2018 UCF Knights football team

2018 UCF Knights football
Conference American Athletic Conference
Division East Division
Ranking
Coaches No. 9
AP No. 10
2018 record 6–0 (3–0 The American)
Head coach Josh Heupel (1st season)
Defensive coordinator Randy Shannon (1st season)
Home stadium Spectrum Stadium
(Capacity: 44,206)
2018 American Athletic Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
East Division
No. 10 UCF  3 –0     6 –0  
No. 20 Cincinnati  2 –0     6 –0  
No. 21 South Florida  2 –0     6 –0  
Temple  2 –0     3 –3  
East Carolina  0 –2     2 –3  
Connecticut  0 –3     1 –5  
West Division
Houston  1 –0     4 –1  
SMU  1 –1     2 –4  
Tulane  1 –1     2 –4  
Navy  1 –2     2 –4  
Memphis  1 –2     4 –2  
Tulsa  0 –3     1 –5  
Championship: December 1, 2018
As of October 16, 2018; Rankings from AP Poll.

The 2018 UCF Knights football team represents the University of Central Florida (UCF) during the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They play their home games at Spectrum Stadium in Orlando, Florida, and are led by first-year head coach Josh Heupel. The Knights compete as members of the East Division of the American Athletic Conference.

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

Award Player Position Year
Lott Trophy[1] Pat Jasinski LB SR
Rimington Trophy[2] Jordan Johnson C JR
Chuck Bednarik Award[3] Trysten Hill DT JR
Maxwell Award[4] McKenzie Milton QB JR
Davey O'Brien Award[5] McKenzie Milton QB JR
Jim Thorpe Award[6] Kyle Gibson DB SR
Bronko Nagurski Trophy[7] Kyle Gibson DB SR
Trysten Hill DT JR
Outland Trophy[8] Trysten Hill DT JR
Jordan Johnson C JR
Walter Camp Award[9] McKenzie Milton QB JR
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award[10] McKenzie Milton QB JR
Manning Award[11] McKenzie Milton QB JR

AAC media poll

The AAC media poll was released on July 24, 2018, with the Knights predicted to win AAC East Division.[12] They were also predicted to win the overall AAC championship.

Media poll (East)
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1UCF175 (25)
2USF140 (5)
3Temple132
4Cincinnati91
5Connecticut51
6East Carolina41

Spring game

The 2018 UCF Spring exhibition game was held Saturday April 21 at Spectrum Stadium. The team was informally split into two squads for gameplay, team Black and team Gold.[13] Team officials assigned points to the two squads at their discretion. Dylan Barnas kicked a 31-yard field goal as time expired for a final score of 17-14.

DateTimeSpring GameSiteResultAttendance
April 216:00 pmBlack vs. GoldSpectrum Stadium • Orlando, FL17-14
22,973

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
August 307:00 p.m.at ConnecticutNo. 21
ESPNUW 56–1723,081
September 86:00 p.m.South Carolina State*No. 19
ESPN3W 38–043,269
September 1512:00 p.m.at North Carolina*No. 18
ESPNU Cancelled[lower-alpha 1]
September 217:00 p.m.Florida Atlantic*No. 16
  • Spectrum Stadium
  • Orlando, FL
ESPNW 56–3644,257
September 293:30 p.m.Pittsburgh*No. 13
  • Spectrum Stadium
  • Orlando, FL
ESPNUW 45–1444,904
October 67:00 p.m.SMUNo. 12
  • Spectrum Stadium
  • Orlando, FL
ESPNUW 48–2040,856
October 133:30 p.m.at MemphisNo. 10
ABC/ESPN2W 31–3038,831
October 207:00 p.m.at East Carolina
ESPN2
November 17:30 p.m.Temple
  • Spectrum Stadium
  • Orlando, FL
ESPN
November 10Navydagger
  • Spectrum Stadium
  • Orlando, FL
November 17Cincinnati
  • Spectrum Stadium
  • Orlando, FL
November 23at South Florida
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time
  1. ↑ This game has been cancelled in anticipation of Hurricane Florence.[14] For the third season in a row, a UCF game was cancelled or postponed due to a hurricane. UCF had one game postponed in 2016 due to Hurricane Matthew and two games cancelled and one postponed due to Hurricane Irma in 2017.
Schedule Source:[15]

Game summaries

at Connecticut

1 2 3 4 Total
No. 21 Knights 14 14 14 14 56
Huskies 0 10 0 7 17
Overall record Last meeting Result
3–2 2017 W, 49–24

The UCF Knights, ranked 21st in the preseason AP Poll, opened the season on the road on Thursday night against division rival Connecticut, a matchup once briefly known as the Civil Conflict. It was Josh Heupel's first game as head coach, and going into the game UCF held the longest active winning streak in the nation, at 13 games. The Knights routed the Huskies 56–17. Quarterback McKenzie Milton threw for 346 yards and tied a career best with five touchdown passes. The start of the game was marred after Knights defensive back Aaron Robinson was injured on the opening kickoff and removed by ambulance. Robinson spent the night in the hospital diagnosed with a concussion. Milton was rested in the fourth quarter after building a 49–10 lead. Backup quarterback Darriel Mack Jr. came in the game and broke off a 70-yard touchdown run, the longest play of the night. UCF extended their nation's best winning streak to 14 games.[16] The Knights defense forced three turnovers, including a key interception at their own 10-yard line to snuff out a potential scoring drive by the Huskies just before halftime. The Knights also forced a turnover on downs, but ultimately received criticism for poor tackling.[17] The victory was the Knight's 6th consecutive away game victory, tying a school record.

South Carolina State

1 2 3 4 Total
Bulldogs 0 0 0 0 0
No. 19 Knights 14 10 14 0 38
Overall record Last meeting Result
2–0 2016 W, 38–0

The UCF Knights shutout South Carolina State 38–0 to extend the nation's longest winning streak to 15 games. Quarterback McKenzie Milton got off to a shaky start, throwing three interceptions in the first half. Milton managed to throw for 243 yards and one touchdown pass in the victory. The UCF rushing attack were the stars of the game, with 316 combined yards and four touchdowns. The Knights defense held the Bulldogs to only 80 yards passing, made four sacks and three interceptions. The Bulldogs never entered the red zone.[18] It was UCF's third straight home-opener victory.

Florida Atlantic

1 2 3 4 Total
Owls 7 10 6 13 36
No. 16 Knights 14 7 21 14 56
Overall record Last meeting Result
1–0 2003 W, 33–29
The Knights lining up to score on FAU in the third quarter.

UCF began the game by forcing an interception on the fourth play of the game, and quickly went up 14–0. The Owls then countered with 17 straight points, spurred on by a successful fake punt. The Knights offense went cold in the second quarter, with two three-and-outs, followed by a turnover on downs. A quick five-play, 78-yard drive in the final two minutes of the half, however, gave UCF a four point lead at halftime (21–17). Where UCF's offense may have been unremarkable in the second quarter, the Knights pulled away in the second half, opening with back-to-back touchdowns and led by multiple scores the rest of the night. McKenzie Milton led the Knights with 306 yards passing, 81 yards rushing, and 6 total touchdowns. The Owls were led by Devin Singletary who rushed for 131 yards and 3 scores. UCF won the turnover battle 3–0. It was the third consecutive game that UCF forced three turnovers, and extended the nation's longest winning streak to 16 games, as well as the nation's longest streak of scoring 30 or more points to sixteen.[19]

Pittsburgh

1 2 3 4 Total
Panthers 7 0 0 7 14
No. 13 Knights 14 17 7 7 45
Overall record Last meeting Result
0–1 2006 L, 7–52

McKenzie Milton threw four touchdown passes, and ran for two more touchdowns, as the Knights routed Pitt 45–14. UCF jumped out to a 14–0 lead in the first quarter after a Milton touchdown run and a touchdown reception by Gabriel Davis. But Pitt managed to put points on the board after Rafael Araujo-Lopes scored an 86-yard punt return touchdown. UCF took command in the second quarter scoring a touchdown on the following drive. Then the UCF defense thwarted a strong Pitt offensive drive when Richie Grant intercepted Kenny Pickett at the 8 yard line, snuffing out a potential Panthers score. Nine plays later, UCF was back in the endzone with a touchdown pass to Michael Colubiale. After a Pitt three-and-out, UCF drove for a field goal in the closing seconds of the second quarter. The Knights took a 31–7 lead into halftime. Pitt received the ball to start the third quarter, but went three-and-out and were forced to punt. Two plays later, Milton connected to Adrian Killins Jr. for a 71-yard touchdown pass, and a commanding 38–7 lead. Milton managed to lead one additional scoring drive before being rested for the remainder of the fourth quarter. Pitt's offense finally scored a touchdown with 4:46 remaining in regulation to make the final score 45–14.[20] Following the game, UCF crept up one spot in both the AP and Coaches' poll to #12 and #13, respectively. The Knights extended their winning streak, and their streak of scoring 30+ points to 17 games. The win was also their 10th consecutive home victory, one short of the school record.

SMU

1 2 3 4 Total
Mustangs 3 7 3 7 20
No. 12 Knights 21 6 7 14 48
Overall record Last meeting Result
7–1 2017 W, 31–24

The UCF Knights won their 18th consecutive game, extending the nation's longest active winning streak, and tied a school record with their 11th consecutive home game victory. The Knights also extended their streak of scoring 30+ points to 18 games. Quarterback McKenzie Milton threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for 17 yards, but suffered a scare late in the second quarter when he was hit with a hard tackle after a 9-yard scramble. SMU received the opening kickoff, and drove 62 yards for a field goal. The Knights then scored 21 unanswered points. Adrian Killins Jr. scored a 15-yard touchdown run for the Knights' first points. Then on the ensuing kickoff, Mustangs returner James Proche fumbled away the ball at the 18 yard line. Three plays later, Milton threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Dredrick Snelson and a 14–3 lead. On their next drive, Otis Anderson's 4-yard touchdown run made the score 21–3 at the end of the first quarter. SMU punted on their next two drives, then turned the ball over on downs at the UCF 27 yard line. Milton threw an interception, which led to an SMU touchdown. The Knights managed to put together two long field goal drives, and despite Milton sitting out several plays late in the second quarter, the Knights took a 27–10 lead into halftime. Milton was back in at quarterback in the third quarter, and led the Knights on an 11-play, 88-yard drive, capped off by a dramatic 1-yard touchdown run by defensive lineman Trysten Hill. Facing a 4th & Goal at the 1 yard line, the Knights put Hill in as running back, and he blasted through the line for his first career touchdown. Leading 34–13 entering the fourth quarter, the Knights tacked on two more touchdowns for a final score of 48–20.[21]

Head coach Josh Heupel also set a school record by posting the best win/loss record by a coach in his first season after five games. At 5–0, Heupel's team bested Don Jonas's 1979 team which started 4–0 in Division III then lost its fifth ever game.

at Memphis

1 2 3 4 Total
No. 10 Knights 0
Tigers 0
Overall record Last meeting Result
11–1 2017 W, 62–55

at East Carolina

1 2 3 4 Total
Knights 0
Pirates 0
Overall record Last meeting Result
6–10 2017 W, 63–21

Temple

1 2 3 4 Total
Owls 0
Knights 0
Overall record Last meeting Result
3–2 2017 W, 45–19
1 2 3 4 Total
Midshipmen 0
Knights 0
Overall record Last meeting Result
1–0 2017 W, 31–21

Cincinnati

1 2 3 4 Total
Bearcats 0
Knights 0
Overall record Last meeting Result
2–1 2017 W, 51–23

at South Florida

1 2 3 4 Total
Knights 0
Bulls 0
Overall record Last meeting Result
3–6 2017 W, 49–42

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final 
AP 21 19 18 16 13 12 10  
Coaches 23 20 18 18 14 13 9  
CFP Not released Not released

Awards and milestones

American Athletic Conference honors

Offensive player of the week

Defensive player of the week

  • October 8: Titus Davis[22]

School records

  • Most consecutive victories: 18 (ongoing; also an AAC record[22])
  • Most consecutive home game victories: 11 (ongoing; ties school record)
  • Most consecutive away game victories: 6 (ongoing; ties school record)

References

  1. ↑ "2018 Watch List | Lott IMPACT Trophy | Honoring College Football's Defensive Best". lottimpacttrophy.org. Retrieved 2018-07-17.
  2. ↑ "Rimington Trophy Press Release". May 30, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  3. ↑ "2018 Bednarik Award Watch List". July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  4. ↑ "2018 Maxwell Award Watch List". July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Davey O'Brien Award Watch List includes 26 players". July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Names 2018 Preseason Watchlist". July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  7. ↑ "2018 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  8. ↑ "22018 OUTLAND TROPHY WATCH LIST UNVEILED". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  9. ↑ Carbone, Al (July 27, 2018). "Walter Camp Football Foundation Announces 2018 Player of the Year Preseason "Watch List"". Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Watch List for 2018 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award ® Presented by A. O. Smith Announced". August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Manning Award: See which quarterbacks made the preseason watch list for 2018". August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  12. ↑ "UCF Tabbed as Favorite in 2018 Preseason Media Poll". TheAmerican.org. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  13. ↑ "Successful Spring". UCF Athletics. April 21, 2018. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  14. ↑ "UNC-UCF Football Game Will Not Be Played". UCFKnights.com (Press release). September 11, 2018.
  15. ↑ "2018 UCF Knights Football Schedule | Knights | FBSchedules.com". FBSchedules. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  16. ↑ "No. 21 UCF extends winning streak to 14 with rout of UConn". ESPN. August 31, 2018. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  17. ↑ Murschel, Matt (September 3, 2018). "UCF players, coaches receive surprise call from Aaron Robinson after scary injury". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  18. ↑ "No. 19 UCF routs SC State 38-0 for 15th straight victory". ESPN. September 8, 2018. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Milton accounts for 6 TDs, No. 16 UCF routs FAU 56-36". ESPN.com. September 21, 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Milton accounts for 6 TDs, No. 13 UCF routs Pitt 45-14". ESPN.com. September 29, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Milton, No. 12 UCF beats SMU 48-20 for 18th straight win". ESPN.com. October 7, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 "American Athletic Conference Football Report" (PDF). American Athletic Conference. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
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