American Athletic Conference championship: Central Florida captures title over Memphis in double overtime

The highest-scoring game in any conference final wasn’t even over before reports surfaced that Scott Frost was leaving the University of Central Florida and had accepted the job to become Nebraska’s coach.

UCF’s undefeated football team gave its departing coach a game to remember as the 11th-ranked Knights beat Memphis 62-55 in double overtime to win the American Athletic Conference championship.

UCF is now one of only two teams to finish the regular season undefeated at 12-0. But when you play in the AAC, you don’t make it the final four of the college football championship. You get to go to Atlanta to play in the Peach Bowl as the highest-ranked team not in a power-five conference.

While everyone viewed it as a foregone conclusion that the former Nebraska quarterback would be headed home, Frost wouldn’t officially confirm the move immediately after the game. Instead, he was looking for an opportunity to speak to his team privately.

“I haven’t told them yet, but I will,” Frost said, his eyes growing more red with each word. “They should give you time off after the season to make a decision, but they don’t.

“I love Orlando, and no matter what I do, I’m going to retire here. Not selling any houses. UCF, Orlando is an unbelievable place with unlimited potential.”

Saturday’s match had an unlimited display of great offense and pedestrian defense. The two quarterbacks combined for 965 yards on 58 for 84 passing. The game should have been UCF’s in regulation, but the Knights’ McKenzie Milton threw three interceptions.

Both teams scored in the first overtime, and the Knights, going first in the second overtime, took advantage of a roughing-the-quarterback penalty to put them at the 10. Milton rushed for nine yards, and Otis Anderson got the important extra one.

Memphis looked out of it on their possession facing a fourth and seven, but Riley Ferguson completed a 17-yard pass to Anthony Miller, putting the ball at the five. After Patrick Taylor lost four on the next play, UCF’s Tre Neal intercepted a pass near the goal line, took a few steps and dove to the ground, ending the game.

Milton threw five touchdowns passes, two to Dredrick Snelson and Tre’Quan Smith and one to Jordan Akins. Ferguson threw four for touchdowns, three to Miller and one to Tony Pollard.

Frost will not coach UCF in its final game, and it is possible that Memphis coach Mike Norvell may not coach the Tigers in their likely Liberty Bowl bid. He’s on the short list for the Arkansas job.

Memphis, who beat UCLA 48-45 in an early-season game, is 10-2, with both losses coming against UCF.

UPDATES:

2:55 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details.

This article was originally published at 1:25 p.m.