ORLANDO, Fla. – North Carolina A&T faced the most talented and challenging opponent it will face all season in Power Four and Big 12 member UCF. The Knights defeated the Division I-FCS A&T Aggies 68-7 Saturday night at Acrisure Bounce House Stadium.
A&T's remaining games are against FCS opponents, starting next week, with fellow HBCU and Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Football Conference rival Hampton. Next week's game will serve as both A&T's 2025 season-opener and its CAA Football Conference opener. It will mark the first of eight conference games for A&T, which is still seeking its first-ever CAA Football Conference win after two seasons in the league. Plus, the Aggies have two remaining non-conference games on the schedule when archrival North Carolina Central University (NCCU) visits Truist Stadium on September 20, and the S.C. State Bulldogs come to Truist Stadium for the Greatest Homecoming on Earth on October 11.
On Saturday, after a 75-minute delay to the start of the game due to inclement weather, the Knights demonstrated their Power Four stature early when Jaden Nixon returned the game's opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown.
After A&T went three-and-out on its first offensive possession, which included redshirt freshman quarterback Braxton Thomas leaving the game injured after a sack, the Knights drove the ball 65 yards in eight plays, converting a 4th-and-4 from the A&T 42-yard line to set up a 1-yard run from Tayven Jackson.
Thomas' replacement, redshirt sophomore Champ Long threw an interception on A&T's next possession, setting up the Knights at the Aggies 24. It led to a 4-yard run from Jackson to put the Knights ahead by three scores. UCF completed a 28-point first quarter on an 87-yard TD run from Nixon.
Nixon carried the ball only four times on Saturday but finished with 156 yards and two touchdowns to go along with the TD he scored on the game's opening kickoff.
UCF led 40-0 at the half after kicker Noe Ruelas kicked a 36-yard field goal with 57 seconds remaining in the first half. Meanwhile, the Aggies finished the half with their third different quarterback after Long left the game after sustaining an injury. That led to A&T playing true freshman Jy Walls for the remainder of the game.
The Aggies did not throw the ball much once the frosh entered the game. He attempted only four passes as the Aggies used nine different runners to compile 160 yards rushing and a touchdown.
In fact, A&T's only score of the game came on a 17-yard touchdown run from junior Shimique Blizzard. Blizzard had a 44-yard run during the drive to set up the score. He finished with 11 carries for 75 yards and the touchdown. Defensively, Ty Williams, Jr. led the Aggies with six tackles, including one for loss, and he had a pass breakup.
The start time for A&T's home opener against Hampton is 7 p.m. The A&T athletics department will honor the golden anniversary of the school's first-ever Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship football team as the Aggies welcome back the 1975 team.
In addition, the department will recognize its championship teams from the previous season, including the 2025 CAA championship men's indoor track and field team, the 2024-25 CAA regular-season championship women's basketball team, the 2024-25 MEAC regular-season and conference tournament championship bowling team, and the 2025 CAA championship men's outdoor track and field team.
