| UCF Knights football | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
 | |||
| First season | 1979; 46 years ago | ||
| Athletic director | Terry Mohajir | ||
| Head coach | Scott Frost 3rd[a] season, 24–13 (.649) | ||
| Stadium | Acrisure Bounce House (capacity: 44,206[1]) | ||
| Year built | 2007 | ||
| Location | Orlando, Florida[b] | ||
| NCAA division | Division I FBS | ||
| Conference | Big 12 | ||
| All-time record | 304–247–1[c][d] (.552) | ||
| Bowl record | 6–9 (.400) | ||
| Claimed national titles | |||
| 2017 | |||
| Conference titles | |||
| C-USA:2007,2010 AAC:2013,2014,2017,2018 | |||
| Conference division titles | |||
| C-USA East:2005,2007,2010 AAC East:2017,2018 | |||
| Consensus All-Americans | 1 | ||
| Rivalries | South Florida (rivalry) Cincinnati (rivalry) ECU | ||
| Current uniform | |||
.png) | |||
| Colors | Black and gold[11] | ||
| Fight song | "Charge On" | ||
| Mascot | Knightro | ||
| Marching band | Marching Knights | ||
| Outfitter | Nike[12] | ||
| Website | ucfknights.com | ||
TheUCF Knights football team represents theUniversity of Central Florida in the sport ofAmerican football. TheKnights compete in theDivision IFootball Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of theNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and are a member of theBig 12 Conference.[13] The Knights play their home games at the 45,301-seat[14]Acrisure Bounce House, which is located on UCF's main campus east ofOrlando, Florida, United States.[15]
UCF first fielded a varsity football team in the fall of 1979 as anNCAA Division III program and subsequently completed their ascension to Division I–A, now known as the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), in1996, becoming the first program in NCAA history to have played in all four divisions of football (and the only one untilJames Madison joined FBS in 2022).[16] As a Division I–AA program, the Knights made the 1990 and 1993playoffs, and were picked as the preseason No. 1 team to start the 1994 season.[17]
As of November 23, 2025, UCF has compiled 304 claimed[c] victories,[d] six division titles, and six conference championships.
The Knights have made 15 postseason appearances since joining the FBS, including winning oneBowl Championship Series bowl, the2014 Fiesta Bowl, and oneNew Year's Six bowl, the2018 Peach Bowl. The program has produced one ConsensusAll-American,Kevin Smith in 2007.
 | It has been suggested that this section besplit out into a new article titledHistory of UCF Knights football. (Discuss)(September 2019) |
The UCF football program can be traced back to a speech given by theuniversity's second president,Dr. Trevor Colbourn, in January 1979.[18] Colbourn believed that a successful athletics program would bring the university greater renown, and tasked Dr.Jack O'Leary with the job of creating a new football program at the school.[19] In addition, Colbourn changed the name of the school to the University of Central Florida (prior to this, the college was known as Florida Technological University), to express the university's expanded academic scope.[20]
Beginning at theDivision III level, O'Leary, then the university'sathletic director, held a meeting of prospective players, who paid $14 per night to stay in the dorms and brought their own uniforms to the tryouts, in March 1979.[21] This would be the first football tryouts for prospective players, and would serve as the first that many students would hear about the new athletic program.[19] O'Leary had previously served as an assistant coach atAlabama underPaul "Bear" Bryant.[22] He would spearhead the effort to raise more than $40,000 to start the program, and would complete a deal for the team to play in theTangerine Bowl.[19] Without a budget to hire a staff, O'Leary reached out to six UCF graduate students as volunteer assistants.[19] From there, O'Leary was able to lureDon Jonas, a formerNFLquarterback and Orlando dignitary, to become UCF's firsthead football coach on a voluntary basis.[19]
One day during a practice, O'Leary pulled the team aside and unveiled the template for uniforms of "The Fighting Knights".[23] He would reveal a template that would follow the team into the 21st century: black jerseys, gold pants and gold helmets.[19] Less than one year after Colbourn had envisioned a football program for the university, UCF played its first game on September 22, 1979, againstSt. Leo University.[24] The Knights would prove victorious with a 21–0 shutout,[25] and less than a week later, the Knights would win their first home game by defeatingFt. Benning, 7–6.[26] Jonas led the Knights to a 6–2 inaugural season, behind an average attendance of 11,240, including a Division III record crowd of 14,138.[26] Following the season, in March 1980, Jonas was offered the Knights head coaching job as a full-time position.[27] After leading the team to a 4–4–1 and 4–6 record in 1980 and 1981 respectively,[28][29] Jonas would leave the Knights following the 1981 season.[26] During the 1980 season, the Knights earned the only tie in program history, an 11–all game againstMiles,[30] andTim Kiggins became the first Knight to sign a professional contract.[26] After his departure, Jonas remained involved in the program, including doing radio broadcasts of UCF football games and a radio sports talk show.[31] Jonas led the Knights to a 14–12–1 (.518) record in three seasons.[32]
Following the departure of Don Jonas,Sammy Weir, who was the head coach atLake Howell High School, became UCF's new head coach and led the Knights in their move up toDivision II in 1982.[26] Another change to the university's athletic programs in 1982 was the departure of O'Leary as athletic director, and the hiring ofBill Peterson, who was theFlorida State head coach from 1960 to 1970.[33] In their first season playing Division II ball, the Knights went 0–10, and Weir decided not to return for the 1983 season.[34] One bright spot of the season was that Mike Carter became the first Knight to sign with an NFL team, theDenver Broncos.[33]
Lou Saban replaced Weir as the Knights head coach in 1983.[35] Saban had previously coached atMiami,Army,Northwestern, and in the AFL and NFL with theBuffalo Bills andBoston Patriots, to name just a few.[33] In UCF's first Black and Gold Spring game held in 1983, the defense won 14–6.[29] The Knights finished the 1983 season 5–6, including the team's first win over a Division I–AA opponent.[33] Starting the 1984 season filled with optimism, the Knights were shaken by a 1–6 start.[36][self-published source?] Following the disappointing beginning to the season, Saban stepped away from the program, and was replaced on an interim basis by assistant coachJerry Anderson.[33] Saban had a 6–12 (.333) record during his tenure as the Knights head coach.[37] Anderson finished out the year with the team in an interim position, with a 1–3 (.250) record.[38] UCF finished the season with a 2–9 mark.[33] In the course of the three seasons following Jonas' departure, the Knights went through three head coaches, and amassed a 7–25 record.[33]
Reeling after a disappointing string of seasons, there were discussions within the community about the possibility of dismantling the program,[39] and Peterson announced his retirement as the university's athletic director.[40] In addition, due to financial troubles, the team had to postpone plans to move up toDivision I-AA.[33] Without a head coach or athletic director, President Colbourn hiredFlorida State assistant coachGene McDowell to fill both positions.[41] McDowell took the helm in 1985, and hired his eventual successor and formerPittsburgh Steelers quarterbackMike Kruczek as hisoffensive coordinator.[33] The Knights would finish with a 4–7 mark in McDowell's first year, including a 42–21 loss to UCF's first-ever Division I–A opponent,Louisville.[33] Due to financial hardships, McDowell waived half of his annual salary, and FSU head coachBobby Bowden donated uniforms and cleats to the program.[33]
McDowell would the lead the Knights to their first winning season since 1979, with a 6–5 record in 1986.[42] Also that year,Ted Wilson became the first UCF player to be selected in the1987 NFL draft, being picked by theWashington Redskins in the 10th round.[43] Following an 8–3 regular season record in 1987,[44] the Knights earned their first trip to theDivision II playoffs, where they earned a 1–1 record.[42] After starting the 1988 season with five straight wins, UCF would be ranked No. 2 in Division II.[42] During a game against the defending D-II national championsTroy at theCitrus Bowl, UCF fans were so loud at one point that the Trojans quarterbackBob Godsey couldn't call plays.[45] Godsey complained to the referee about the crowd noise, but instead of helping Troy, the referee called a delay of game penalty on the Trojans.[46] The"Noise Penalty" game is legendary at UCF, and the win over Troy thrust the Knights into the position as the No. 1 ranked team in D-II.[42] Between 1986 and 1990 under the leadership of McDowell, the Knights held a 24–6 record at the Citrus Bowl.[42]
During McDowell's tenure, the program moved up toDivision I-AA in 1990.[47] In their first year in the division, the Knights earned a 10–4 record, a program best, and a trip to theI–AA playoffs.[48] UCF would make it to the semifinals, and became the first school in history to qualify for the I–AA playoffs in its first season of eligibility.[47] The Knights would finish the 1991 and 1992 with winning seasons as well.[49][50] In 1992, Dr.John Hitt, UCF's fourth president, announced that the program would make the move toDivision I-A in 1996,[51] and he hiredSteve Sloan as the university's new athletic director.[47] Earning their eighth winning season in 1993, the Knights would again make the playoffs.[47] During the season, the team won their first game over a Division I–A team, a 38–16 victory atLouisiana Tech.[52] After another impressive season, UCF was selected as the preseason No. 1 to start the 1994 season.[53] The 1994 season would prove disappointing however, as the Knights would finish the season ranked No. 20 with a 7–4 record.[47] During the team's final season in Division I-AA, the Knights were reinvigorated by freshman sensationDaunte Culpepper. The quarterback would lead the Knights to a 6–5 record, and their tenth straight winning season in 1995.[54]
On September 1, 1996, UCF officially made its foray intoDivision I-A.[55] At that time, the Knights became the first football program to play in four different NCAA divisions (III, II, I-AA and I-A).[54] In their first two seasons in Division I-A, the Knights posted identical 5–6 records behind Culpepper. In 1997, assistant coachAlan Gooch was named the national assistant coach of the year, due to his work withdeaf running backDwight Collins.[54] In the wake of a federal fraud scandal revolving around impropercellular phone benefits and use, McDowell resigned as head coach on January 20, 1998.[54][56] Over his 13-year tenure at UCF, McDowell earned an 86–61 (.585) record.[57]
After the abrupt departure of Gene McDowell, offensive coordinatorMike Kruczek was named UCF's new head coach on an interim basis.[58] He would receive the position permanently later in 1998.[54] Daunte Culpepper led UCF to its best season ever with a 9–2 record in 1998 (with losses only coming toPurdue[59] andAuburn).[60] Culpepper finished 6th in the Heisman Trophy voting and set the NCAA record for completion percentage that year (73.4%).[54] Following the season, Culpepper was drafted with the 11th pick in the first round of the1999 NFL draft by theMinnesota Vikings, marking the highest ever draft pick of a UCF player.[54]
The Knights proved to be a scary team on the road against heavily favored opponents, with close losses including a 10–6 loss atAuburn in1998, a24–23 loss atGeorgia in1999,[61] and a 21–17 loss atGeorgia Tech in2000.[62] Kruczek's biggest victory would come in 2000 againstAlabama atBryant–Denny Stadium inTuscaloosa, Alabama, when the Knights won 40–38 on a last-second field goal byJavier Beorlegui.[63][64] After finishing 9–2 in 1998,[65] UCF received a tentative verbal agreement to play in the inauguralOahu Bowl.[66] That arrangement, however, was contingent onUCLA finishing the season undefeated; the Oahu Bowl was otherwise committed to taking a team from thePac-10.[67] On the final day of the regular season,Miami upset UCLA, setting off a chain reaction that sentWashington to the Oahu Bowl and left the Knights out in the cold.[68]
Kruczek guided the team as a Division I-A independent until2002.[69] After six difficult years as an independent, UCF played its much-anticipated first season as a football-only member of theMid-American Conference in2002.[64] They finished runner-up in the East division with a 6–2 conference record. They finished the season 7–5 overall, completing their 14th winning season in the past 17 years.[70][30] The excitement, however, would be short-lived.[64] After signing a three-year contract extension at the beginning of the2003 season,[71] Kruczek was fired following a 3–7 start.[72] Kruczek was replaced on an interim basis by assistant coach and former playerAlan Gooch who finished out the dismal 3–9 season[73] with losses to Mid-American Conference rivalsMarshall andMiami (OH).[64] The Marshall game marked UCF's first nationally televised home football game as it was aired onESPN2.[74] Kruczek ended his six-year stewardship of UCF with a 36–30 (.545) record.[75]
An increased travel burden, lack of competitiveness, and lack of natural rivals within themidwest-basedMAC saw UCF begin to explore the possibility of a different conference affiliation after just a couple years in the conference. Furthermore, the UCF athletic department was interested in an all-sports conference membership rather than a football-only affiliation.[76][64] In 2003, UCF was invited as an all-sports member ofConference USA beginning with the 2005 season.[77][64]
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Following the disappointing 2003 season,Minnesota Vikingsdefensive coordinator and formerGeorgia Tech head coachGeorge O'Leary was named UCF's head coach in2004.[78] This was a controversial and bold hire because O'Leary had previously left Georgia Tech after the 2001 season and been named head coach atNotre Dame, but resigned in disgrace five days into his tenure after inconsistencies were found on his resume.[79] The difficult coaching transition for 2004, the Knights' final year in the Mid-American Conference, saw the team hit rock bottom, going 0–11.[80]
In2005, UCF started their firstseason as a member ofConference USA. Not expected to improve much over 2004, they surprisingly won their first conference game againstMarshall, 23–13, ending the school's 17-game losing streak, then the nation's longest such streak.[81][78] UCF fans celebrated by storming the field and tearing down the goal posts.[82] Students came back to the campus and celebrated further by jumping into UCF's Reflection Pond (a practice normally reserved forSpirit Splash).[83] UCF then went on to win eight out of the remaining nine games on their schedule, finishing 7–1 in C-USA games and 8–5 overall,[84] winning the East Division and hosting the first everC-USA Championship game, which they lost, 44–27, toTulsa.[85][78] Shortly thereafter, UCF was invited to play in their first everbowl game, theHawaii Bowl, losing toNevada 49–48 in overtime due to a missedPAT that would have tied the game.[86] In 2005 O'Leary was chosen bySportsIllustrated.com for the coach of the year award and received votes for the largerBobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award.[78] In May 2006, UCF extended O'Leary's contract for 10 years and increased his pay to $1 million plus incentives per year after he engineered the fourth-best single-season turnaround in college football history.[87][88]
After an anemic 2006 which saw theGolden Knights go a mere 4–8,[89] the team rebranded in2007 in preparation for its move to its new on-campus venue, Bright House Networks Stadium (later known as Spectrum Stadium and now as FBC Mortgage Stadium).[90] They dropped the "Golden" from their name, becoming the "UCF Knights".[91] Fortunes seemed to have changed as the Knights moved into new facilities. After defeating a BCS AQ conference school for just the second time ever,NC State by a score of 25–23,[92] they inaugurated their new stadium by hosting and losing to national power No. 6Texas by a score of 35–32.[93] The Knights lost to archrivalSouth Florida by a score of 64–12 inTampa,[94] but went on to have a 10–4 overall record and won the C-USA East again, hosting the Championship game againstTulsa once more.[95] UCF defeated Tulsa in a near-reversal of the 2005Conference USA Championship Game 44–25,[96] thereby gaining UCF's first ever Conference Championship title and a berth in the2007 Liberty Bowl. Following UCF's victory, the Knights received 35 votes in theAP Poll, but did not reach the top 25, ranking 27th.[97] The Knights lost the Liberty Bowl inMemphis, Tennessee by a score of 10–3 toMississippi State.[98] The Knights went on to finish the year with its first 10 win season in the FBS. In 2007,Kevin Smith set an NCAA record with 450 rushing attempts and rushed for 2,567 yards, placing him 2nd on the NCAA's all-time single season rushing list behind onlyOklahoma State'sBarry Sanders.[99] Despite this, he was not selected even as a finalist for theDoak Walker Award.[99] He also was the only running back in the 2007 season to rush for more than 100 yards against the Texas Longhorns.[99] He was a fan favorite, especially with student section atBright House Networks Stadium.[99] Smith originally stated that he would return for his senior season at UCF,[100] however, he later changed his mind, announcing on January 6, 2008, that he would declare for the2008 NFL draft.[101] He was selected with the first pick in the third round by theDetroit Lions.[102]
On March 18, 2008, running backEreck Plancher collapsed shortly after a conditioning drill, and was then transported to a nearby hospital where he died approximately one hour later.[103]ESPN'sOutside The Lines program on November 2, 2008, interviewed players who were at the training session at which Plancher became ill, and which after he died, and stated that the session was longer and far more rigorous than O'Leary and other UCF Athletics officials have admitted to publicly.[104] They also alleged that O'Leary and other coaches had initially warned players off from providing assistance to Plancher when he became visibly distressed.[105] After a 14-day trial in 2011, a jury found the UCF Athletics Association guilty of negligence in the death of Plancher. The jury awarded each of his parents $5 million.[106] Uponappeal, however, theFlorida Supreme Court sided with theUniversity of Central Florida, ruling thatsickle-cell disease caused the death and the university didn't owe any money to Plancher's family.[105]
After a lackluster 4–8 season in 2008,[107] UCF bounced back with an 8–5 record in 2009,[108] including winning their last six straight C-USA games. Among those wins was their first victory over a nationally ranked team, beating then No. 12Houston on November 14 by a score of 37–32 at Spectrum Stadium.[109] UCF finished with a 45–24 loss toRutgers in theSt. Petersburg Bowl, their third bowl appearance in five years.[110] Entering the 2010 season, with the recruitment ofJeffrey Godfrey and return of key seniors, includingBruce Miller, there were high hopes for the Knights.[111] After winning 5 straight games, and posting an 11-game conference winning streak, the Knights were ranked for the first time in school history following their nationally televised 40–33 victory overHouston on the road.[112] For the polls released on November 7, 2010, UCF was ranked in all three major college polls.[113] The Knights were ranked 25 in theAP Poll, 23 in theUSA Today Coaches Poll and 25 in theHarris Poll.[114] In their first game as a nationally ranked squad, the Knights fell 31–21 toSouthern Miss in Orlando.[115] UCF would bounce back and defeatTulane by a score of 61–14[116] andMemphis by a score of 37–17.[117] With the wins, the Knights secured the C-USA Eastern Division championship and reentered the polls.[118]
The Knights would go on to win the2010 Conference USA championship game, defeatingSMU 17–7.[119] Following the win, UCF entered theBCS standings for the first time in program history, ranking No. 25.[120] The Knights ended the 2010 season with a 10–6 victory overGeorgia in theAutoZone Liberty Bowl, marking the team's first-ever bowl victory.[121] UCF would end the season ranked 20th in the final coaches poll and 21st in the final AP rankings.[122]
2011 proved to be a disappointing season as UCF finished with a 5–7 record and were not bowl eligible for the first time since 2008.[123] The season included out-of-conference losses toFIU[124] andBYU,[125] as well as conference losses to then-winlessUAB,[126] a 1-point loss to No. 23Southern Miss[127] and the continuation of the Knights woes at quarterback, asJeff Godfrey andBlake Bortles battled for playing time.[128] Following the 2011 season, Jeff Godfrey planned on transferring, though he later decided to return to the Knights as awide receiver.[128]
It was announced on December 7, 2011, that UCF would join theBig East Conference, but was rebranded theAmerican Athletic Conference soon thereafter,[129] in all sports beginning in 2013.[130]
Following an investigation into recruiting violations in the men's basketball and football programs in 2011, on July 31, 2012, the NCAA announced sanctions – in addition to penalties UCF had previously self-imposed.[131] The NCAA imposed a one-year postseason football ban.[132] The penalty was in addition to a $50,000 fine, adding two years to UCF's previously proposed three years' probation, reduction of football scholarships, and tighter limits of football recruiting visiting days.[133][134]
In 2012, the Knights finished 10–4[135] and won their fourth C-USA East Division championship, though they would fall 33–27 in overtime toTulsa in theleague title game.[136] UCF would play in the2012 Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl and win 38–17 overBall State as quarterbackBlake Bortles would be named the game's MVP after throwing four touchdown passes.[137]
On April 19, 2013, UCF won its appeal with the NCAA and was eligible for postseason play in 2013.[138] The appeal would prove crucial, as in2013, O'Leary led the Knights to their first twelve-win season (12–1),[139] first perfect conference record (8–0), first win against aBig Ten opponent (Penn State),[140] first win against aTop–10 team (No. 8Louisville),[141] third conference title, and the program's first appearance and victory in aBCS bowl game, defeating No. 6Baylor 52–42 in the2014 Fiesta Bowl.[142] The game was one of the biggest upsets of the BCS era.[143][144] On January 7, 2014, UCF was ranked No. 10 in the season's final AP Poll, the highest ranking in school history.[145]Blake Bortles would be drafted in the first round at third overall by theJacksonville Jaguars in the2014 NFL draft.[146]
The Knights finished 9–4 in 2014.[147] The Knights kicked off the season inDublin, Ireland againstPenn State, losing to the Nittany Lions by a score of 26–24.[148] O'Leary's squad dropped to 0–2 after losing to No. 20Missouri by a score of 38–10.[149] Central Florida then won its next five; defeatingFCS foeBethune–Cookman,[150]Houston,[151]BYU in overtime,[152]Tulane[153] andTemple.[154] The Knights' five-game winning streak was snapped with a 37–29 loss toUConn on November 1.[155] UCF won its next four to close the regular season; toppingTulsa,[156]SMU,[157] archrivalSouth Florida[158] andEast Carolina, where a last-second Hail Mary pass earned UCF a shared conference title.[159] O'Leary's Knights accepted a bid to the2014 St. Petersburg Bowl, a game they lost toNC State by a score of 34–27.[160]
The 2015 season, which began with high hopes, would be a disaster. After dropping their first three, UCF lost toSouth Carolina by a score of 31–14 on September 26 to fall to 0–4.[161] Following UCF's 59–10 loss toHouston on homecoming,[162] dropping the Knights to an 0–8 record to start the2015 season, O'Leary resigned as head football coach.[163][164] Quarterbacks coachDanny Barrett was named interim head coach and led the team for the remaining four games of the season.[165] UCF finished the 2015 season at a winless 0–12, its third such campaign in program history.[166]
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After an extensive coaching search,Oregon offensive coordinatorScott Frost was named as UCF's new head coach on December 1, 2015.[167][168] Serving under head coachMark Helfrich, Frost had overseen one of college football's quickest and most explosive offenses at Oregon, won multiplePac-12 conference championships, coached quarterbackMarcus Mariota into aHeisman Trophy winner in 2014[169] and sent many players into theNational Football League.[170][171] All this after a successful collegiate playing career at quarterback forStanford andNebraska in the 1990s and in theNational Football League as a safety for five years.[172]
In 2016, Frost and his explosive, up-tempo offense led the Knights to a 6–7 record.[173] UCF began the Frost era with a 38–0 shutout win overFCS opponentSouth Carolina State.[174] After losing its next two toBig Ten opponents No. 5Michigan in a rout[175] andMaryland in double overtime,[176] the Knights defeatedFIU[177] andEast Carolina.[178] Central Florida then suffered a close 26–25 loss due to a late touchdown pass toTemple on October 15.[179] The Knights rebounded the following week to defeatUConn by a score of 24–16.[180] UCF suffered a defeat on October 29 toHouston,[181] then responded with wins overTulane[182] andCincinnati, gaining bowl eligibility.[183] Frost's squad concluded the regular season with losses toTulsa[184] and archrivalSouth Florida.[185] The Knights lost toArkansas State in the2016 Cure Bowl by a score of 31–13.[186] After the 2016 season, Oregon fired Mark Helfrich.[187] Amidst rumors that he might be interested in the Ducks opening, Frost announced he was not interested in Oregon and that he would return as UCF's head coach in 2017.[188] Ironically, the position eventually went to UCF's rival coach,South Florida head coachWillie Taggart.[189]
Surprising even himself, Frost and his team went on to an undefeated regular season in 2017, defeatingFIU,[190]Maryland,[191]Memphis,[192]Cincinnati,[193]East Carolina,[194]Navy,[195]Austin Peay,[196]SMU,[197]UConn,[198]Temple,[199] and rivalUSF in aWar on I-4 shootout.[200] The Knights were supposed to playMemphis on September 9, but due toHurricane Irma battering the state ofFlorida that weekend, the game, which originally had been moved up one day to September 8,[201] was rescheduled for September 30.[202] In order to reschedule theAmerican Athletic Conference game, UCF canceled their scheduled game withGeorgia Tech, leaving the team with only 11 regular season games as opposed to the usual 12.[203] The breakout season for Frost and his team made him one of the most sought-after coaches on the market, drawing interest fromFlorida and his alma mater,Nebraska.[204] Frost passed on the Florida job but avoided questions about returning to Nebraska.[205] In the2017 American Athletic Conference Football Championship Game, Frost's team went on to play Memphis for the second time and won the title in a 62–55 double overtime thriller, securing UCF's third conference championship win.[206]
Just hours after winning the AAC, sources confirmed that Frost would be taking a seven-year, $35 million deal to become Nebraska's new head coach.[207] Frost and his staff returned for one last game in the2018 Peach Bowl.[208] The No. 12 ranked Knights faced No. 7 ranked Auburn, and defeated them 34–27 to close out their undefeated season with a 13–0 record.[209][210] After the win, UCFathletic directorDanny White claimed anational championship for the team,[211] while theColley Matrix, an NCAA-recognized major selector, also ranked UCF as the number-one team of the season on its final ranking.[212] The team celebrated with a parade atWalt Disney World.[213] Additionally, the team's coaches were paid bonuses for their performance, the school hung a national championship banner inSpectrum Stadium[214] and gave out national champion rings.[215] The claim sparked considerable controversy and debate over whether theCollege Football Playoff should be expanded.[216][217][218]
On December 5, 2017,Missouri offensive coordinatorJosh Heupel was named UCF's head football coach.[219] Heupel arrived in Orlando with some impressive credentials, overseeing explosive offenses during his time as offensive coordinator at Missouri and his alma materOklahoma.[220] UCF signed Heupel to a five-year contract worth a fully guaranteed $1.7 million in annual base salary.[221]
In Heupel's first season, UCF rode its high-powered offense to start the season 12–0 and extend its winning streak to a school-record 25 games. In theirrivalry game atSouth Florida, star quarterbackMcKenzie Milton suffered a gruesome knee injury and was taken straight to the hospital, eventually requiring multiple surgeries to save the leg. Milton was out for the season, and never played another down for UCF, transferring toFlorida State after the 2020 season and playing his final season of eligibility there in2021. Back-up quarterback Darriel Mack Jr. took over and guided the Knights to win that game as well as theConference championship game a week later againstMemphis. The undefeated and 8th-ranked Knights were once again not selected for the College Football Playoff. Without Milton, the Knights were beaten by future Heisman winner Joe Burrow and theLSU Tigers in theFiesta Bowl.
In Heupel's second season, UCF lost a regular season game for the first time since 2016, atPitt, whose fans promptly rushed the field to celebrate. UCF also fell on the road toCincinnati, whose fansalso promptly rushed the field to celebrate. UCF dropped out of the Top 25 for the first time in two years. UCF finished the season defeatingMarshall in theGasparilla Bowl.
In Heupel's third and final season, UCF started the season ranked, but lost three games in the regular season, including their first home loss since 2016 (snapping a 21-game home winning streak) and their first conference loss to Memphis, ever. They posted a winning record for the fourth straight year, but were blown out byBYU in theBoca Raton Bowl.
On January 27, 2021, Heupel was hired to coach theTennessee Volunteers by Tennessee's new athletic director, the sameDanny White who had hired Heupel at UCF.
On February 15, 2021, new athletic directorTerry Mohajir namedGus Malzahn as UCF's new head coach. The two had previously worked together atArkansas State, and Malzahn made a name for himself with a 68–35 record atAuburn from 2013 to 2020, including three wins overAlabama in theIron Bowl rivalry, an appearance in the2014 BCS National Championship Game, and twoNew Year's Six bowl appearances.[222] His Auburn team lost to UCF in one of those New Year's Six appearances, the 2018 Peach Bowl.
In his inaugural season, Malzahn won in his debut with the Knights, defeatingBoise State, 36–31. Following several critical injuries, including to starting quarterbackDillon Gabriel, Malzahn's first season ended with a 9–4 record (3rd inAAC) including a win againstFlorida in theGasparilla Bowl.
In his second season—UCF's final year in the American—Malzahn started the season 7-2 with wins over #20Cincinnati and #17Tulane, but losses toEast Carolina andNavy prevented the Knights from hosting a conference championship game. They clinched a spot in theAAC Championship Game with a 46-39 win overSouth Florida, falling in a rematch to Tulane 28-45. Following the conference championship, UCF facedDuke in theMilitary Bowl, losing 30-13, finishing the season with a 9-5 record.
In2023, UCF officially moved into theBig 12 Conference. In doing so, the Knights became the firstNCAA football program to play at every sanctioned level:Division III,Division II,Division I-AA,Division I-A (Independent),Group of Five, andPower Five. UCF finished their inaugural Big 12 season with a record of 6-7, becoming the only Big 12 newcomer to be bowl eligible but lost toGeorgia Tech in theGasparilla Bowl.[223]
In2024, UCF started the season 3-0 including a 21-point comeback conference win againstTCU. However, UCF proceeded to lose 8 of the following 9 games, falling to 4-8 and failing to becomebowl-eligible for the first time since 2015. This was also Malzahn's first season failing to make a bowl game as head coach in his career. On November 30th, 2024, following a 28-14 loss toUtah, Malzahn resigned from his job as head coach at UCF to become the offensive coordinator atFSU.[224]
On December 7, 2024, Frost was rehired at UCF by Athletic Director Terry Mohajir, after fans and boosters rallied behind his return.
In2017 UCF completed a 13–0 perfect season.[225][226] The Knights were not selected for theCollege Football Playoff, instead completing their season with a New Year's Day win in thePeach Bowl over No. 7Auburn.[226] Afterwards, UCF athletic directorDanny White stated that UCF would claim the2017 national championship.[227][226][228][229] Several other outlets followed suit, including theOrlando Sentinel,[230] Orlando radio stationWYGM,[231] andPrince George Journal.[232] Florida GovernorRick Scott signed a resolution officially recognizing the Knights as national champions on January 8.[233] The Knights were honored for their unbeaten season at the2018 Pro Bowl,[234]Walt Disney World, and honored by Orlando MayorBuddy Dyer.[235]
On January 9, 2018, theColley Matrix, an NCAA-recognizedMajor Selector, and an algorithm used as part of theBCS computer rankings in 2011, ranked UCF No. 1.[236][237][238]Alabama won theCFP and eleven of the twelve NCAA-recognized major selectors.[239]: 115 UCF won one of the twelve NCAA-recognized major selectors. Official NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records list UCF as a "Final National Polls Leader" rather than a "National Champion" for the 2017 season, as it reserves the term "National Champion" (or "Co-National Champion") for teams who finish the season ranked first in one or more of the "consensus polls":AP,Coaches Poll,NFF/FWAA[e] and, formerly, theUPI.[240] UCF is the first school to claim a championship that was not awarded by one of theconsensus polls since Ole Miss in 1962.[241]
| 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 |
Under head coachGeorge O'Leary, the Knights won twoConference USA Championships (2007,2010). Both of these resulted in an berth to play in theLiberty Bowl. At the time, the C-USA champion customarily received a berth to play in theLiberty Bowl against a member of theSEC. O'Leary also led the Knights to theAmerican Athletic Conference championship in their first year in that league (2013), earning the conference'sautomatic berth to aBCSbowl game. In 2013–2014, The American did not contest a conference championship game, rather the champion was determined as the team(s) with the best intra-conference record. In2014, the Knights clinched back-to-back titles, finishing in a three-way tie for first place, and were declared conference co-champions.
The American Athletic Conference adopted aconference championship game beginning in 2015, and the Knights made three appearances. The Knights won the conference championship in2017 under head coach Scott Frost, and again in2018 under head coachJosh Heupel, for the program's second pair of back-to-back conference titles. As of 2024, UCF has not yet made an appearance in theBig 12 Championship Game. In their brief membership in theMAC, UCF never reached theMAC Championship Game.
| 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 |
† Co–champion
Under head coachGeorge O'Leary, the Knights won fourConference USA East Division crowns (2005,2007,2010,2012), and subsequently made four appearances in theConference USA Championship Game, more than any other C-USA school, with the last being in 2012. Three of the four appearances were against Tulsa of the West Division. The Knights won two of the four C-USA Championship Games in which they appeared.
After moving to theAmerican Athletic Conference (AAC), UCF won two more division titles. In2022, after the AAC had eliminated divisions, UCF qualified for a thirdAAC Championship Game appearance by finishing the regular season as the #2 seed.
Prior to UCF joining the Big 12 (2023), that conference had long-since eliminated divisions. Since then, nearly all otherFBS conferences have followed suit.[242]
| 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 |
† Co–championship
UCF has played in 15 bowl games and has compiled a 6–9 record in those games.[243] Since elevating toDivision I FBS, UCF has beenbowl-eligible for 19 of 28 seasons,[244] and received their first bowl invitation in 2005. The Knights nearly earned a bowl berth in 1998, when Daunte Culpepper led the team to a 9–2 record. UCF has been ranked going into their bowl game four times, being ranked No. 24 in 2010 (Liberty), No. 15 in 2013 (Fiesta), No. 10 in 2017 (Peach), and No. 7 in 2018 (Fiesta).[245][246] In 2019, though they had slipped out of the top 25 prior to the game, the Knights won their bowl game (Gasparilla) and placed No. 24 in the final rankings. In 2020, they were ranked No. 21 in the preseason poll and in week 4 they were ranked the highest at No. 11 but lost to unrankedTulsa and they fell out of the rankings; in week 16 they were unranked but they received votes, but after a loss in their bowl game (Boca Raton), they didn't receive any votes and were unranked in the final rankings.
| Season | Coach | Bowl | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | George O'Leary | Hawaii Bowl | Nevada | L 48–49OT |
| 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 † | 6Baylor | 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 † | 7Auburn | W 34–27 | |
| 2018 | Josh Heupel | Fiesta Bowl † | 11LSU | L 32–40 |
| 2019 | Gasparilla Bowl | Marshall | W 48–25 | |
| 2020 | Boca Raton Bowl | 16BYU | 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 |
†New Year's Six/BCS game
The Knights appeared in the Division I–AA playoffs twice with a record of 2–2.
| Season | Coach | Playoff | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Gene McDowell | First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals | Youngstown State William & Mary Georgia Southern | W 20–17 W 52–38 L 44–7 |
| 1993 | Gene McDowell | First Round | Youngstown State | L 30–56 |
The Knights appeared in the Division II playoffs once with a record of 1–1.
| Season | Coach | Playoff | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Gene McDowell | Quarterfinals Semifinals | Indiana (PA) Troy State | W 12–10 L 10–31 |
UCF has had 12 head coaches since organized football began in 1979.[247]Gene McDowell,George O'Leary,Scott Frost, andJosh Heupel have led the Knights to the postseason. O'Leary, Frost, and Heupel have coached the team to an FBS conference championship, and aBCS/NY6 bowl game. Before leading UCF in 1983 and 1984,Lou Saban was a head coach in both theAmerican Football League (AFL) and theNFL.[248] O'Leary also coached in the NFL between 2002 and 2004.
| Coach | Tenure | Overall Record | Bowl/Playoff Record | Pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Don Jonas | 1979–1981 | 14–12–1 | .537 | |
| Sammy 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 | |
| Josh Heupel | 2018–2020 | 28–8 | 1–2 | .778 |
| Gus Malzahn | 2021–2024 | 28–24 | 1–2 | .538 |
| Scott Frost | 2016–2017 2025–present | 23–12 | 1–1 | .657 |
† – denotes interim coach
From 1979 to 2006, the Knights played their home games at theCitrus Bowl in downtown Orlando. Located about 15 miles (24 km) from UCF's main campus, the stadium originally opened in 1936, and is the home of theCitrus Bowl Game and other neutral site games. UCF played its first football game at the stadium in September 1979, a 7–6 victory overFort Benning.
By 2004, City of Orlando officials and UCF's administration expressed dissatisfaction with the dilapidated condition of the facility. While UCF was the primary leasing tenant of the Citrus Bowl for 25 years, they received little revenue from football games, and the stadium's capacity (65,000) was considered too large for the Knights. With an average attendance of 20,000–30,000 spectators per game, the stadium was left with a mostly empty appearance. The Knights' record home attendance of 51,987 (set at the2005 C-USA Championship) was still far short of capacity. The location off campus was considered a significant factor in the inability to sustain a sizeablestudent section, while the stadium's upper decks were rarely occupied for UCF games.
When the university approached the city about possible renovations and new revenue-sharing measures for the stadium, they were met with resistance. The city generally wanted UCF to stay, but expected them to help pay for the upgrades to the facility.[249][250] At one point during the negotiations, stadium officials told then UCF Athletic Director Steve Orsini that "the value of UCF's fans was nothing".[251] Though the city had expressed interest in renovating the Citrus Bowl with or without UCF's support, funding was seriously in doubt. The city was in the planning stages for anew arena, newperforming arts center, and "creative village", with stadium renovations seemingly taking less and less priority.[252][253]
The Knights compiled an overall record of 112–60–1 (.650) at the Citrus Bowl, which includesDivision II playoff games in 1987, aDivision I-AA playoff game in 1990, the2005 C-USA Championship Game and the2016 Cure Bowl. In 2014, after UCF had departed, the facility was substantially renovated, and renamedCamping World Stadium.
In 2005, in response to the dilapidated state of the Citrus Bowl, its distance from UCF's main campus, and lack of revenue derived from the games played there, UCF formally proposed building an on-campus stadium. Additional motivations included drawing more students to the games, a more intimate setting, and establishinggame-day traditions on campus. In December 2005, theUCF Board of Trustees approved the construction of a new on-campus stadium.[254] The new stadium, at the time namedBright House Networks Stadium, was originally planned to open in time for the2006 football season, but neighborhood opposition delayed construction by a year.
Stadium construction was finished in 2007. The first home-game took place on September 15, 2007, as the Knights nearly upset the No. 6-rankedTexas Longhorns. The currentseating capacity of the stadium is 44,206,[255] Following the2014 season, the stadium underwent $8 million in renovations.[256][257][258] A $90 million expansion and of Roth Tower began in 2025,[259][260] with renovations scheduled to be completed in 2026.[259][261]
The facility's nickname is theBounce House due to it being susceptible to considerable shaking when the crowd jumps in unison.[262][263][264] Measures were undertaken following the stadium's inaugural season to reduce these effects to ensure safety.[265][266] On May 31, 2022, FBC Mortgage entered a ten-year, $19.5 million naming rights deal.[29] On July 1, 2025, the FBC Mortgage company was rebranded toAcrisure,[267] and the stadium was renamed Acrisure Bounce House.[268]
As of November 8, 2025, UCF has compiled an overall record at the stadium of 89–32 (.736).
Though UCF remains a relatively young program that has shifted conferences several times, it has several long-standing rivalries with schools throughout the duration of Conference USA and The American. The university's biggest rival historically is theirinstate rival, theUniversity of South Florida Bulls, played from 2005 to 2008, and since 2013.[269] Other minor rivalries include theFlorida Gators,Bethune–Cookman Wildcats,Houston Cougars,Marshall Thundering Herd, and theMemphis Tigers.[270]
One other unofficial rivalry, known as theCivil Conflict, exists between UCF andUConn. However, UCF does not acknowledge the rivalry, and has publicly dismissed it.[271][272][273]
TheWar on I-4 dates years before the two schools ever played a game against each other. The matchup was the subject of much discussion and fan enthusiasm since the 1990s, though the first game was not played until 2005. The rivalry, often known as the "War on I-4" or "I-4 Corridor Clash",[274] continued as a four home-and-away series through the 2008 season. The Bulls won each of the four games, which all drew strong crowds, but South Florida declined to continue the series after 2008.[275][276][277] The UCF–South Florida game resumed as a regular conference game beginning with the 2013 season, as UCF joined theAmerican Athletic Conference.[278] The Knights won the first game as conference members 23–20 before 45,952 in Orlando.[279] In 2014, the Knights won for the first time at Raymond James Stadium, and delivered the first home shut-out in South Florida history, 16–0. In 2015, South Florida defeated the UCF Knights 44–3 to finish a winless 0-12 season for the second time in UCF history. In 2016, the War On I-4 trophy was introduced for the first time. USF took home the trophy by defeating UCF 48–31 and clinching their first 10-win season in school history, only for UCF to take the trophy back from them the following year.
UCF leadsSouth Florida 8–6 in the football series through the 2022 season.[280]
As of October 11, 2025, Cincinnati currently leads the rivalry between the two schools 6–5, since their first meeting in 2015. Both teams have competed against one another in theBig 12 Conference since 2023.[281]
A rivalry that has recently become more intense has been UCF's rivalry with theECU Pirates. The teams have met 9 times from 2005 to 2022. East Carolina leads the series 11–10, with ECU winning the last meeting 34–13.[282]
The most notable matchup of the rivalry was the 2014 iteration, an ESPN primetime Thursday night game that saw East Carolina score 21 unanswered points in the 4th quarter to take the lead, only to fall to a 51-yard Hail Mary touchdown from Justin Holman toBreshad Perriman with time expiring.[citation needed]
Every year, several publications release lists of their ideal "team". The athletes on these lists are referred to asAll-Americans. The NCAA recognizes five All-American lists. They are theAssociated Press (AP),American Football Coaches Association (AFCA),Football Writers Association of America (FWAA),Sporting News (TSN), and theWalter Camp Football Foundation (WCFF). UCF has had numerous players honored as first team All-Americans. To date, Kevin Smith is the only Consensus All-American.[283]
| Name | Position | Season | Publication(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daunte Culpepper | QB | 1997 | NFL Draft Report |
| Kevin Smith | RB | 2007 | AP,FWAA,WCFF,TSN,SI,ESPN,CBS Sports,CFN,Scout.com |
| Joe Burnett | KR | 2008 | ESPN,SI |
| Quincy McDuffie | KR | 2012 | SI |
| Jacoby Glenn | CB | 2014 | AP |
| Mike Hughes | KR | 2017 | FWAA |
| Shaquem Griffin | LB | 2017 | AFCA |
| RJ Harvey | RB | 2024 | AP |
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Quarterbacks Daunte Culpepper and McKenzie Milton, and running back Kevin Smith are the only Knights to finish in the Top–10 of voting for theHeisman Trophy.[284][285][286]
| Season | Name | Position | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Daunte Culpepper | QB | 6th |
| 2007 | Kevin Smith | RB | 8th |
| 2017 | McKenzie Milton | QB | 8th |
| 2018 | McKenzie Milton | QB | 6th |
UCF retires a student-athlete's jersey but does not retire the respective jersey numbers. The Knights coaching staff can choose to reissue a given number, as the retirement of the jersey does not require that the number not be worn again.[287]
| UCF Knights honored numbers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Player | Pos. | Tenure | Ref. |
| 1 | Wayne Densch[f] | — | — | [288] |
| 8 | Daunte Culpepper | QB | 1995–1998 | [288] |
| 19 | Joe Burnett | CB | 2005–2008 | [288] |
| 24 | Kevin Smith | RB | 2005–2007 | [288] |
Football members of the UCF Athletics Hall of Fame are as follows:[297]
| Class | Name | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Sean Beckton | WR Assistant coach |
| 2000 | Bill Giovanetti | LB |
| 2002 | Daunte Culpepper | QB |
| 2002 | Shawn Jefferson | WR |
| 2002 | Scott Ryerson | K |
| 2003 | Willie English | RB |
| 2003 | David Rhodes | WR |
| 2004 | Mike Gruttadauria | C |
| 2005 | Franco Grilla | K |
| 2005 | Marquette Smith | TB |
| 2006 | Alan Gooch | DB Assistant coach |
| 2006 | Rick Hamilton | LB |
| 2008 | Ed O'Brien | K |
| 2008 | Darrell Rudd | DL |
| 2009 | Sylvester Bembery | DL |
| 2009 | Bob Spitulski | OLB |
| 2010 | Elgin Davis | RB |
| 2010 | Michael O'Shaughnessy | DE |
| 2011 | Bernard Ford | WR |
| 2011 | Greg Jefferson | DE |
| 2011 | Jorge Magluta | DL |
| 2013 | Dan Burke | C |
| 2013 | Don Jonas | Head coach |
| 2015 | Asante Samuel | CB |
| 2019 | Brandon Marshall | WR |
| 2019 | George O'Leary | Head coach |
| 2019 | Kevin Smith | RB |
| 2021 | Blake Bortles | QB |
| 2021 | Josh Sitton | OL |
| 2022 | Joe Burnett | CB |
| 2022 | Latavius Murray | RB |
| 2023 | Gene McDowell | Head coach |
| 2024 | Mark Giacone | RB |
| 2024 | Shaquem Griffin | LB |
| 2025 | Mike Sims-Walker | WR |
| 2025 | Alex Haynes | RB |
| 2025 | Cornell Green | OT |
As of October 2025, 22 former UCF players are on an NFL roster.
* denotes that the player did not finish their career at UCF
UCF joined theBig 12 Conference in 2023 after ten seasons in theAmerican Athletic Conference.[300] UCF is one of 16 full members for football, and the Big 12 maintains a nine-game regular season intra-conference schedule. The conference announced a four-year scheduling matrix on November 1, 2023. Each team will play each other team in the conference at least once both home and away over the four-year period.[301] Geography will be prioritized in order to minimize travel disruption. UCF will have five intra-conference home games in 2024 and 2026, and four in 2025 and 2027. UCF's buddingrivalry withCincinnati was not officially protected, but the two teams will play three out of the four seasons. They will also play Baylor, BYU, Colorado, Iowa State, and West Virginia three times.
UCF's intra-conference opponents through 2027 will be as follows:
Officially announced out-of-conference schedules as of October 2025.[302] Since theBig 12 maintains a nine-game intra-conference schedule, the Knights will play three out-of-conference games annually.[303] Furthermore, the conference requires at least one of the three out-of-conference games to be against aPower Four opponent.[304]
In July 2021, UCF and theFlorida Gators jointly announced a three-game series. The first game was played atGainesville in 2024. The teams are scheduled to play atOrlando in 2030, and at Gainesville again in 2033.[305][306] In August 2022, UCF announced they would hostJames Madison in 2029.[307] In February 2023, FAU and UCF agreed to reschedule a planned 2025 meeting until 2028, opening up a date for UCF.[308]
On May 2, 2024, UCF announced the scheduling of home-and-home series withNorthwestern (Big Ten) andPitt (ACC).[309]
| 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | 2031 | 2032 | 2033 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethune–Cookman(FCS) (Sept. 5) | atNorth Carolina (Sept. 4) | Maine(FCS) (Aug. 31) | James Madison (Sept. 8) | Florida (Sept. 14) | Northwestern (Sept. 6) | atFlorida (Sept. 3) | |
| atPitt (Sept. 12) | UT-Martin(FCS) (Sept. 11) | atNorthwestern (Sept. 9) | Pitt (Sept. 15) | ||||
| Georgia State (Sept. 19) | Louisiana (Sept. 18) | FAU (Sept. 16) | UMass (TBA) |
Since 2017, the UCF Knights have traditionally set aside one home game to celebrate the university's ties toNASA, the nearbyKennedy Space Center, and the foundation/governance of theFlorida Space Institute.[310]
General:
In-text:
Frost headed up the infamously fast Oregon offense for the last three seasons and was a key cog in developing Heisman winner and current NFL QB Marcus Mariota. The 40-year-old will become the tenth football head coach in school history and upon his introduction will be the tenth-youngest head coach in the NCAA.
We think teams like ours should have an opportunity to settle it on the field, White said. We are claiming a national championship. We've been very clear about that.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Rick Scott, Governor of the State of Florida, do hereby proclaim that the UCF Knights are this season's best college football team and will be recognized as the 2017 College Football National Champions in Florida.
In years where a 'major selector' had a team other than the BCS champion as highest ranked team in its final poll that team is listed below the BCS Champion.
In years where a 'major selector' had a team other than the BCS champion as highest ranked team in its final poll that team is listed below the BCS Champion.
