The 12 biggest moments in UCF athletics history
To celebrate the Knights joining the Big 12 Conference, here’s a look back at the 12 biggest moments in UCF history.
No. 12: First Bowl Victory
Where: Memphis
When: Dec. 31, 2010
The Moment: Latavius Murray ran for 104 yards on 18 carries and scored the winning touchdown against Georgia in the Liberty Bowl. The Knights, who beat the Bulldogs 10-6, captured their 11th win of the season which, at the time, was the most in school history. Freshman quarterback Jeff Godfrey completed 16 of 29 passes for 117 yards and sophomore safety Kemal Ishmael batted down a Hail Mary pass that preserved UCF’s victory. The win also was the second-ever win over an SEC foe.
Why It’s On This List:The Knights had appeared in three bowl games in the five years prior. UCF came up short against Nevada in the 2005 Hawaii Bowl, fell to Mississippi State in the ‘07 Liberty Bowl and was crushed by Rutgers in the ‘09 St. Petersburg Bowl. At long last, however, UCF secured a bowl victory after winning the Conference USA championship the same season. The Knights showed that they could win on a big stage and the bowl win served as a strong starting point for what would become a special decade.
No. 11: First Football Conference Championship
Where: Orlando
When: Dec. 1, 2007
The Moment: Three years before UCF won its first bowl game, the Knights achieved a different major milestone. After falling to Tulsa two seasons prior in the Conference USA championship game, UCF got its revenge and won its first conference title beating the Golden Hurricane 44-25 inside the Bounce House. UCF running back Kevin Smith totaled 284 yards and 4 touchdowns in front of 44,128 fans. Tulsa quarterback Paul Smith passed for 426 yards and 3 scores but tossed 3 interceptions. After Tulsa scored 23 points in the first half, the Knights held them to just 2 points after halftime and lifted the CUSA trophy.
Why It’s On This List:Playing on campus for the first time in program history, the Knights didn’t disappoint during their first season in the Bounce House. Smith ran for 2,567 yards, which ranks second all-time behind only Barry Sanders, and became the first player in UCF history to earn consensus All-America. The Knights rode home-field advantage and Smith to their first conference championship while showing that they were bound for greatness. Although its next CUSA championship wouldn’t come until 2010, UCF was able to capitalize on a special season.
No. 10: UCF Nearly Upsets Duke
Where: Columbia, S.C.
When: March 24, 2019
The Moment: Tacko Fall, Aubrey Dawkins and BJ Taylor came ever so close to pulling off a major upset in the second round of the NCAA tournament against top-seeded Duke, but Zion Williamson and the Blue Devils survived in the final moments. Dawkins, who finished with 32 points in his final college basketball game, was able to get his hands on a missed shot from Taylor but the putback attempt rimmed out and Duke won 77-76 to advance to the Sweet 16. In a battle of the bigs, Fall finished with 15 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks while Williamson, who went on to be picked No. 1 overall in the NBA draft, scored 32 points with 11 rebounds and 4 assists. The Knights’ magical season came to an end in a shocking turn of events.
Why It’s On This List:Although this moment hurts more than most for UCF fans, the game itself against Duke became an instant classic in NCAA tournament history. In a matter of seconds, Johnny Dawkins’ program earned respect from fans across the country and showed that UCF had the potential to one day make a deep March Madness run. Duke is Dawkins’ alma mater. In addition, a lot of people watched the second-round matchup. This game became the highest-rated UCF sporting event of all time with an 8.8 national TV rating on CBS. Nearly 13 million viewers were watching.
No. 9: The Hiring of Danny White
Where: Orlando
When: Nov. 18, 2015
The Moment: Following a winless football season and the retirement of George O’Leary, UCF found itself near rock bottom just two years removed from winning the Fiesta Bowl. Former president John Hitt moved quickly to hire a new athletics director and eventually chose a rising star to fill the open job. The Knights hired Buffalo athletics director Danny White, marking the start of what would become a golden era in UCF athletics history. White was joined by Kentucky deputy athletics director DeWayne Peevy and Texas A&M deputy athletics director Marcy Girton as finalists to interview for the position.
Why It’s On This List:With one hire, the Knights changed the course of their athletics department. White quickly brought in Scott Frost to coach the football program and went on to hire basketball coaches Johnny Dawkins and Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, baseball coach Greg Lovelady, and softball coach Cindy Ball-Malone among others. Frost led UCF to an undefeated season in 2017 and White said the famous words in a six-second video posted to Twitter: “National champs. Undefeated.” After Frost departed for Nebraska, White hired Josh Heupel, who guided the Knights to a second straight AAC championship and New Year’s Six appearances. While UCF certainly had its moments before White arrived, it’s likely that the Knights wouldn’t be in the Big 12 without the national success brought under White.
No. 8: Bortles Drafted 3rd Overall
Where: New York City
When: May 8, 2014
The Moment: Less than six months after leading UCF to its first BCS bowl victory, Blake Bortles found out that he wouldn’t be leaving the state to continue his football career. The Jacksonville Jaguars selected him third overall in the 2014 NFL draft, making Bortles the highest-drafted player in program history. The American Athletic Conference offensive player of the year in 2013, Bortles led UCF to the program’s first AAC championship that year and beat fifth-ranked Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl. Bortles signed a 4-year, $20.6 million contract with Jacksonville. He went on to throw for more than 17,000 yards and 103 touchdowns to go with 75 interceptions during his pro career.
Why It’s On This List:Although UCF had already seen more than 30 different players get drafted, Borltes going third overall was a major milestone. While quarterback Daunte Culpepper was selected 11th overall in the 1999 draft, the popularity of the draft had grown tremendously by the time Borltes was picked. With 9.9 million viewers, the 2014 first round was the most-watched NFL Draft telecast in ESPN’s 35 years of presenting the event, according to the network. While plenty of college football fans knew about UCF, the national exposure brought to the program by Bortles becoming the first quarterback taken in that draft was historic. It also showed what was possible.
No. 7: Signing Daunte Culpepper
Where: Orlando
When: February 2, 1995
The Moment: Daunte Culpepper likely would have been a 5-star high school prospect had he been recruited in the modern era of “stars” and rankings that are now popular from media outlets such as 247Sports and Rivals. One of the top quarterbacks and overall players in the 1995 recruiting cycle, Culpepper was highly sought after by some of the top programs in the state and around the country. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound quarterback from Ocala Vanguard, however, dealt with academic problems and quickly saw the recruiting interest drop. One school stayed in contact with him throughout his entire recruitment and that was the school that ultimately signed him, too: UCF.
Why It’s On This List:It’s hard to say where UCF would be without Culpepper. One of the greatest ever to put on a Knights uniform, Culpepper passed Steve Young’s 1983 single-season completion accuracy record (71.3%) by completing 73.6% of his passes in his final year. He broke virtually every school passing record while putting the Knights on the map. By the time he left Orlando, Culpepper was only the third player in NCAA history to pass for 10,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in his career. Selected by the Minnesota Vikings at No. 11 overall in 1999, Culpepper was UCF’s first NFL first-round draft pick.
No. 6: College GameDay Comes to Town
Where: Orlando
When: Nov. 17, 2018
The Moment: Lee Corso. Rece Davis. Kirk Herbstreit. Desmond Howard. David Pollack. College football royalty was on campus for one afternoon and fans across the country were tuned in for what became a three-hour commercial for the Knights football program. UCF’s campus was full of fans holding homemade signs in hopes of being seen on ESPN. The College GameDay crew reported on UCF’s special run from 2017-18 and discussed how what the Knights accomplished impacted the sport as we know it. Of course, let’s not forget when Maury Povich picked UCF to beat Cincinnati or when the curtain dropped to reveal Corso decked out in Knightro gear.
Why It’s On This List:For one Saturday afternoon in November, UCF was at the center of attention in the college football world. For College GameDay to make its way to Orlando for the weekly football preview show felt like a dream for most fans. The event was essentially a major award for what UCF had accomplished on the football field. UCF fans made an impression on the crew. When Davis released his top five all-time College GameDay football sites in October last year, UCF was No. 5 on his list. “They had an unbelievable turnout because they wanted to prove they belonged with the big boys,” he said.
No. 5: UCF Accepts Invite to Big East/AAC
Where: Orlando
When: Dec. 7, 2011
The Moment: In what was described by ESPN as a “business-saving move,” the Big East invited UCF, Houston and SMU out of the Conference USA in all sports while also adding Boise State and San Diego State out of the Mountain West for football only. Members of the Conference USA from 2005-12, the Knights were finally heading to a “power conference.” Although the outlook of the Big East quickly changed — going as far to rebrand as the American Athletic Conference — UCF continued to climb the ranks of college athletics. The Knights would begin play in the AAC during the 2013 season and remain in the conference for 10 years. What was not known at the time of its acceptance to the Big East was just how much would change not only for the conference but also UCF as a whole.
Why It’s On This List:Despite the former Big East falling apart and the Knights competing in the AAC, this was still a major milestone. The next decade in the AAC, starting with the 2013 football season, would become a golden era for the Knights. The football program posted an 86-41 record, winning nearly 70% of games played as members of the American, while making three appearances in BCS/NY6 bowl games. No school in AAC history has more conference titles in football than UCF (4). Had UCF not received an invitation to depart Conference USA, it’s unlikely that the Knights would be members of the Big 12 Conference. While plans may have shifted greatly from when the Big East asked UCF to join its league to when the Knights stepped foot on the field two years later, the moment changed the trajectory of the entire athletics department and the university in its entirety.
No. 4: First Game in the Bounce House
Where: Orlando
When: Sept. 15, 2007
The Moment: Although it was known that an on-campus football stadium would be built, nobody quite knew what the first game inside Bright House Networks Stadium would look like. Nevertheless, 45,622 fans packed into what would later become the Bounce House on a historic day for the Knights. Despite UCF’s best attempt at pulling off the upset, No. 6 Texas survived 35-32 in front of a national television audience. Longhorns quarterback Colt McCoy threw for 259 yards with 1 touchdown and an interception while running back Jamaal Charles ran for 153 yards with a score of his own. UCF quarterback Kyle Israel tossed a touchdown to Kamar Aiken and ran for another while throwing for 134 yards. Knights running back Kevin Smith totaled 149 yards on 27 carries with 2 touchdowns.
Why It’s On This List:Despite the loss, it became clear an on-campus stadium was monumental. When UCF accepted its invitation to the Big 12 Conference in 2021, many fans and former athletics administrators pointed to the construction of the Bounce House as one of the main reasons the Knights were in a position to be seriously considered to join a Power Five football league. Sure, UCF had success in the days of Daunte Culpepper and other former Knights at the Citrus Bowl in downtown Orlando, but the existence of the Bounce House brought the entire UCF community together on campus for the first time. UCF football hasn’t been the same since.
No. 3: Fiesta Bowl victory
Where: Glendale, Ariz.
When: January 1, 2014
The Moment: Blake Bortles threw for 301 yards and was responsible for 4 touchdowns as the Knights pulled off the biggest upset in BCS history by outlasting Baylor 52-42 in the Fiesta Bowl. Knights running back Storm Johnson ran for 3 touchdowns on 20 carries for 124 yards. Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty also accounted for 4 touchdowns, 3 of which came on the ground. Bortles’ top target — Rannell Hall — led the Knights with 2 touchdowns and 113 receiving yards while Breshad Perriman caught one score, too. UCF finished with 556 total yards in the second-highest-scoring BCS bowl.
Why It’s On This List:The Knights, who entered the game as 17-point underdogs, didn’t care for the narratives around the matchup. UCF was looking to make a statement and did just that in front of the 65,000 in attendance and millions more watching at home. If fans across the country hadn’t known about Bortles and the Knights, they certainly did now. The Fiesta Bowl victory capped UCF’s first 12-win season and marked the program’s first win against a top–10 team. For a program that only moved into the FBS in 1996, this moment showed what was possible at UCF. This win was proof that UCF belonged in a major conference. Of course, what the Knights didn’t know at the time was they would be conference mates with Baylor just 10 years later.
No. 2: Knights Capture Perfection in the Peach Bowl
Where: Atlanta
When: January 1, 2018
The Moment: UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton threw for 242 yards and a pair of passing touchdowns and added a score on the ground as he earned offensive MVP. In the best game of his career, linebacker Shaquem Griffin totaled a career-high 12 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss while adding 1.5 sacks as he earned the bowl’s defensive MVP. The Knights trailed by a touchdown in the third quarter but scored 21 unanswered points to lead down the stretch. Auburn scored late to make it a one-possession game but the Knights were too much on both sides in the fourth quarter to win 34-27. Despite his impending departure for Nebraska, Scott Frost guided UCF to its second New Year’s Six bowl win and the program’s first undefeated season.
Why It’s On This List:If UCF proved that it belonged in a major conference when it beat Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl four years earlier, the Knights showed that they could be a legitimate national championship contender when they went undefeated in 2017. Only four college football teams have gone undefeated since then: Clemson (‘18); LSU (‘19); Alabama (‘20); and Georgia (‘22). While UCF’s claim to a national championship still remains a controversial topic among college football fans on social media, the Knights’ undefeated season only strengthened the argument for expanding the College Football Playoff. Five years later, the CFP announced it would grow to 12 teams starting in the 2024-25 season. Regardless of what the future holds for UCF, the 2017 season will never be forgotten and it’s a big reason the Knights are a Big 12 member.
No. 1: Joining the Big 12
Where: Orlando
When: July 1
The Moment: Every single item on this list — as well as countless others not included — has led to this singular moment. Although the Knights accepted an invitation to the Big 12 Conference almost two years ago, they are just now officially members of the Power Five league as of the start of the month. Instead of battling with teams such as Temple, East Carolina or South Florida, UCF will face a much tougher task of matching up with schools such as Baylor, Oklahoma State and TCU — schools that had a 100-year head start — among others in the conference. After decades of climbing the ranks of college athletics, UCF has reached the top.
Why It’s On This List:Sure, there might be more important wins and historic performances made on the field by Knights of the past, but no moment has been larger. Of course, just because UCF is officially a Power Five school that doesn’t mean the athletics department can relax. This is a significant milestone that will stand the test of time. All those years ago, many around the program believed this was possible. Finally, UCF is a member of a Power Five. Finally, the Knights have themselves a seat at the big-boy table. And finally, UCF has arrived.
Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @therealBeede.
