FORT WORTH, Texas — Gus Malzahn’s transformation at UCF endured a frantic first Big 12 test Saturday night, as the Knights turned a 21-point third-quarter deficit into a 35-34 win over TCU.

UCF took the lead with just 36 seconds to go when KJ Jefferson, one of 50 new players in the program this season, threw a 20-yard shot to Kobe Hudson, who tried to shoot on the goal line but held on to the ball.

“He just kept saying, ‘Give me a chance, give me a chance. I know I’m going to make it,’” Jefferson said of Hudson.

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

Malzahn called it the best performance of his four-year UCF career and compared it to his first season, when the Knights staged a 21-point comeback to beat Boise State.

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

TCU’s Josh Hoover threw for 402 yards and four touchdowns, completing 35 of 52 passes with his top target, Jack Bech. He 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.

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

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

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

“I think you just saw it,” Malzahn said. “He’s an experienced guy. He didn’t flinch and he was very positive. 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 winning extra point, which wasn’t a given, as TCU blocked three kicks in the game — two field goal attempts and one extra point attempt. After Colton Boomer scored, TCU got the ball back and drove to the UCF 40, where true freshman kicker Kyle Lemmermann attempted a 58-yard field goal with the clock ticking down to the final seconds. The kick had the distance, but missed far to the right.

Jefferson said he covered his face so he wouldn’t see the stairs.

“Coach Malzahn walked by me and said, ‘Show your face and watch out, we already won this. Let’s get ready to enjoy the moment,'” Jefferson said.

UCF is 3-0 heading into the week off, with Colorado next up in Orlando, Fla., on Sept. 28. In an open Big 12 race, the Knights will hope the confidence from the comeback win carries over.

“We’re going to keep this up for the rest of the year and we’re going to go down fighting,” Malzahn said. “We’re going to believe in it at the end.”