UCF ran out the clock and secured the victory.[53]. This was the first, and to-date, only time the game has been held on Thanksgiving night. 12 UCF Beats USF to Cap Turnaround", "South Florida vs. UCF – Play-By-Play – November 24, 2017 – ESPN", "Inside UCF's 95-yard kickoff return that clinched wild win", "UCF edges USF to stay perfect, quell Scott Frost news", "UCF rallies for historic win over rival USF, clinches perfect season", "Three TDs in 53 seconds? USF looking very much like a team that could become the first to finish 7-6 after starting 7-0. For the first time since 1995, UCF wore black jerseys and black pants. South Florida leads the series 6–5. UCF scored their only offensive points—a Kyle Israel rush for a touchdown, and a field goal—in the first half. Meanwhile, Grothe now has the top three rushing games by a freshman quarterback in South Florida history, including his 73 yards. National championship seasons in bold; College Cup seasons in italics, 2017 American Athletic Conference Football Championship Game, 2018 American Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Tournament, American Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament, 2017 American Athletic Conference Tournament, 2015 American Athletic Conference Softball Tournament, 2015 American Athletic Conference Tournament, 2016 American Athletic Conference Tournament, 2013 American Athletic Conference Tournament, "Bru's Clues: Week 14 College Football Picks", "USF & UCF Establish "War on I-4" Rivalry Series", "UCF, USF Debut Rivalry Series – UCFKnights.com | UCF Knights", "USF & UCF establish 'War on I-4' rivalry series", "Knights Finish 2nd at AAC, Secure War On I-4 Title", "Hey Bulls: An I-4 War is Good for USF; UCF Medical Journal", "Important Dates in USF Football History", "USF says no contracts proposed for football with UCF", "Report: O'Leary says USF-UCF rivalry rekindled", "UCF officials say there is no contract yet for potential new series with USF", "USF offered to play UCF in Citrus Bowl this fall", "Big East finally announces UCF is joining league", "Aresco: UCF, USF rivalry 'a cornerstone' of American Athletic Conference", "Finally, Big East gives UCF some much-needed good news", "Rivalry game is one USF can't afford to lose", "No. He had 82 rushing yards against Florida International and 58 in the season opener against McNeese State. They’re the first team in the history of FBS football to start a season 7-0 then lose six in a row, according to ESPN’s Chris Fallica. [6][71][72] USF won both games 9–0 and 5–4 respectively. Bowl and city officials decided against pitting the two nearby schools, as they preferred at least one distant team so that more out-of-town fans would book hotel rooms in the area. UCF led 24–0 at halftime. [31][32] In 2013, UCF pulled off a late 23–20 win against the Bulls in Orlando to earn its first victory against South Florida.
Early in the second quarter, facing a 3rd & 7 at the USF 30, McKenzie Milton scrambled to the right and was upended after a diving tackle by Mazzi Wilkins. Mack threw for 81 yards in substitute, but it was the running game that took over in the second half. Milton suffered a "traumatic" knee injury,[49] and was carted off the field and brought to Tampa General Hospital for surgery.
Note: Because neither team scored the 43 points required to clinch the title before spring sports were canceled due to COVID-19, the 2019-2020 overall title was not awarded. [20] The Bulls won both games, which both drew crowds over 45,000. The first meeting between the Florida Technical University Knights of the Pegasus (UCF)[5] and the University of South Florida Golden Brahman was in 1972 in a basketball game in Tampa. [33][34] In May 2014, The American announced that beginning with the 2015 season - when the conference formally split into divisions - both schools would be a member of the newly-created East Division. The Knights took the opening kickoff and drove 65 yards in twelve plays, including four third-down conversions. [39][43] The game was called one of the best of the season.[44][45][46].