Gridiron Grudges: A History of UCF Football Rivalries

As UCF embarks on its journey as the youngest member of a Power 5 conference, it's an opportune moment to reflect on the rivalries that have shaped the program's identity. What exactly defines a conference rival? Is it geographical proximity, shared characteristics, or a history of intense competition? For UCF, the answer is a complex blend of all these factors, evolving alongside the university's athletic trajectory.

Early Days and Geographic Foes

UCF's athletic program began in 1971 with a baseball game between the Florida Tech Knights of the Pegasus and the South Florida Golden Brahmans. In the early years, rivalries were often dictated by geography. As longtime UCF radio voice Marc Daniels notes, there was a meaningful rivalry with Stetson in basketball and baseball due to the schools' proximity.

"As UCF went through its Division II and I-AA years, people talked about Bethune-Cookman as a rival because of the geographics," Daniels says.

Coach DeSalvo pinpointed the football aspect starting in 1979 with a game against St. Leo. "And in those really early years Valdosta State (eight games from 1982-94) was a rival for us - and Georgia Southern (11 games from 1982-91). Those were the better programs we were challenging back then."

The university's athletic program experienced significant changes, beginning as an NCAA Division III program in 1979, then moving to Division II in 1982, FCS in 1990, FBS in 1996, the Mid-American Conference in 2002, Conference USA in 2005, the AAC in 2013, and finally the Big 12 in 2023.

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Marshall: The First "Big" Rivalry

According to Marc Daniels, Marshall University was UCF's first major rivalry. "In my mind, Marshall was the first big rivalry because of how it happened," Daniels says. "UCF went from independent to the MAC."

The first game between the two teams in 2002 was particularly memorable. "That leads to the first time we played which was 2002. UCF had played at Arizona State two weeks before and (quarterback) Ryan Schneider injured his ribs. After a bye week we went up to play Marshall and (quarterback) Byron Leftwich and they were just ready for us." Marshall won 26-21 in a hard-fought game where UCF earned some respect, partly due to Schneider’s resilience. UCF even had the ball on Marshall’s side of the field at the end, but the drive stalled.

UCF eventually began to dominate the series, and the two teams played in the Gasparilla Bowl after the 2019 season, which brought back a lot of memories.

Memphis: A History of Close Contests

UCF's rivalry with Memphis spanned multiple sports. In men's basketball, Keith Clanton led UCF to its first win over Memphis in 2012, a 68-67 victory celebrated by a court-storming crowd. In women's soccer, UCF and Memphis consistently battled for the top spot in the C-USA standings. The Knights shut out Memphis in the 2012 C-USA tournament en route to their first C-USA tournament title.

In football, Memphis beat UCF in 1990, but the Knights then won 13 straight games. A notable game in 2013 featured a game-tying UCF kickoff with less than two minutes to go, resulting in a big hit and forced fumble by William Stanback. The teams played four times combined in 2017 and 2018, with the 2017 regular-season meeting almost canceled due to a hurricane. The 2017 conference title game was a double-overtime thriller, with UCF winning 62-55 and advancing to 12-0. McKenzie Milton threw for 494 yards and five touchdowns in the highest-scoring FBS conference title game in history, with a combined total of 1,479 yards. In 2018, UCF overcame a 16-point deficit on the road in the rain to win 31-30, highlighted by a 71-yard touchdown run by Taj McGowan on fourth-and-one. "Those were four incredible games," said Daniels.

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Cincinnati: Recent Battles

UCF lost 52-7 to Cincinnati in a winless season, but then beat them in Scott Frost’s first year in 2016. Cincinnati claimed three straight victories over UCF from 2019 to 2021, making the Knights’ comeback victory over the Bearcats in 2022 all the more satisfying.

War on I-4: The South Florida Rivalry

The South Florida-UCF football rivalry, known as the War on I-4, is a significant part of both schools' histories. Discussions about scheduling a game began shortly after South Florida fielded its first NCAA Division I-AA team in 1997. Supporters believed that a rivalry could boost interest and revenue for both programs. The prospect gained momentum when South Florida entered Division I-A in 2001.

Serious discussions resumed in 2003 when both schools joined conferences. South Florida joined Conference USA (C-USA) in 2001, and UCF joined the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in 2002. The athletics directors agreed to schedule games for the 2005 and 2006 seasons. South Florida then joined the Big East in 2005, while UCF joined C-USA the same year.

South Florida won the first four games in the series, with both the 2005 and 2006 games drawing crowds of over 45,000. The series was extended for 2007 and 2008 as part of an agreement that South Florida would play a C-USA member annually for five years. South Florida won these games as well, with a 64-12 blowout in 2007 and a 31-24 overtime thriller in 2008.

Discussions about scheduling more games continued, including a failed proposal by South Florida to play at the Citrus Bowl in 2011. A potential matchup at the 2009 St. Petersburg Bowl also didn't happen. UCF was admitted to the Big East Conference in 2011 and was set to begin playing there in the 2013-2014 school year. However, conference realignment turned the Big East into the American Athletic Conference prior to the fall 2013 season.

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Since 2013, the games have been scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend. From 2015 to 2019, the AAC was split into divisions, with both schools in the East Division. In 2015, the game was played on Thanksgiving night, and in 2016, it was played on the Saturday of that week.

In 2016, the athletic departments officially recognized the "War on I-4" rivalry trophy and all-sports series. The winner of the game each year takes possession of a large trophy shaped like the I-4 road sign. The trophy measures 4 feet, 3 inches tall and weighs 160 pounds. The base has a plaque listing all the previous winners and scores.

For the all-sports series, each of the 14 sports in which the Bulls and Knights compete is worth six "points." The number of points each game is worth depends on the number of regular-season meetings between the teams. For sports like golf and cross country, the six points are awarded to the higher finisher at the American Athletic Conference championship.

Since 2005, the Bulls and Knights have played fourteen times. The Knights lead the series, 8-6. The game has been played in Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, and Camping World Stadium and FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

Game Recaps: War on I-4

2005: A crowd of 45,139 watched the Bulls build a 21-0 halftime lead. South Florida freshman quarterback Matt Grothe threw for 302 yards, breaking the program's single-game passing record.
2007: The Bulls defeated the Knights 64-12. The Bulls held the Knights to just 145 total yards, and Kevin Smith, who came in as the nation's leading rusher, to just 55 yards.
2008: The Bulls downed the Knights 31-24 in overtime. UCF quarterback Michael Greco threw two touchdown passes in the final minutes to tie the game, but South Florida won in overtime after stopping UCF on a 4th and short.
2013: Despite turning the ball over five times, the Knights earned their first victory in the rivalry. Blake Bortles found Breshad Perriman for a 52-yard go-ahead touchdown reception.
2014: UCF held South Florida to 200 yards of total offense and forced three turnovers on downs.
2015: The Bulls shut out the Knights, holding them to 203 yards of total offense and catching two interceptions.
2016: South Florida handed UCF their twelfth loss of the season, 44-0.
2017: The 13th-ranked Knights defeated the 22nd-ranked Bulls 38-10, claiming the American Athletic Conference East Division title. However, the game was marred by a season-ending injury to quarterback McKenzie Milton.
2018: The Knights defeated the Bulls 38-10 after McKenzie Milton suffered a knee injury. Greg McCrae rushed for 181 yards and three touchdowns.
2019: The Knights defeated the Bulls 34-7.
2020: The Knights defeated the Bulls 58-46.
2021: The Knights defeated the Bulls 17-13, with Mikey Keene at quarterback.
2022: In the final War on I-4 game for the foreseeable future, UCF defeated USF. John Rhys Plumlee had a 64-yard touchdown run.

Future Rivalries and the Big 12

UCF's move to the Big 12 Conference opens up new possibilities for rivalries. How will Knight Nation react to conference assignments against teams like Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Baylor, West Virginia, Texas Tech, and TCU? Some potential rivals include Cincinnati and West Virginia.

The Florida Gators: A Budding In-State Battle

While UCF and Florida haven't played frequently, the potential for a significant rivalry exists. There have only been two meetings between the teams in history.

Game Recaps: UCF vs. Florida

1999: Florida 58, UCF 27. Despite UCF scoring first, Florida dominated the game. Travis Taylor had three touchdown catches.
2006: Florida 42, UCF 0. This game showcased Percy Harvin's potential.

Future Matchups

UCF and Florida have agreed to a three-game series:

October 5, 2024: UCF at Florida
September 14, 2030: UCF vs. Florida
September 3, 2033: UCF at Florida

UCF's vice president and director of athletics, Terry Mohajir, emphasized the importance of these games for the program and recruiting. "As I've said since arriving, we were in desperate need for games on our upcoming schedule," Mohajir said. "For the 2024 season specifically, we had three options. Play just 11 games instead of 12, play two FCS opponents, or play at Florida. We obviously made the best choice for our program and recruiting."

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