FORT WORTH, Texas – Gus Malzahn’s rebuild at UCF passed a hectic first Big 12 test Saturday night as the Knights erased a 21-point third-quarter deficit to beat TCU 35-34.

UCF took the lead with 36 seconds left in the game when KJ Jefferson, one of 50 new players in the program this season, threw a 20-yard pass to Kobe Hudson, who took a shot at the goal line on the play but held onto the ball.

“He kept saying, ‘Just give me a chance, give me a chance. I know I can do it,'” Jefferson said of Hudson.

Hudson added: “This is the best win I’ve ever had in my life.”

Malzahn ranked this as the highlight of his four-year UCF career, comparing it to his freshman season when the Knights staged a 21-point comeback to defeat Boise State.

“The difference is that we were away (against TCU) and that was a very talented team,” Malzahn said.

TCU’s Josh Hoover threw for 402 yards and four touchdowns, completing 35 of 52 passes. His top target, Jack Bech, caught nine passes for 200 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown early in the third quarter that gave the Horned Frogs a 28-7 lead.

Malzahn said UCF simplified its offense in the second half to focus on feeding RJ Harvey, the Knights’ All-Big 12 running back who rushed for 1,416 yards last season. Harvey finished the game with 29 carries for 180 yards and two touchdowns and also caught a pass for 29 yards and another touchdown.

“He’s one of the best running backs in college football,” Malzahn said. “I think he’s proven that every week.”

UCF finished 2-4 on the road last year in its first year in the Big 12, part of a 6-7 season. Malzahn hoped to find a veteran quarterback this year and said Saturday’s result was why he wanted to run his offense through Jefferson. The QB said he was sore from a collision on the second drive but refused to leave the game.

“I think you just saw that,” Malzahn said. “He’s a veteran player. He didn’t flinch and he was really optimistic. I mean, he wasn’t healthy, guys. He’s a tough guy.”

The drama of the game continued until the clock ran out. First, the Knights had to kick the game-winning extra point, which was not a given, as TCU had blocked three kicks in the game – two field goals and an extra point. After Colton Boomer’s throw, TCU got the ball back and drove to the UCF 40-yard line, where true freshman kicker Kyle Lemmermann attempted a 58-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds. The kick was far enough, but went wide to the right.

Jefferson said he covered his face to avoid watching the kick.

“Coach Malzahn walked past me and said, ‘Reveal your face and watch, we already won this. Let’s enjoy the moment,'” Jefferson said.

UCF is 3-0 heading into a week off, with Colorado next playing on Sept. 28 in Orlando, Fla. In a wide-open Big 12 race, the Knights hope the confidence from the comeback win rubs off on them.

“We’re going to stick it out for the rest of the year and go down fighting,” said Malzahn. “In the end, we’ll believe in it.”