Central Florida Knights

Central Florida (UCF) Knights
Current season: 2025 Central Florida Knights
First season	1979
Athletic director	Terry Mohajir
Head coach	Scott Frost
	2025 year, 35–38 (.345)
Home stadium	Spectrum Stadium
Year built	2007
Stadium capacity	45,301
Stadium surface	Grass
Location	Orlando, Florida
League	NCAA Division I (FBS)
Conference	Big 12 Conference (2023–present)
Division	Big 12 Conference (2023–present)
Past conferences	American Athletic Conference (2013-2022) Conference USA (2005–12) Mid-American Conference (2002–04)
All-time history
All-time record	299–241–1 (.554)
Postseason bowl record	6–9 (.400)
Conference titles	6 (2007, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018)
Consensus All-Americans	1
Current uniform
Colors	Black, Gold, and White
Fight song	"Charge On"
Mascot	Knightro
Marching band	Marching Knights
Outfitter	Nike
Rivals	South Florida (rivalry) Florida (rivalry) Cincinnati East Carolina (rivalry) Bethune–Cookman UConn (Dormant)
Website	UCFKnights.com

The Central Florida Knights football team, also known as the UCF Knights, represents the University of Central Florida located in Orlando, Florida.

The Knights are a member of the NCAA FBS Big 12 Conference and play their home games at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando. The Knights are currently coached by Scott Frost.

Affiliations

• 2023-present - Big 12 Conference (NCAA FBS)
• 2013-2022 - American Athletic Conference (NCAA FBS)
• 2005-2012 - Conference USA (NCAA FBS/1-A)
• 2002-2004 - Mid-American Conference (NCAA 1-A)
• 1996-2001 - NCAA 1-A independent
• 1990-1995 - NCAA 1-AA independent
• 1982-1989 - NCAA Division II independent
• 1979-1981 - NCAA Division III independent

Seasons

2020s

Season	Coach	Record
2025	Scott Frost
2024	Gus Malzahn	4-8
2023	Gus Malzahn	6-7
2022	Gus Malzahn	9-5
2021	Gus Malzahn	9-4
2020	Josh Heupel	6-4

2010s

Season	Coach	Record
2019	Josh Heupel	10-3
2018	Josh Heupel	12-1
2017	Scott Frost	13-0
2016	Scott Frost	6-7
2015	George O'Leary; Danny Barrett	0-12
2014	George O'Leary	9-4
2013	George O'Leary	12-1
2012	George O'Leary	10-4
2011	George O'Leary	5-7
2010	George O'Leary	11-3

2000s

Season	Coach	Record
2009	George O'Leary	8-5
2008	George O'Leary	4-8
2007	George O'Leary	10-4
2006	George O'Leary	4-8
2005	George O'Leary	8-5
2004	George O'Leary	0-11
2003	Mike Kruczek; Alan Gooch	3-8
2002	Mike Kruczek	7-5
2001	Mike Kruczek	6-5
2000	Mike Kruczek	7-4

1990s

Season	Coach	Record
1999	Mike Kruczek	4-7
1998	Mike Kruczek	9-2
1997	Gene McDowell	5-6
1996	Gene McDowell	5-6
1995	Gene McDowell	6-5
1994	Gene McDowell	7-4
1993	Gene McDowell	9-3
1992	Gene McDowell	6-4
1991	Gene McDowell	6-5
1990	Gene McDowell	10-4

1980s

Season	Coach	Record
1989	Gene McDowell	7-3
1988	Gene McDowell	6-5
1987	Gene McDowell	9-4
1986	Gene McDowell	6-5
1985	Gene McDowell	4-7
1984	Lou Saban; Jerry Anderson	2-9
1983	Lou Saban	5-6
1982	Sam Weir	0-10
1981	Don Jonas	4-6
1980	Don Jonas	4-4-1

1970s

Season	Coach	Record
1979	Don Jonas	6-2

Overview

The Knights' first football season was in 1979 as an NCAA Division III team and UCF became a 1-A/FBS team in 1996. Prior to the 2007 season, the team was known as the "Golden Knights".

As of the 2017 regular season, UCF has 243 victories, has won six division championships and six conference championships, and an undefeated season in 2017.

The Knights have made ten postseason appearances since joining the FBS, including winning two major bowls: the 2014 Fiesta Bowl and the 2018 Peach Bowl. The program has produced one Consensus All-American, Kevin Smith in 2007, and three Heisman Trophy candidates, Daunte Culpepper (QB) in 1998, Kevin Smith (RB) in 2007, and McKenzie Milton (QB) in 2017 and 2018. UCF has produced a long line of accomplished NFL players, including Blake Bortles, A.J. Bouye, Kemal Ishmael, Brandon Marshall, Matt Prater, Asante Samuel, and Mike Sims-Walker. UCF has had four first-round picks in the NFL Draft, players in fourteen Super Bowls, and seven pro-bowlers. The Knights' main rivals are the South Florida Bulls.

The Knights' main rivals are the South Florida Bulls ,and Cincinnati Bearcats; other historic rivals include East Carolina, Marshall, and newly found hatred with the Florida Gators. UCF has played one Consensus All-American, Kevin Smith in 2007, and produced three Heisman Trophy candidates, Daunte Culpepper in 1998, Kevin Smith in 2007, and McKenzie Milton in 2017 and 2018. The program has also produced a long-line of NFL players. Playing in fourteen Super Bowls and including four pro-bowlers, the list most notably includes Blake Bortles, Brandon Marshall, Bruce Miller, Daunte Culpepper, Matt Prater, Asante Samuel, and Josh Sitton.

In 2024, following a disappointing 4-8 season that ended with a loss to Utah, Malzahn resigned from his job as head coach at UCF to become the offensive coordinator at FSU.

Early history (1979–1984)

Don Jonas

The UCF football program can be traced back to a speech given by the university's second president, Dr. Trevor Colbourn, in January 1979. 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. 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.

Beginning at the Division III level, O'Leary, then the university's athletic 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. 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. O'Leary had previously served as an assistant coach at Alabama under Paul "Bear" Bryant. 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 the Tangerine Bowl. Without a budget to hire a staff, O'Leary reached out to six UCF graduate students as volunteer assistants. From there, O'Leary was able to lure Don Jonas, a former NFL quarterback and Orlando dignitary, to become UCF's first head football coach on a voluntary basis.

One day during a practice, O'Leary pulled the team aside and unveiled the template for uniforms of "The Fighting Knights". He would reveal a template that would follow the team into the 21st century: black jerseys, gold pants and gold helmets. Less than one year after Colbourn had envisioned a football program for the university, UCF played its first game on September 22, 1979, against St. Leo University. The Knights would prove victorious with a 21–0 shutout, and less than a week later, the Knights would win their first home game by defeating Ft. Benning, 7–6. 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. Following the season, in March 1980, Jonas was offered the Knights head coaching job as a full-time position. After leading the team to a 4–4–1 and 4–6 record in 1980 and 1981 respectively, Jonas would leave the Knights following the 1981 season. During the 1980 season, the Knights earned the only tie in program history, an 11–all game against Miles, and Tim Kiggins became the first Knight to sign a professional contract. After his departure, Jonas remained involved in the program, including doing radio broadcasts of UCF football games and a radio sports talk show. Jonas led the Knights to a 14–12–1 (.518) record in three seasons.

Early UCF Knights football game.

Following the departure of Don Jonas, Sammy Weir, who was the head coach at Lake Howell High School, became UCF's new head coach and led the Knights in their move up to Division II in 1982. Another change to the university's athletic programs in 1982 was the departure of O'Leary as athletic director, and the hiring of Bill Peterson, who was the Florida State head coach from 1960 to 1970. In their first season playing Division II ball, the Knights went 0–10, and Weir decided not to return for the 1983 season. One bright spot of the season was that Mike Carter became the first Knight to sign with an NFL team, the Denver Broncos.

Lou Saban replaced Weir as the Knights head coach in 1983. Saban had previously coached at Miami, Army, Northwestern, and in the AFL and NFL with the Buffalo Bills and Boston Patriots, to name just a few. In UCF's first Black and Gold Spring game held in 1983, the defense won 14–6. The Knights finished the 1983 season 5–6, including the team's first win over a Division I–AA opponent. Starting the 1984 season filled with optimism, the Knights were shaken by a 1–6 start.^{[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 coach Jerry Anderson. Saban had a 6–12 (.333) record during his tenure as the Knights head coach. Anderson finished out the year with the team in an interim position, with a 1–3 (.250) record. UCF finished the season with a 2–9 mark. In the course of the three seasons following Jonas' departure, the Knights went through three head coaches, and amassed a 7–25 record.

Gene McDowell era (1985–1997)

Reeling after a disappointing string of seasons, there were discussions within the community about the possibility of dismantling the program, and Peterson announced his retirement as the university's athletic director. In addition, due to financial troubles, the team had to postpone plans to move up to Division I-AA. Without a head coach or athletic director, President Colbourn hired Florida State assistant coach Gene McDowell to fill both positions. McDowell took the helm in 1985, and hired his eventual successor and former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mike Kruczek as his offensive coordinator. 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. Due to financial hardships, McDowell waived half of his annual salary, and FSU head coach Bobby Bowden donated uniforms and cleats to the program.

Knights players carry Gene McDowell off the field.

McDowell would the lead the Knights to their first winning season since 1979, with a 6–5 record in 1986. Also that year, Ted Wilson became the first UCF player to be selected in the 1987 NFL draft, being picked by the Washington Redskins in the 10th round. Following an 8–3 regular season record in 1987, the Knights earned their first trip to the Division II playoffs, where they earned a 1–1 record. After starting the 1988 season with five straight wins, UCF would be ranked No. 2 in Division II. During a game against the defending D-II national champions Troy at the Citrus Bowl, UCF fans were so loud at one point that the Trojans quarterback Bob Godsey couldn't call plays. 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. 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. Between 1986 and 1990 under the leadership of McDowell, the Knights held a 24–6 record at the Citrus Bowl.

During McDowell's tenure, the program moved up to Division I-AA in 1990. In their first year in the division, the Knights earned a 10–4 record, a program best, and a trip to the I–AA playoffs. 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. The Knights would finish the 1991 and 1992 with winning seasons as well. In 1992, Dr. John Hitt, UCF's fourth president, announced that the program would make the move to Division I-A in 1996, and he hired Steve Sloan as the university's new athletic director. Earning their eighth winning season in 1993, the Knights would again make the playoffs. During the season, the team won their first game over a Division I–A team, a 38–16 victory at Louisiana Tech. After another impressive season, UCF was selected as the preseason No. 1 to start the 1994 season. The 1994 season would prove disappointing however, as the Knights would finish the season ranked No. 20 with a 7–4 record. During the team's final season in Division I-AA, the Knights were reinvigorated by freshman sensation Daunte Culpepper. The quarterback would lead the Knights to a 6–5 record, and their tenth straight winning season in 1995.

On September 1, 1996, UCF officially made its foray into Division I-A. At that time, the Knights became the first football program to play in four different NCAA divisions (III, II, I-AA and I-A). In their first two seasons in Division I-A, the Knights posted identical 5–6 records behind Culpepper. In 1997, assistant coach Alan Gooch was named the national assistant coach of the year, due to his work with deaf running back Dwight Collins. In the wake of a federal fraud scandal revolving around improper cellular phone benefits and use, McDowell resigned as head coach on January 20, 1998. Over his 13-year tenure at UCF, McDowell earned an 86–61 (.585) record.

In 2002 UCF would join the Mid-American Conference after 6 years as an FBS Independent.

George O'Leary era (2004–2015)

George O'Leary

O'Leary left the Vikings in 2004 to become the head coach at the University of Central Florida. In his first season, the Knights posted their worst season in school history with an 0–11 record.

The team rebounded in 2005 after leaving the MAC, and joining Conference USA. The team finished the season with an 8–3 record (7–1 in C-USA). UCF defeated Rice to clinch the C-USA East Division and earned the right to host the first-ever C-USA Championship Game, a loss to Tulsa that was played in front of more than 51,000 people. The team would then go on to play in the Hawai'i Bowl, barely losing to Nevada after UCF kicker Matt Prater missed an extra point in overtime. The Knights were just the sixth team in NCAA history to go to a bowl a year after going winless. O'Leary was named Conference USA Coach of the Year in addition to being named National Coach of the Year by CBSSportsLine.com and SportsIllustrated.com. Facing an 11-game schedule with just four home games, O'Leary's UCF squad became just the fourth team in NCAA history to earn a bowl berth while playing seven road games in an 11-game schedule.

During O'Leary's leadership, UCF made an effort to improve the athletic facilities on campus. On September 15, 2007, it opened its 45,000 seat on-campus football facility, Bright House Networks Stadium with a 3-point loss to the Texas Longhorns on ESPN. O'Leary was instrumental in getting state-of-the-art practice fields and an indoor football practice facility. UCF had opened the 2007 season on the road with a 25–23 victory against ACC team NC State. This was the first victory over a BCS conference team in the O'Leary era. After a 64–12 loss to cross-state rival USF, UCF successfully finished the season leading the C-USA East Division, and again earned the right to host the C-USA Championship. In a rematch of the 2005 Conference Championship game, the Knights would again face the University of Tulsa in the title game. This time, however, O'Leary would lead the Knights to their first ever Conference Championship, a feat that would land the Knights a bid to the 2007 Liberty Bowl in Memphis, TN. This was the second bowl berth in school history (the first coming in 2005 also under O'Leary) and the second one in three years.

O'Leary led the Knights to an eight-loss season in 2008. The losing season, in conjunction with the controversy surrounding the death of Ereck Plancher, led many to question whether O'Leary's tenure at UCF was coming to a close. O'Leary remained and made significant changes to his coaching staff for the 2009 season. O'Leary once again led UCF to bowl eligibility during the 2009 season, and on November 14, 2009, Coach O'Leary led the Knights to their first win in program history against a nationally ranked opponent, defeating No. 13 Houston 37–32 at Bright House Networks Stadium. For the third time in five years the Knights were bowl eligible and faced the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the 2009 St. Petersburg Bowl, losing 45–24.

National success

Knights celebrate Fiesta Bowl upset over #6 Baylor.

In 2010, for the first time in school history, the Knights were ranked following a nationally televised 40–33 road victory against Houston. After winning 5 straight games, and posting an 11-game conference winning streak, UCF was ranked in all three major college polls released on November 7, 2010. The Knights were ranked 25 in the AP Poll, 23 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and 25 in the Harris Poll. UCF fell just short of garnering a BCS ranking, placing 27th. UCF finished the 2010 regular season with a 10–3 record, after winning the Conference USA Championship over the SMU Mustangs, 17–7, and earning the Knights' second invitation to the Liberty Bowl. The Knights ranked 25th in the final BCS standings, marking the first time UCF has ever been ranked in the BCS standings. UCF also ranked 24th in Coaches Poll, 25th in Harris Poll, and were unofficially ranked 26th in the AP Poll. For the third time in his tenure at UCF, George O'Leary won C-USA Coach of the Year honors. He then led the Knights to a 10–6 Liberty Bowl victory over the SEC's Georgia Bulldogs and final rankings of 20 and 21 in the Coaches and AP Polls, respectively. The bowl win and 11 total wins were two more firsts for the Knights, capping off the most successful year in team history.

In 2013, O'Leary led the Knights – in their first season in the American Athletic Conference – to the program's first win over a Big Ten opponent, defeating Penn State in front of 92,855 in Happy Valley. Three games later, UCF upset No. 6 Louisville on-the-road. Following the homecoming upset of the Cardinals, UCF won contests against UConn and Houston, and earned their first Top–15 ranking in school history. After an 11–1 finish to the regular season, O'Leary and the Knights earned a berth to the 2014 Fiesta Bowl against No. 6 Baylor Bears, the first BCS berth for both schools and the first major-bowl appearance of any sort for the Knights. Going into the game, UCF was the biggest BCS Bowl underdog in history. Despite this, the Knights upset Baylor by a score of 52–42. They were led by Junior quarterback Blake Bortles, who threw for 301 yards and 3 touchdowns, plus 93 rushing yards and another score. The following season O'Leary signed a four-year contract extension and UCF again won the American Athletic Conference, this time sharing the title with Cincinnati and Memphis. After beginning the 2015 season with an 0–8 record and briefly taking on the role of interim athletic director of the university, O'Leary resigned as UCF's head coach.

Scott Frost era (2016–2017)

Scott Frost celebrates Peach Bowl victory

On December 1, 2015, Scott Frost was hired as the head football coach at the University of Central Florida. Frost replaced long time UCF head coach George O'Leary and interim head coach Danny Barrett, who took over the Knights when O'Leary resigned following an 0–8 start. The Knights went on to finish 0–12 that year. Frost immediately turned UCF around. He won six games in 2016, taking the Knights to the 2016 Cure Bowl, where they lost to Arkansas State. In 2017, the Knights stormed through the regular season, finishing 11–0. They won the AAC championship game 62–55 in double overtime at home against Memphis for their 12th consecutive win. Frost led the Knights into the 2018 Peach Bowl, the school's second-ever appearance in a major bowl. In that game, they defeated 7th ranked Auburn, completing the first undefeated and untied season in school history. Following the game, the school claimed a national championship which is recognized in the official NCAA record books.

Claimed National title

Under head coach Scott Frost, the 2017 Knights completed a 13–0 perfect season. The Knights were not selected for the College Football Playoff, instead completing their season with a New Year's Day win in the 2018 Peach Bowl over the No. 7 Auburn Tigers. UCF athletic director Danny White stated that UCF would claim the 2017 national championship, hang a national title banner, and hold a national championship parade and celebration. On January 8, the day of the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship, Florida Governor Rick Scott proclaimed the team national champions by way of their undefeated season and transitive wins, via Auburn's regular season victories, over both participants in that night's upcoming CFP championship game.

Gus Malzahn era (2021–2024)

On February 15, 2021, Gus Malzahn was named the head coach at UCF, reuniting him with former Arkansas State athletic director Terry Mohajir. Malzahn was signed to a five-year, $11.5 million contract that would make him the head coach through the 2025 season. Malzahn's first season in ended with a 9–4 record (3rd in AAC) including a win against instate-foe Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl.

In the 2022 season, Malzahn's UCF offense finished 26th nationally in scoring, 11th in yards per game, and 8th in rushing. UCF finished the regular season 9-3 and clinched a spot in the AAC Championship with a (46–39) win over rival South Florida, but lost to Tulane (28–45) in a rematch in the championship game. The team finished with a 9–5 overall record with a (30–13) loss to Duke in the Military Bowl.

Gus Malzahn at Big 12 media day 2023.

In the 2023 season, UCF transitioned into the Big 12 conference as a part of the broader 2021-2024 NCAA conference realignment. The Knights' started the season 3–0, including a narrow (18–16) victory at Boise State. UCF lost the next 5 straight games, including a blown 28-point lead at home to Baylor that resulted in a (36–35) defeat, and a narrow (31–29) defeat at then-ranked #6 Oklahoma. UCF proceeded to win 3 of their last 4 games, including a (45–3) major upset of then-ranked #15 Oklahoma State, and a final (27–13) home victory over Houston to secure a bowl-eligible season for the eighth consecutive season, and the third straight under Malzahn. UCF finished the season with a 6–7 record, losing (30–17) to Georgia Tech in the Gasparilla Bowl. During the season, Malzahn's offense ranked 5th nationally in rushing yards per game, and 8th nationally in total yards per game. However, the UCF defense struggled, with the rushing defense ranking 121st nationally in rushing yards allowed per game, and ranking last in the Big 12.

In the 2024 season, UCF started the season 3-0 including a 21-point comeback conference win against TCU. However, UCF proceeded to lose 8 of the following 9 games, falling to 4-8 and failing to become bowl-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 30, 2024, following the (14-28) loss to Utah, Malzahn resigned from his job as head coach at UCF to become the offensive coordinator at FSU.

Return of Scott Frost (2024-present)

On December 7th, 2024, Frost was rehired at UCF by Athletic Director Terry Mohajir, after fans and boosters rallied behind his return.

Championships

National championship

2018 Peach Bowl post-game celebration.

On January 9, 2018, the Colley Matrix, an NCAA-recognized National Champion Major Selector, and an algorithm formerly used as part of the BCS computer rankings, ranked UCF No. 1. All other NCAA-recognized major selectors named Alabama as their 2017 national champion. While it is not historically uncommon for certain polls to pick a champion other than the BCS or CFP winner, 2017 UCF is the only team which actively claims a national championship that was not awarded by the BCS/CFP or the AP Poll since the beginning of the BCS era, which was criticized by national media, fans, and even head coach Scott Frost; however, 2017 UCF is also the only team to ever finish a season ranked #1 by an NCAA-recognized major selector and be left out of the CFP, a unique circumstance and a reason for the recognized claim.

2017 Alabama won the CFP and 9 of the 10 NCAA-recognized major selectors—thus, they were the consensus national champions. 2017 UCF won 1 of the 10 NCAA-recognized major selectors—thus, they were a non-consensus champion. Of note, there are over 25 instances of teams officially claiming a non-consensus national title (which entails winning at least one NCAA-recognized major selector, none of which were the AP Poll, Coaches Poll, NFF/FWAA and, formerly, the UPI).

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's leadership, the 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 The American conference championship in their first year in the league (2013), earning the conference's automatic berth to a BCS bowl game. In 2014, the Knights clinched back-to-back conference championships. The Knights won The American conference championship in 2017 under head coach Scott Frost, and again in 2018 under head coach Josh Heupel for the program's second set of back-to-back conference titles.

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

Division championships

UCF won four division crowns and subsequently made four appearances in the Conference 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 Western Division. The Knights went on to win two of the four C-USA Championship Games in which they appeared.

After moving to the AAC, UCF won two more division titles. In 2022, after the AAC had eliminated divisions, UCF qualified for a third AAC Conference Championship Game appearance by finishing as the #2 seed.

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

Conference Championship Games

Season	Date	Opponent	Conference	Result	Location	Notes
2005	December 3	Tulsa	Conference USA (C-USA)	L 31–44	Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando, FL	UCF's first-ever appearance in a conference championship game.
2007	December 1	Tulsa	Conference USA (C-USA)	W 44–25	Bright House Networks Stadium, Orlando, FL	UCF’s first conference championship victory.
2010	December 4	SMU	Conference USA (C-USA)	W 17–7	Bright House Networks Stadium, Orlando, FL	Secured a berth in the Liberty Bowl.
2017	December 2	Memphis	American Athletic Conference (AAC)	W 62–55 (2OT)	Spectrum Stadium, Orlando, FL	Completed an undefeated regular season; claimed a New Year's Six Bowl berth.
2018	December 1	Memphis	American Athletic Conference (AAC)	W 56–41	Spectrum Stadium, Orlando, FL	Extended UCF's win streak to 25 games; clinched a Fiesta Bowl berth.
2022	December 3	Tulane	American Athletic Conference (AAC)	L 28–45	Yulman Stadium, New Orleans, LA	UCF’s final AAC Championship appearance before moving to the Big 12.

Post season

Wayne Densch Sports film room complex

Further information: List of UCF Knights bowl games

UCF has played in 15 bowl games and has compiled a 6–9 record in those games. Since elevating to Division I FBS, UCF has been bowl-eligible for 19 of 28 seasons, 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). 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 unranked Tulsa 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 †	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

† New Year six bowl game

NCAA Division I-AA playoffs

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	Youngstown State	W 20–17
1990		Quarterfinals	William & Mary	W 52–38
1990		Semifinals	Georgia Southern	L 44–7
1993		First Round	Youngstown State	L 30–56

NCAA Division II playoffs

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

Logos/Jerseys

UCF Knights main logo, with mascot with sword and the "UCF Knights" wordmark, used as the main logo from 2007-11, used since 2012 as alternate logo.

Secondary alternate logo with the "UCF Knights" wordmark and knight mascot head.

Knights white helmet, 2016-present.

Knights black alternate helnet, used since 2012.

The team's present mainlogo, the "UCF" wordmark, used since 2012.

Gold helmet used since 2012.

The "Star Spangled Banner" colored "UCF" logo made its debut on alternate silver helmet that was introduced in 2017. The helmet also featured a US flag colored middle stripe.

Knights white alternate helmet, with the "UCF" logo in star-spangled banner color design, first used on the white helmets in 2019, sans the US flag colored middle stripe used on the 2017 silver helmet.

Solid black helmet.

Black helmet with wide pointed striped pattern.

White striped helmet; used since 2012.

White helmet with wide pointed striped pattern.

Gold helmet with wide pointed striped pattern.

Silver helmet with wide pointed striped pattern.

Helmet used by the Knights from 1996-2006.

Right side of helmet used by the team from 1996-2006.

Mainlogo used from 1999-2006.

Gold helmet, used since 2012.

The team's present helmet logo, used since 2007, which was also its old main logo from 2007-12.

The "UCF" helmet logo in US flag colors, used since 2019, last used as an alternate logo (to date) in 2022.

The team's present helmet logo, with gold background.

The team's present helmet logo, with black background.

UCF Knights alternate knight mascot logo, 2021-present.

Knights Football alternate wordmark.

UCF "KNIGHTS" team name wordmark.

"KNIGHTS Athletics" alternate wordmark.

Alternate "Knights" spencerian style wordmark logo, introduced in 2021, as an alternate helmet logo.

External Links

• Official team site
• UCF Knights football article at Wikipedia