Tag: Central Florida

Nov 9, 2024; Tempe, Arizona, USA; UCF Knights running back RJ Harvey (7) delivers a stiff arm to Arizona State Sun Devils defensive back Keith Abney II (1) during the second half at Mountain America Stadium, Home of the ASU Sun Devils. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

UCF, Utah conclude underwhelming seasons

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Utah and UCF will meet in Orlando on Friday to conclude seasons that each team undoubtedly hoped would be far more successful.

The Black Friday game ends the first Big 12 season for the Utes (4-7, 1-7) and the second for the Knights (4-7, 2-6).

Utah was a drive away from staying in the race for bowl eligibility Saturday before then-No. 22 Iowa State marched 75 yards late in the fourth quarter to defeat the Utes 31-28. With the loss, Utah has dropped seven games in a row, following a 4-0 start to the season.

The Utes’ offense scored one touchdown while the defense and special teams each contributed one, including an interception returned 87 yards by Lander Barton.

Friday, it will be the tale of the immovable object against the unstoppable force, with Utah’s defense sitting tied for third in the conference in points allowed (21.3) and giving up the third-fewest yards per game (325.2).

“They play really good defense. They hold onto the football and we’re going to have to do a good job on special teams. They’re really good on special teams, too,” said UCF coach Gus Malzahn. “But really, it’s as simple as … trying to win this game for our seniors.”

On the other side of the field, UCF leads all Power Four schools in rushing per game, averaging 254.9 yards behind senior RJ Harvey. He averages 6.9 yards per carry and leads the Big 12 with 1,458 rushing yards on the season.

“They’re running it for over 250 a week and another couple hundred throwing the ball,” said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. “Scoring points, good on third down, good in the red zone, so it’ll be a challenge for our defense this week to face that rushing attack.”

The Knights are 1-7 in their past eight games, with their only win coming against Arizona. Last Saturday at West Virginia, UCF fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter and couldn’t catch up in a 31-21 loss.

–Field Level Media

UCF Knights running back RJ Harvey (7) runs with the ball for a first down against Iowa State during the first quarter in the week-8 NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Ames, Iowa.

UCF must win at West Virginia to be in bowl picture

Posted on | by Field Level Media

With bowl bids looming, Big 12 foes UCF and West Virginia meet to shore up their postseason chances on Saturday in Morgantown, W.Va.

More pressure exists for UCF (4-6, 2-5), which is on its fourth starting quarterback of the season. Coach Gus Malzahn has shuffled from KJ Jefferson, who started the first five games, to EJ Colson, then Jacurri Brown, who lost the job after throwing four interceptions in losses against BYU and Iowa State.

Malzahn has placed the ball in the hands of Dylan Rizk, a Florida native who completed 44 of 59 passes for 523 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in a 35-31 loss at Arizona State and a 56-12 home win over Arizona.

The latter is UCF’s only win in the past seven outings.

The Knights’ offense revolves around the run game, starting with RJ Harvey, the leading rusher in the Big 12. He has amassed 1,328 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven 100-yard games.

To achieve bowl eligibility, the Knights roll out of the bye week in a must-win matchup at West Virginia, then also win their home finale against struggling Utah.

“We’re focused on this game, not the next game,” Malzahn said Monday. “(We’re) going to a tough place to play, there’s no doubt about it. They’re a team that’s similar to us that got after us pretty good last year.”

The Mountaineers (5-5, 4-3) beat UCF 41-28 in Orlando last season.

In that win, quarterback Garrett Greene rushed for three scores and completed 14 of 23 pass attempts for 156 yards.

This season, the senior from Florida has passed for 1,589 yards with 11 TDs and nine interceptions and rushed for 600 yards and five scores.

West Virginia enters the matchup on a down note, losing 49-35 at home to Baylor last Saturday.

Due to proximity, Mountaineers coach Neal Brown knows Malzahn well from their days coaching in Alabama, when Brown led Troy and Malzahn walked the sidelines at Auburn.

“Coach Malzahn wants to run the football,” Brown said Monday. “They’re one of the top rushing offenses in the country. It starts with their running back, Harvey. He was really good last year, (but) he’s elite this year. Tough to tackle, makes people miss and has a great feel for their zone schemes that they’re running.”

West Virginia needs to win either against UCF or at Texas Tech in the finale on Nov. 30 to become bowl eligible.

–Field Level Media

Oct 26, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) celebrates touchdown during the fourth quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images

Arizona looks to end skid vs. reeling UCF

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Arizona will travel to Orlando, Fla., to face UCF on Saturday afternoon in a game featuring two teams that have made coaching and play-calling changes this season.

The Knights (3-5, 1-4 Big 12) dropped their fifth straight decision with a 37-24 setback to then-No. 11 BYU on Saturday. Two days later, head coach Gus Malzahn fired defensive coordinator Ted Roof and relinquished play-calling duties on offense, giving that responsibility to offensive coordinator Tim Harris.

Addison Williams, who has coached primarily defensive backs, replaced Roof as the defensive coordinator.

“These decisions were 100 percent my decision,” Malzahn said during his weekly news conference. “I feel it gives the Knights the best chance to snap out of the losing skid.”

Arizona first-year coach Brent Brennan earlier this season switched play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Dino Babers to tight ends coach and passing-game coordinator Matt Adkins.

The Wildcats (3-5, 1-4) saw their losing streak reach four games with a 31-26 setback to West Virginia on Saturday.

Arizona has not won since Sept. 28, when it beat Utah 23-10 in Salt Lake City. The Utes were ranked 10th at the time.

UCF bolted to a 3-0 start with a 35-34 victory over TCU on Sept. 14. It’s been downhill ever since for the Knights.

“I would think pieces of what they’ve done schematically are still going to be part of them,” Brennan said Monday of UCF’s coaching moves. “It is a challenge because it’s something different than what you’re seeing on the film.”

UCF is 19th in the country in total offense, averaging 454.8 yards per game. The running game is third in the nation, averaging 267.9 yards per game.

RJ Harvey has rushed for 1,017 yards on 149 carries.

UCF’s defense particularly has struggled stopping teams on third and fourth down. Opponents are converting 47.5 percent of third-down plays and 77.8 percent of fourth-down opportunities.

Arizona’s defense is riddled with injuries with captains Jacob Manu, Treydan Stukes and Gunner Maldonado out with season-ending leg injuries.

The offense features the connection of quarterback Noah Fifita and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan.

McMillan is third in the nation in average receiving yards per game at 122.8.

–Field Level Media

Oct 18, 2024; Provo, Utah, USA; Brigham Young Cougars defensive end Tyler Batty (92) encourages fans to cheer against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the fourth quarter at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

No. 11 BYU out to shore up run defense vs. UCF

Posted on | by Field Level Media

BYU will face a new defensive dilemma against UCF on Saturday afternoon in Orlando, Fla.

The No. 11 Cougars (7-0, 4-0 Big 12) struggled to stop long running plays in their 38-35 victory over Oklahoma State last week. BYU allowed the Cowboys to rush for a season-high 269 yards while averaging 7.3 yards per carry. Oklahoma State’s previous high was 149 rushing yards in its season opener against South Dakota State.

For the Cougars, it marked the second time in four games they’ve allowed an opponent to generate at least 200 yards on the ground.

“This defense doesn’t usually give up very many big plays, but we gave up two big runs that cost us about 50 yards each,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. “The big plays were missed assignments that we can fix. That happens sometimes. But I think that minimizing the big plays is what we are good at. We are going to go back to that.”

UCF will not make it easy to stop the run. The Knights (3-4, 1-3) lead the Big 12 with an average of 280.3 rushing yards per game. They average nearly 6 yards per carry and have 19 touchdowns on the ground.

RJ Harvey leads the league with 890 yards and 11 touchdowns on 6.7 yards per carry. He’s fifth in the nation in yards gained.

Still, BYU has other ways to make it hard for the Knights to move the ball. The Cougars’ defense has generated 16 turnovers through seven games — tied for fourth among FBS teams. Ten players have made an interception for the Cougars this season, with Tanner Wall and Jakob Robinson leading the way with two apiece.

BYU also ranks fourth nationally in pass efficiency defense (94.74).

That’s bad news for a UCF squad that generates 185.3 passing yards per game and has given up eight turnovers in four Big 12 games. Still, the Cougars aren’t taking the Knights for granted.

“Their record does not speak for how good of a football team they are,” BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff said. “They’re probably the best 3-4 football team in the country and probably a lot better than a lot of (teams) who have better records than them.”

UCF hopes for a win this week after coming up short in an upset bid against then-No. 9 Iowa State — the Knights’ fourth consecutive loss after starting the season 3-0.

The Knights fell 38-35 to the Cyclones after blowing an eight-point lead late in the fourth quarter. It was a tough end to a game in which UCF racked up 354 yards and four touchdowns on the ground while averaging 9.1 yards per carry.

“We had opportunities, really, in all three phases to close the game out,” UCF coach Gus Malzahn said. “We got to find a way to take that next step. I will say we did improve this game. Played one of our best games, so that’s what we’re going to focus on.”

BYU leads the all-time series 2-1. The Cougars beat UCF 49-23 when the teams last met in the 2020 Boca Raton Bowl. This will be their first meeting as members of the Big 12.

–Field Level Media

Oct 12, 2024; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Iowa State Cyclones running back Carson Hansen (26) runs for a touchdown against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the fourth quarter at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images

No. 9 Iowa State seeks to stay undefeated in matchup vs. UCF

Posted on | by Field Level Media

After trailing by a touchdown early last week at West Virginia, Iowa State surged to its sixth straight win to start the season.

On Saturday, the No. 9 Cyclones (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) will host UCF (3-3, 1-2) in Ames, Iowa, in an effort to remain unbeaten and at the top of the Big 12 Conference.

Iowa State started slowly against the Mountaineers, but Carson Hansen led the Cyclones to a 28-16 victory with 96 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

Hansen’s solid game doesn’t guarantee the running back will start against UCF because Iowa State has three backs with at least 245 rushing yards this season. It’s a position battle between Hansen (307 yards), Abu Sama III (248) and the team’s leading rusher, Jaylon Jackson (314).

“That’s the great thing about football practice, right? You go to practice, and when you practice and play good, then you get to play in the game,” Cyclones coach Matt Campbell said. “We’ve got three guys that are really good football players, and they keep playing really good football, and I think we’re as blessed as anybody in college football right now to have guys that are playing great.”

For Saturday’s game, Campbell said he is most concerned with the Knights’ running game. UCF coach Gus Malzahn relies on RJ Harvey, who leads the Big 12 in rushing touchdowns (nine) and is third in rushing yards (694).

Harvey is part of a diverse ground attack between the running back and quarterback position for UCF, with both potential starting quarterbacks rushing for over 175 yards each.

“I think when you have that, and you have the ability to create multiple ball carriers with every possession, you’ve got the ability to attack multiple gaps with what they do, it’s a real challenge,” Campbell said.

The issue for the Knights is which quarterback will start on Saturday.

After leading the Knights to a three-game winning streak to begin the season, senior KJ Jefferson lost two games as a starter and was benched in favor of sophomore Jacurri Brown. In a 19-13 loss to Cincinnati, Brown had his first start of the year, going 13-for-20 for 207 yards and one touchdown and rushing for 84 yards.

“All I can tell you now is he’s the first to take snaps tomorrow in practice,” Malzahn said Monday about Brown. “With Brown as our quarterback, you can see we had a little bit more life in our offense. We put the ball vertically down the field. I think he did some good things for his first rodeo.”

In the loss to the Bearcats, UCF struggled to finish drives, scoring one touchdown on its 10 possessions. Now the Knights will try to score against the top-scoring defense in the Big 12, with Iowa State allowing an average of only 11 points per game.

Iowa State needs a win Saturday to keep up with Texas Tech and BYU at the top of the Big 12, with each team entering the weekend at 3-0. Overall, the Cyclones haven’t started a season 6-0 since 1938.

–Field Level Media

Florida Gators defensive lineman Cam Jackson (99) gets a hand on UCF Knights running back RJ Harvey (7) during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, October 5, 2024. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]

RJ Harvey, UCF aim for success on ground vs. Cincinnati

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cincinnati and UCF in several ways can be classified as identical twins heading into their game on Saturday afternoon in Orlando, Fla.

For starters, both teams enter with a record of 3-2 overall and 1-1 in Big 12 play. Also, both the Bearcats and Knights are coming off of road defeats, with Cincinnati falling 44-41 at Texas Tech on Sept. 28 and UCF losing 24-13 at Florida on Oct. 5.

The two teams also are the same in that they have two of the most productive rushing attacks in the Big 12.

UCF averages a conference-best 282.4 rushing yards per game behind RJ Harvey, who has rushed for 600 yards and nine touchdowns in the first five games of the season.

Cincinnati is sixth in the conference at 183.8 rushing yards per game, led by Corey Kiner (413 yards). Bearcats coach Scott Satterfield said Kiner suffered a rib or oblique injury in the first quarter against Texas Tech but is expected to play Saturday.

The running game could prove to be vital in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.

With all the rain that has hit the Orlando area during the week, the field could be sloppier than usual even though the forecast for Saturday looks to be sunny and in the low 80s.

“With weather, it’s usually wind,” UCF coach Gus Malzahn said. “That’s what really affects people more than anything. So we’ll see where it’s at.”

The big difference between the two offenses is that Cincinnati has shown more balance.

Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby has completed 66.3 percent of his passes for 1,481 yards and 12 touchdowns, a big reason why the Bearcats have the third-most passing yards in the Big 12.

UCF is 12th in passing offense, with quarterback KJ Jefferson (59.3 completion percentage, 1,012 yards, seven TDs, four interceptions) struggling at times.

UCF has won the last two meetings between the teams, including 28-26 last year at Cincinnati.

“In their shoes, you lose a couple in a row and you are going to want to come out and play your best,” Satterfield said. “Kind of like that dog backed in a corner. They are going to fight, so we know we are going to get their best shot.”

–Field Level Media

Florida Gators running back Montrell Johnson Jr. (1) breaks through a hole during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, October 5, 2024. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]

Florida clogs up running lanes for win over UCF

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Graham Mertz threw for 179 yards and a touchdown while Florida’s defense stifled one of the FBS’ top running games in a 24-13 nonconference win over Central Florida on Saturday night in Gainesville, Fla.

In improving to 3-2, the Gators limited the Knights (3-2) to 108 yards on 40 carries, over 200 yards less than their per-game average entering Saturday (326.0). Florida held top UCF rusher RJ Harvey to 75 yards on 16 attempts.

Mertz completed 19 of 23 passes and directed an offense that was more efficient than flashy. The Gators finished with a modest 359 yards but played a turnover-free game and converted all four of their chances in the red zone.

All of Florida’s points came in the first half, as it established a 24-3 advantage by the break. It initiated the scoring at the 7:02 mark of the first quarter when Mertz found Elijhah Badger for a 13-yard TD, capping a game-opening 15-play, 75-yard drive.

Grant Reddick converted a 27-yard field goal on UCF’s opening possession, but that was it for the Knights until the second half. Meanwhile, the Gators ripped off 17 unanswered points to establish an insurmountable advantage.

Ja’Kobi Jackson scored on a 1-yard run with 12:50 left in the first half, cashing in on a short field of 43 yards. Montrell Johnson Jr. upped the advantage to 21-3 with a 3-yard scoring run with 1:50 remaining, and Trey Smack made it a three-touchdown cushion at intermission with a 28-yard field goal.

Reddick nailed a 37-yard field goal on the Knights’ first possession of the third quarter, capping a drive that lasted nearly 8 1/2 minutes. But the visitors’ only touchdown came on Harvey’s 13-yard run with 7:50 left in the game.

UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson, an Arkansas transfer, completed 12 of 22 pass attempts for 165 yards and an interception. He played under constant duress, absorbing five sacks that cost his team 37 yards.

–Field Level Media

Sep 28, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) rolls out to pass against the UCF Knights during the first quarter at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

Shedeur Sanders, Colorado throttle UCF

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Shedeur Sanders passed for three touchdowns and two-way star Travis Hunter had a touchdown reception and an interception as Colorado routed UCF 48-21 Saturday afternoon in Orlando, Fla.

Lightning in the area delayed the start of the Big 12 matchup for about 50 minutes. The game started with the two teams exchanging interceptions on their first possessions before Sanders went to work.

Sanders was 28-of-35 passing for 290 yards with an interception. Nine of his completions went to Hunter for 89 yards and four others went to Will Sheppard for 99.

Sanders’ 23-yard pass to Hunter gave the Buffaloes (4-1, 2-0 Big 12) their first score, and his 47-yard toss to Sheppard broke an early 7-7 tie and gave the visitors the lead for good.

The Knights (3-1, 1-1) closed to within 21-14 on KJ Jefferson’s 7-yard scoring run midway through the second quarter. Alejandro Mata made two field goals to leave Colorado ahead 27-14 at halftime.

Jefferson finished 20-of-35 passing for 284 yards and two interceptions. RJ Harvey caught a 75-yard touchdown and led UCF with 77 rushing yards, but the Knights struggled to ignite their ground game.

UCF finished with a season-low 177 yards rushing, including just 34 in the first half. Harvey’s output came after he entered Saturday averaging 149.3 rushing yards per game.

Colorado essentially put the game out of reach with Micah Welch’s 1-yard plunge and LaJohntay Wester’s 10-yard touchdown reception. Those scores sandwiched Jefferson’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Townsend and left the Buffaloes ahead 41-21 entering the fourth.

Hunter intercepted Jefferson with Colorado leading 34-14 in the third.

Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig thwarted UCF’s bid for a late fourth-quarter touchdown with a 95-yard scoop-and-score following Jefferson’s fumble.

The Buffaloes matched their win total from a season ago. The loss was the Knights’ worst since a 51-22 setback at Kansas last Oct. 7.

–Field Level Media

Sep 7, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights running back RJ Harvey (7) scores a touchdown during the first quarter against the Sam Houston State Bearkats at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

RJ Harvey runs for 4 TDs as UCF rolls past Sam Houston

Posted on | by Field Level Media

RJ Harvey rushed for 126 yards and four touchdowns on 19 carries to lead Central Florida to a 45-14 home win over Sam Houston State on Saturday.

Harvey rushed for 115 yards in the first half to pace the offense for Central Florida (2-0).

KJ Jefferson went 12-of-15 passing for 169 yards and Kobe Hudson caught five passes for 105 yards for the Knights, who rushed for 384 yards as a team.

Central Florida’s defense limited Sam Houston State (1-1) to just 67 rushing yards.

Leading 24-7 at halftime, the Knights took a 31-7 lead with 9:58 left in the third quarter on a 7-yard touchdown run by Myles Montgomery.

Harvey then followed with a 2-yard touchdown run just 2:44 later to give Central Florida a 38-7 lead, a score that came after Sam Houston State snapped the ball over its punter’s head to give the Knights the ball at the Sam Houston State 2-yard line.

The Knights went on an eight-play, 88-yard drive, capped by Peny Boone’s 3-yard touchdown run, to take a 45-7 lead with 12:36 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Central Florida scored on its first drive of the game, going 80 yards in 12 plays and taking a 7-0 lead thanks to a 19-yard touchdown run by Harvey.

On their next possession, the Knights marched 76 yards in 10 plays and went up 14-0 on a 2-yard touchdown run by Harvey with 3:07 left in the first quarter.

After a 50-yard field goal by Central Florida’s Colton Boomer, Sam Houston State got on the board with 8:41 remaining in the second quarter, cutting Central Florida’s lead to 17-7 on a 64-yard touchdown pass from Noah Smith to Simeon Evans.

Harvey struck again with 3:59 left until halftime, scoring from 22 yards out to give the Knights a 24-7 lead.

–Field Level Media

Aug 29, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights quarterback KJ Jefferson (1) looks to pass during the first quarter against the New Hampshire Wildcats at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

UCF aims for QB improvement in clash with Sam Houston

Posted on | by Field Level Media

UCF didn’t see the best of new quarterback KJ Jefferson in the season opener, but the Knights hope there will be more of a comfort factor on Saturday evening when they host Sam Houston in a nonconference game in Orlando, Fla.

A transfer from Arkansas, Jefferson went a pedestrian 7 of 14 for 164 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception, in a 57-3 rout of New Hampshire last week.

UCF coach Gus Malzahn acknowledged it was Jefferson’s debut with a new offense and teammates, but the coach thinks he’ll progress as the season moves along.

“He’ll get more comfortable each game out,” Malzahn said. “The great thing about KJ, he’s a veteran. He’s been there and done that. Really looking forward to watching him play this weekend.”

Despite Jefferson’s struggles, it didn’t prevent the Knights from amassing 639 yards of total offense and an average of 8.4 yards per carry against New Hampshire.

The biggest reason for the 639-yard output was a rushing attack that produced 454 yards, led by 142 yards on 11 carries by RJ Harvey.

“We got four real guys,” Malzahn said of his rushing attack. “I think they’re all a little bit different, which I think is good. We’re going to have the luxury this year to keep guys fresh.”

The next challenge for UCF (1-0) is a Sam Houston team (1-0) that is coming off a 34-14 road win over Rice.

The Bearkats went 3-9 last season, with five losses coming by a touchdown or less.

Sam Houston coach K.C. Keeler said he hopes a win over a Rice team that made a bowl game last year is the start of a rewarding season after last year’s adversity.

“I think we are at our best when things aren’t perfect,” Keeler said. “That’s kind of who we are. We really emphasize no excuses and no pointing the finger.”

Just like UCF, Sam Houston has a transfer who has taken over the starting quarterback job — Hunter Watson.

A transfer from Iowa Western Community College, Watson threw for 229 yards and two touchdowns against Rice.

–Field Level Media