Pain Sandwich
The first half started and ended about as poorly as you could hope for. UCF took the opening kickoff all the way down the field for a touchdown, and make North Carolina feel every inch. The Golden Knights ran 13 plays for 75 yards and ate up nearly half the first quarter on their opening drive. They converted 2/3 of their third downs, and the one stop UNC got, Central Florida converted the fourth down.
North Carolina had its issues defending, but did well to limit UCF to field goals on their next two possessions. But when the Tar Heels failed to score a touchdown in the closing minutes of the first half, they gave UCF the ball with 1:23 remaining. The Knights only needed six plays to score a touchdown to go up 17 at the half.
All momentum was lost, and it didn't get better when the second half started. Carolina received and immediately produced a three-and-out, while UCF scored another touchdown. The game was lost before that drive, but that touchdown made the outcome certain.