UCF came into Saturday’s matchup at No. 6 Oklahoma as a 17.5-point underdog and with pretty much nothing to lose.
At 0-3 in conference play (3-3 overall), the Knights’ transition to the Big 12 has been less than ideal, but those fortunes appeared to change a bit on Saturday in Norman as UCF found itself tied with the Sooners at 17 going into halftime.
And the reason for that had a lot to do with Javon Baker’s 86-yard touchdown reception on a play so gorgeous it’s surprising the Knights don’t run it more often.
But this isn’t about the touchdown or the potential upset. It’s about what Baker did while jogging into the end zone: He blew a kiss to the Oklahoma bench.
Not sure you can be more wide open than Javon Baker was on this EIGHTY-SIX yard breakaway touchdown.
📺 ABC pic.twitter.com/6rEvNXDs8g
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) October 21, 2023
Brent Venables was BIG mad after Javon Baker blew a kiss to the OU sideline 😘 pic.twitter.com/h58nIH02OJ
— PropSwap (@PropSwap) October 21, 2023
Naturally, Baker was called for unsportsmanlike conduct on the play, but the the touchdown stood despite Oklahoma coach Brent Venables lashing out at officials.
UCF player was blowing kisses to the Oklahoma bench while running in for a TD, and Brent isn't happy about it. pic.twitter.com/2Of68I7nTa
— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) October 21, 2023
Brett Venables was arguing for a flag, which would’ve negated the TD, And the ref appeared to be telling Venables they were calling the celebration penalty in the end zone. https://t.co/t7jnYn3uxN
— Seth Emerson (@SethWEmerson) October 21, 2023
As always, the solution to making sure opponents can’t taunt you is to play better. This is, after all, the same OU program that celebrated all of Baker Mayfield’s antics not too long ago.
Sometimes you’re the taunted and sometimes you’re the tauntee.