the end zone into the Hallelujah land touchdown Knight and with the extra point every little bit counts as they get closer about to kick it off after punching it in for the touchdown from inside his own 15 let's see how far he can get he was looking for more Running Room but none to be found as he stopped at the 23 and here comes the Kansas State offense back onto the field this is where the pressure can start to build a little bit trying to hold on to a two-point lead Jesse you're right ree after giving up a score in that last possession you just feel the sense of urgency now it's really really high and David this offense they've got to answer yeah but you got to remember it's okay cuz I still got the lead now I just go out execute give it to my leaders let them do their thing and he'll go down but he delivered the business end of his stiff arm to that defender on the way the offense calls a timeout to stop the clock looking for space it's gens he's knocked down in the back field he'll lose a couple that defense is about getting off the football and when that defensive line can be disruptive and getting the back field right away and mess up those pullers actions on those counter plays it can be really advantageous for the defense great job by the defense being hyperactive oh that was