Team Information
Ground | FBC Mortgage Stadium |
City | Orlando, Florida |
Conference | Big 12, |
Nickname | Knights |
About UCF Knights Football
The 2024 UCF Knights football team from the University of Central Florida (UCF) is part of the Big 12 Conference in the NCAA Division I FBS. Gus Malzahn, their head coach for four years, leads them. Their home ground is FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, Florida. Let's cheer for the Knights!
Name of Team | UCF Knights Football Team |
First season | 1979 |
Athletic director | Terry Mohajir |
Head coach | Gus Malzahn3rd season, 24–16 (.600) |
Stadium | FBC Mortgage Stadium(capacity: 45,301) |
Location | Orlando, Florida |
Conference | Big 12 Conference |
Division | USA East, AAC East |
Field surface | Grass |
Conference titles | 6 (2007, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018) |
Division titles | 6 (2005, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2017, 2018) |
Fight song | "Charge On" |
Mascot | Knightro |
Rivals | Cincinnati (rivalry)South Florida (rivalry) |
Consensus All-Americans | 1 |
UCF Knights Football Team Introduction
The UCF Knights football team, representing the University of Central Florida (UCF), competes in NCAA Division I FBS football. They're a member of the Big 12 Conference, with Gus Malzahn leading as head coach. Their home turf is the 45,000-seat FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, Florida. UCF began its football journey in 1979, rising through NCAA divisions to FBS status in 1996. They've made a mark with 293 victories, six division titles, and six conference championships. Notable achievements include two New Year's Six bowl victories and producing NFL stars like Blake Bortles, Daunte Culpepper, and McKenzie Milton.
UCF Knights Football Team History
The UCF Knights football team has a rich history. They started playing in 1979 and have climbed to compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Over the years, they've won many games, earning six division titles and six conference championships. They've also made 15 postseason appearances, including big wins in New Year's Six bowls. The team has produced star players like Kevin Smith, Daunte Culpepper, and McKenzie Milton, who've excelled in college and the NFL. With a strong legacy and dedicated fan base, the UCF Knights continue to make their mark on the football world.
UCF Knights Football Team Coaches
Arthur Gustavo Malzahn III, born October 28, 1965, is an American football coach leading the University of Central Florida (UCF) team. Formerly, he coached at Auburn University, guiding them to a National Championship in 2010 as offensive coordinator and later as head coach. Malzahn is known for his successful coaching career, producing Heisman winners like Cam Newton and coaching teams to SEC Championships. He's earned numerous coaching awards, including SEC Coach of the Year. Malzahn also played football at Arkansas and Henderson State University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1990.
Coach | Tenure | Record | Bowl/playoff record | Pct |
Don Jonas | 1979–1981 | 14–12–1 | .537 | |
Sam Weir | 1982 | 0–10 | .000 | |
Lou Saban | 1983–1984 | 6–12 | .333 | |
Jerry Anderson | 1984 | 1–3 | .250 | |
Gene McDowell | 1985–1997 | 86–61 | 3–3 | .585 |
Mike Kruczek | 1998–2003 | 36–30 | .545 | |
Alan Gooch | 2003 | 0–2 | .000 | |
George O'Leary | 2004–2015 | 81–68 | 3–4 | .544 |
Danny Barrett | 2015 | 0–4 | .000 | |
Scott Frost | 2016–2017 | 19–7 | 1–1 | .731 |
Josh Heupel | 2018–2020 | 28–8 | 1–2 | .778 |
Gus Malzahn | 2021–Present | 24–16 | 1–2 | .600 |
UCF Knights Football Team Stadium
The UCF Knights play at the impressive FBC Mortgage Stadium, which opened in 2007 as part of the Kenneth G. Dixon Athletics Village. Located on the north side of UCF's campus, this stadium features luxury boxes, a large club lounge, and a natural grass field. The Knights moved here after 28 seasons at the Florida Citrus Bowl. The stadium debuted with a game against Texas, drawing a capacity crowd. In 2015, it was renovated to add the Carl Black and Gold Cabana, a 10,000-square-foot lounge. More premium areas, including field-level cabanas and the Stadium Club, were added in 2017. The stadium also boasts a large, high-definition video board and a ribbon display for enhanced viewing experiences.
UCF Knights Football Team Rivals
South Florida Bulls
The South Florida Bulls are UCF's biggest rival. The two teams compete in the "War on I-4," a fierce annual game. This rivalry is intense because both teams are from Florida, and fans are passionate about their schools. Games between UCF and South Florida are always exciting and highly anticipated.
Cincinnati Bearcats
The Cincinnati Bearcats are another major rival for UCF. The rivalry grew stronger as both teams often competed for the top spot in their conference. Games between UCF and Cincinnati are competitive and closely watched, adding excitement to the season.
Houston Cougars
The Houston Cougars are also a key rival for UCF. Their matchups are known for being tough and competitive. Both teams have strong football programs, and their games are usually thrilling, with fans eagerly awaiting the outcome.
Memphis Tigers
The Memphis Tigers are another rival for UCF. The games between these teams are intense, often with high stakes. Both teams have had strong seasons, making their matchups exciting and significant for fans and players.
UCF Knights Football Team Record and Stats
National Championship
In 2017, under head coach Scott Frost, the UCF Knights had a perfect 13-0 season. They were not selected for the College Football Playoff but won the Peach Bowl against No. 7 Auburn. UCF's athletic director declared them national champions, holding a celebration and hanging a championship banner. The Colley Matrix, an NCAA-recognized ranking system, also ranked UCF No. 1. Although Alabama won the CFP and was the consensus national champion, UCF uniquely claimed the title based on their undefeated season and Colley Matrix ranking.
Season | Conference | Coach | Selector | Overall record | Conference record | Bowl | Opponent | Result |
2017 | The American | Scott Frost | Colley Matrix | 13–0 | 8–0 | Peach Bowl | Auburn | W 34–27 |
Conference Championships
Under George O'Leary, the UCF Knights won four C-USA Eastern Division Championships (2005, 2007, 2010, 2012) and two Conference USA Championships (2007, 2010). O'Leary also led the Knights to win The American Conference championship in their first year in the league (2013), securing a spot in a BCS bowl game. In 2014, the Knights won another conference championship. They claimed The American conference title again in 2017 under Scott Frost and in 2018 under Josh Heupel, achieving back-to-back conference titles for the second time.
Season | Conference | Coach | Overall record | Conference record |
2007 | Conference USA | George O'Leary | 10–4 | 7–1 |
2010 | 11–3 | 7–1 | ||
2013 | The American | 12–1 | 8–0 | |
2014 | 9–4 | 7–1 | ||
2017 | Scott Frost | 13–0 | 8–0 | |
2018 | Josh Heupel | 12–0 | 8–0 |
Division Championships
UCF won four division titles in Conference USA, appearing in the championship game four times and winning twice. Three of these games were against Tulsa. After moving to the AAC, UCF won two more division titles and qualified for the 2022 AAC Championship Game as the #2 seed after divisions were removed.
Season | Division | Coach | Opponent | CG Result |
2005 | C-USA East | George O'Leary | Tulsa | L 27–44 |
2007 | Tulsa | W 44–25 | ||
2010 | SMU | W 17–7 | ||
2012 | Tulsa | L 27–33 | ||
2017 | AAC East | Scott Frost | Memphis | W 62–55 |
2018 | Josh Heupel | Memphis | W 56–41 |
Bowl Games
UCF has played in 15 bowl games, winning 6 and losing 9. Since joining Division I FBS, they've been bowl-eligible for 19 of 28 seasons, with their first bowl game in 2005. UCF has been ranked going into a bowl game four times, achieving notable rankings and victories in those seasons.
Season | Coach | Bowl | Opponent | Result |
2005 | George O'Leary | Hawaii Bowl | Nevada | L 48–49 |
2007 | Liberty Bowl | Mississippi State | L 3–10 | |
2009 | St. Petersburg Bowl | Rutgers | L 24–45 | |
2010 | Liberty Bowl | Georgia | W 10–6 | |
2012 | Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl | Ball State | W 38–17 | |
2013 | Fiesta Bowl | 6 Baylor | W 52–42 | |
2014 | St. Petersburg Bowl | NC State | L 27–34 | |
2016 | Scott Frost | Cure Bowl | Arkansas State | L 13–31 |
2017 | Peach Bowl | 7 Auburn | W 34–27 | |
2018 | Josh Heupel | Fiesta Bowl | 11 LSU | L 32–40 |
2019 | Gasparilla Bowl | Marshall | W 48–25 | |
2020 | Boca Raton Bowl | 16 BYU | L 23–49 | |
2021 | Gus Malzahn | Gasparilla Bowl | Florida | W 29–17 |
2022 | Military Bowl | Duke | L 13–30 | |
2023 | Gasparilla Bowl | Georgia Tech | L 17–30 |
UCF Knights Football Team Roster
Offense:
Quarterbacks (QBs):
Brock Hansel
Timmy McClain
John Rhys Plumlee
Dylan Rizk
Gunnar Smith
Xavier Williams
Running Backs (RBs):
Demarkcus Bowman
Preston Foreman
RJ Harvey
Kam Ingram
Jordan McDonald
Mark-Antony Richards
Johnny Richardson
Wide Receivers (WRs):
Jarrad Baker
Javon Baker
Andrew Dickson
JaJuan Forte'
Corey Gammage
Jaylon Griffin
Tyler Griffin
Kobe Hudson
Amari Johnson
Chauncey Magwood
Dionte Marks
Stephen Martin
Tyree Patterson
Cullen Smith
Xavier Townsend
Trent Whittemore
Dwartney Wortham
Tight Ends (TEs):
Jordan Davis
Garrett French
Alec Holler
Zach Marsh Wojan
Thomas Wadsworth
Offensive Line (OL):
Patrick Barnett
Johnathan Cline
Edward Collins
Keyon Cox
Tylan Grable
John Harris
Ethan Higgins
Shaheem Hill
Amari Kight
Cameron Kinnie
Caden Kitler
Chidoziri Maghiro
Marcellus Marshall
Adrian Medley
Drake Metcalf
Lokahi Pauole
Andrew Phelan
Matthew Prigmore
Paul Rubelt
Bula Schmidt
Defense:
Defensive Ends (DEs):
Josh Celiscar
Dallaz Corbitt
Finau Fine
Jamaal Johnson
Malachi Lawrence
K.D. McDaniel
Jack Morgan
Tre'mon Morris-Brash
Isaiah Nixon
Trace O'Hara
Shaun Peterson Jr.
Defensive Tackles (DTs):
Matthew Alexander
Ricky Barber
Kervins Choute
Christopher Ficka
Keshaun Hudson
Lee Hunter
Derrick LeBlanc
Andrew Rumph
John Walker
Linebackers (LBs):
TJ Bullard
Keenan Cupit
Rian Davis
Troy Ford Jr.
Kingston Gorney
Andrew Harris
Quentin Hatch
Keeron Henderson
Jason Johnson
Kam Moore
Isaiah Paul
Camden Vining
Walter Yates III
Defensive Backs (DBs):
Brandon Adams
Nicholas Antoine
Quadric Bullard
R.D. Cooper
Fred Davis
Jason Duclona
Hudson Gibbs
Demari Henderson
Ja'Cari Henderson
Terrell Jackson
Champ Jenkins
Braeden Marshall
Nikai Martinez
DeJordan Mask
Daniel McCullon
Ja'Maric Morris
Decorian Patterson
Corey Thornton
Jarvis Ware
William Wells
Jireh Wilson
Special Teams:
Kickers (Ks):
Colton Boomer
Kriston Esnard
Grant Reddick
Punters (Ps):
Michael Carter
Mitch McCarthy
Long Snappers (LSs):
Chris Bowerfind
Aidan Fedigan
Gage King
UCF Knights Football Team Schedule
Aug 29, 2024
Opponent: New Hampshire
Time: TBA
TV: Not specified
Venue: FBC Mortgage Stadium
Ticket Prices: Starting at $8.33
Sep 7, 2024
Opponent: Sam Houston
Time: TBA
TV: Not specified
Venue: FBC Mortgage Stadium
Ticket Prices: Starting at $18.00
Sep 14, 2024
Opponent: TCU
Time: TBA
TV: Not specified
Venue: Amon G. Carter Stadium
Ticket Prices: Starting at $70.00
Sep 28, 2024
Opponent: Colorado
Time: TBA
TV: Not specified
Venue: FBC Mortgage Stadium
Ticket Prices: Starting at $148.50
Oct 5, 2024
Opponent: Florida
Time: TBA
TV: Not specified
Venue: Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
Ticket Prices: Starting at $117.30
Oct 12, 2024
Opponent: Cincinnati
Time: TBA
TV: Not specified
Venue: FBC Mortgage Stadium
Ticket Prices: Starting at $26.40
Oct 19, 2024
Opponent: Iowa St.
Time: TBA
TV: Not specified
Venue: Jack Trice Stadium
Ticket Prices: Starting at $55.00
Oct 26, 2024
Opponent: BYU
Time: TBA
TV: Not specified
Venue: FBC Mortgage Stadium
Ticket Prices: Starting at $34.00
Nov 2, 2024
Opponent: Arizona
Time: TBA
TV: Not specified
Venue: FBC Mortgage Stadium
Ticket Prices: Starting at $36.00
Nov 9, 2024
Opponent: Arizona St.
Time: TBA
TV: Not specified
Venue: Mountain America Stadium
Ticket Prices: Starting at $29.31
Nov 23, 2024
Opponent: West Virginia
Time: TBA
TV: Not specified
Venue: Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium
Ticket Prices: Starting at $54.35
Nov 29, 2024
Opponent: Utah
Time: TBA
TV: Not specified
Venue: FBC Mortgage Stadium
Ticket Prices: Starting at $36.00
FAQ's On UCF Knights Football
A. The UCF football team was established in the fall of 1979.
A. UCF has claimed one national championship in 2017.
A. The current head coach is Gus Malzahn.
A. The UCF Knights play their home games at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
A. UCF has played in 15 bowl games in its history.