Sep 14, 2024; Greenville, North Carolina, USA;  Appalachian State Mountaineers head coach Shawn Clark reacts to a call in the second half against the East Carolina Pirates at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

Report: UCF hires ex-Appalachian State coach Shawn Clark as OL coach

Former Appalachian State head coach Shawn Clark has been hired as UCF’s offensive line coach, ESPN reported on Saturday morning.

Clark, 49, was fired earlier this month after compiling a 40-24 record with the Mountaineers, including 5-6 in 2024 — his first losing season. Clark had a 3-1 record in bowl games.

A two-time All-American offensive lineman at Appalachian State, Clark served as an assistant coach at his alma mater before taking the helm in December 2019.

Clark coached the offensive line for Kent State (2013-15), Purdue (2009-12) and Eastern Kentucky (2003-08).

Scott Frost has returned as UCF’s new head coach, replacing Gus Malzahn, who recently departed to become the offensive coordinator at Florida State.

Frost went 19-7 in two seasons (2016-17) at the school — including 13-0 in 2017 — before departing for Nebraska, his alma mater. He went 16-31 in four-plus years at Nebraska, which fired him three games into the 2022 season.

Frost is filling out his staff, announcing Friday the hiring of Mike Dawson as defensive run game coordinator and edge coach. Earlier this week, Alex Grinch was named defensive coordinator. Kenny Martin is remaining on staff as defensive tackles coach.

–Field Level Media

Oklahoma defensive coordinator Ted Roof before the Red River Rivalry college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the University of Texas (UT) Longhorns at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Oklahoma won 34-30.

Reports: UCF fires DC Ted Roof amid losing streak

UCF has fired defensive coordinator Ted Roof following the Knights’ fifth straight loss, multiple outlets reported Monday.

The Knights are coming off a 37-24 home setback against then No. 11 BYU on Saturday, the third time they have given up at least 37 points during the current skid.

Co-defensive coordinator Addison Williams, who is also the associate head coach on coach Gus Malzahn’s staff, will take over the defensive play-calling duties, per the reports.

Roof, 60, was in his first season at UCF. He previously worked as the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma from 2022-23 and has held the same position at several schools dating back to the mid-1990s, including UMass, Georgia Tech, Duke, Minnesota, Auburn, Penn State, Appalachian State and Vanderbilt.

Roof was the head coach at Duke from 2003-07, compiling a 6-45 record.

UCF (3-5, 1-4 Big 12) returns to action Saturday at home against Arizona (3-5, 1-4).

–Field Level Media

Oct 26, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Jake Retzlaff (12) runs for a touchdown against the Central Florida Knights at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Russell Lansford-Imagn Images

Jake Retzlaff, No. 11 BYU remain perfect, beat UCF

Jake Retzlaff threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for another score, to lead No. 11 BYU to a 37-24 victory over UCF in Big 12 play at Orlando, Fla., on Saturday.

Retzlaff had his fourth straight 200-yard game to help the Cougars (8-0, 5-0 Big 12) continue their best start since 2020. LJ Martin racked up 101 yards and a touchdown on the ground for his second straight 100-yard game. Hinckley Ropati added a season-high 83 rushing yards.

BYU piled up 252 rushing yards — the second consecutive game where the Cougars have rushed for at least 250 yards.

RJ Harvey rushed for 127 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Knights. Jacurri Brown threw for 96 yards and two interceptions. Dylan Rizk added 102 yards and a TD through the air. UCF (3-5, 1-4) trailed wire to wire en route to a fifth straight loss.

Retzlaff ran 29 yards on third down to cap BYU’s opening drive and put the Cougars on the board. BYU converted two fourth downs on a 17-play second drive — including an 8-yard run by kicker Will Ferrin on a fake field-goal attempt — to set up a 41-yard field goal by Will Ferrin and extend its lead to 10-0.

Martin opened and closed a BYU second-quarter drive with a pair of big runs. He bounced off tacklers and dragged one to the goal line on the second run, scoring on a 15-yard scamper to put the Cougars up 17-0.

Harvey finally got UCF on the board midway through the second quarter. He broke through the line and raced 54 yards down the sideline and scored from 2 yards out a play later.

BYU countered just before halftime. Chase Roberts caught a pass, slipped a tackle, and raced for a 62-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 24-10 with 27 seconds remaining in the first half.

Retzlaff’s second touchdown pass in the third quarter slammed the door on any potential UCF rally.

The Cougars rolled up 320 total yards by halftime while averaging 7.8 yards per play. They held the ball for 21:16 during the first half.

–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

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 14, 2024; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; UCF Knights quarterback KJ Jefferson (1) scrambles with TCU Horned Frogs safety Jaise Oliver (25) closing during the second quarter at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images

UCF shakes off 21-point deficit, stuns TCU

KJ Jefferson threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Kobe Hudson with 36 seconds left as UCF rallied from 21 points down to edge TCU 35-34 on Saturday night in Fort Worth, Texas.

TCU kicker Kyle Lemmermann’s 58-yard field-goal attempt was wide right on the final play of the game.

The Knights (3-0, 1-0 Big 12) took over at their own 28 with 3:14 remaining in the fourth quarter and converted two third-down plays on the game-winning drive. Jefferson, an Arkansas transfer, finished 13-for-22 passing for 230 yards and three touchdowns.

UCF relied on the ground game and running back RJ Harvey, who had 180 yards and two scores on 29 carries, while the Horned Frogs (2-1, 0-1) did most of their damage through the air. Josh Hoover threw for four touchdowns and had 402 yards on 35-of-52 passing for TCU, and wide receiver Jack Bech had nine catches for a career-high 200 yards to go along with a TD.

The Knights overcame a strong showing from the Horned Frogs’ special teams. Caleb Fox deflected a 47-yard field-goal attempt by UCF kicker Colton Boomer to preserve a 7-0 TCU lead in the first quarter. On the second-to-last play of the first half — with TCU ahead 21-7 — LaMareon James came in from the edge to block a Boomer 27-yard field-goal try.

The Horned Frogs also blocked an extra-point attempt in the third quarter.

TCU controlled the first half. Hoover threw a 14-yard TD pass to Eric McAlister to open the scoring and added touchdown passes of 18- and 16-yards to Savion Williams before the break.

Hoover connected for his fourth touchdown pass of the night on the Horned Frogs’ first drive of the second half, hitting Bech for a 50-yard bomb to make it 28-7 TCU.

But UCF didn’t blink. Harvey took a direct snap and went 1 yard for a score to make it 28-13 with 9:36 remaining in the third quarter. After a Horned Frogs field goal made it 31-13, the Knights went 75 yards in three plays, with Jefferson finding Hudson for a 27-yard scoring strike.

Following a TCU punt, UCF drove 80 yards, with Harvey scoring on the ground from 27 yards out and taking a shovel pass to convert a two-point conversion that pulled the Knights within 31-28 with 13:38 left in the fourth quarter.

TCU upped the lead to 34-28 on a 24-yard field goal by Lemmermann with 8:44 left.

–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

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

Aug 29, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights running back RJ Harvey (7) runs the ball against New Hampshire Wildcats defensive back Wande Owens (5) during the second quarter at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

UCF rolls to 57-3 blowout vs. New Hampshire in season opener

R.J. Harvey ran for 142 yards and two touchdowns to highlight UCF’s season-opening 57-3 win over New Hampshire on Thursday in Orlando, Fla.

Myles Montgomery added 126 total yards and two scores for the Knights (1-0), who outgained the Wildcats 639-162 to easily dispose of their FCS foe. KJ Jefferson went 7 of 14 for 164 yards with two touchdowns and an interception and also ran for a score.

Seth Morgan finished 14 of 28 for 95 yards with two interceptions for New Hampshire (0-1), which went 2 for 15 on third down. Logan Tomlinson racked up 73 yards on six receptions for the Wildcats, while Wande Owens paced the defense with 14 tackles.

The Knights got off to a relatively slow start, as their first five possessions included two field goals by Colton Boomer and two punts. Their only touchdown in that early stretch came when Deshawn Pace’s interception set up the offense on the 3-yard line, allowing Jefferson to plunge into the end zone on the next play.

UCF tacked on two more touchdowns in the second quarter to open a 29-3 lead at intermission. With about 10 minutes left before halftime, Harvey unleashed a 60-yard run to the 1, setting up his own touchdown on the next snap. He later added a 13-yard TD run in the final minute of the period.

Jefferson found Montgomery for a 49-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter to make it 36-3. Jefferson threw back across the field to Montgomery, who raced down the left sideline and fought off one tackle on his way to the end zone.

On UCF’s next possession, Peny Boone erupted through the middle of the New Hampshire defense for a 59-yard touchdown run.

The Knights tacked on two more TDs in the final 3:05 of the third quarter. Jefferson hooked up with Johnny Richardson for a 22-yard scoring strike before Montgomery’s 25-yard rushing TD made it 57-3.

Neither team dented the scoreboard in the fourth.

–Field Level Media

Dec 22, 2023; Tampa, FL, USA; UCF Knights quarterback John Rhys Plumlee (10) runs the ball around Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defensive back Clayton Powell-Lee (5) during the first half of the Gasparilla Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Gasparilla Bowl: Haynes King helps Georgia Tech knock off UCF

Haynes King threw for a touchdown and rushed for another to lift Georgia Tech to a 30-17 victory over UCF on Friday in the Gasparilla Bowl in Orlando, Fla.

Jamal Haynes rushed for a career-high 128 yards and King added 89 for the Yellow Jackets (7-6), who rolled up for 284 yards on the ground. Dontae Smith also rushed for 65 yards and a touchdown as Georgia Tech overcame an early 14-point deficit en route to recording its fourth win in six outings.

Aidan Birr drilled field goals of 36, 29 and 38 yards for the Yellow Jackets.

UCF’s John Rhys Plumlee completed 16 of 29 passes for 198 yards and tossed a scoring strike to both Javon Baker and Kobe Hudson. Baker had nine catches for 173 yards and RJ Harvey rushed for 120 yards for the Knights (6-7), who have lost seven of their last 10 games.

UCF bolted out of the blocks as Plumlee connected on a pair of touchdown passes to give his team an early 14-0 lead. Baker reeled in a 23-yard pass from Plumlee to cap the opening drive and Hudson added a 17-yard reception to complete a 10-play, 98-yard drive with 6:26 remaining in the first quarter.

The teams traded field goals before King ignited a pair of scoring drives to allow Georgia Tech to forge a 17-17 tie at halftime. King scored from 5 yards out with 4:23 to play in the second quarter for his 10th rushing touchdown of the season. He then connected on an inside post with Malik Rutherford, who gained a step on two defenders and reeled in a 41-yard touchdown pass.

Birr drilled a 29-yard field goal to give the Yellow Jackets their first lead of the contest at 20-17 with 12:07 remaining in the third quarter.

Georgia Tech relied on its ground attack on its next scoring drive. The Yellow Jackets ran the ball on 12 of 13 plays, capped by Smith’s 1-yard touchdown to take a 27-17 lead with 13:37 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Birr made his third field goal with 4:52 to play in the fourth quarter and UCF turned the ball over on downs on its ensuing possession and tossed an interception on its final offensive play.

–Field Level Media

Sep 9, 2023; Boise, Idaho, USA; UCF Knights quarterback John Rhys Plumlee (10) during the second half of play versus the Boise State Broncos at Albertsons Stadium. UCF beats Boise State 18-16. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports

UCF turns to South Florida transfer at QB

UCF quarterback John Rhys Plumlee completed the game-winning drive Saturday at Boise State, but the Knights must turn to South Florida transfer Timmy McClain for the next few weeks.

Plumlee injured his leg on a 7-yard run with 31 seconds left when his cleat appeared to stick in the turf during a collision with Broncos defenders on the final drive, which ended with Colton Boomer’s 40-yard field goal for an 18-16 victory.

“He had an injury late in that game. Took a pretty good hit,” UCF coach Gus Malzahn said Monday. “He’s gonna be out this week and he’ll be out for a few weeks. The good thing is he doesn’t need surgery. He will be back.”

Malzahn said McClain splits reps equally with Plumlee at least two practices each week — typically Tuesday and Wednesday — to keep the team and offense comfortable in situations like this weekend’s game against Villanova. UCF (2-0) plays in its Big 12 opener at Kansas State the following week (Sept. 23).

“He’s ready to go,” Malzahn said of McClain. “We have a lot of confidence in him. A guy that has played and started football games as a true freshman. So, really feel good about Timmy taking over for that.”

Plumlee, a fifth-year senior, has 163 rushing yards on 19 carries this season and completed 38 of 54 pass attempts for 553 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions.

–Field Level Media

Nov 26, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; UCF Knights quarterback Mikey Keene (13) scrambles with the ball against the South Florida Bulls during the fourth quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

UCF QB Mikey Keene enters transfer portal

UCF quarterback Mikey Keene announced Sunday that he is entering the transfer portal.

“To my brothers, I will forever cherish the memories we have made together the last two seasons,” Keene wrote in a social media post. “Thank you for becoming my family and for seeing me as a leader within this team.”

Keene started 10 of his 11 games as a freshman in 2021 before the Knights turned to Ole Miss transfer John Rhys Plumlee as the starter this season.

Keene played in four games in relief of Plumlee in 2022, completing 60 of 83 passes (72.3 percent) for 647 yards, six touchdowns and just one pick.

In two seasons, Keene has thrown for 2,377 yards, 23 touchdowns and seven interceptions for UCF, which is coming off a loss to Tulane in the American Athletic Conference championship game on Saturday.

–Field Level Media