The UCF Knights (5-3; 3-2 C-USA) pulled off a major and last-minute victory against the Thundering Herd of Marshall (5-4; 3-2 C-USA) Sunday night in-front of a national audience on ESPN. Without competition from the NFL, the Knights had the only football game of the evening. Even though it was a late game on a Sunday night, nearly 36,000 fans attended the game and those that stayed until the last 2 minutes saw one of the biggest comebacks in UCF Football history! The Herd led 20-14 in the last 2:40 of the 4th quarter and took over on downs. Marshall looked destined to run out the clock and claim its first victory over the Knights since moving to Conference USA. But UCF’s defense had different plans. Junior Bruce Miller and freshman cornerback Josh Robinson gave UCF one last fighting chance.
Miller stripped the ball from Marshall Quarterback Brian Anderson and Robinson recovered on the Herd 30-yard line. UCF QB Brett Hodges dodged pressure on the ensuing series and took UCF all the way down to the 1-yard line with a 19-yard pass to Kamar Aiken. Hodges dropped back one more time, connecting with senior Rocky Ross for a 1-yard touchdown. Nick Cattoi hit the extra point and UCF pulled ahead of Marshall 21-20 with 23 seconds left in the game. Marshall started their final drive on their 48 yard line; but 3 incomplete passes and a sack sealed their fate and a UCF Knights victory! UCF moves up to 2nd place in Conference USA East and will venture into Austin, TX to take on the #2 Longhorns (8-0; 5-0 Big 12) at Noon on Saturday. The game will be nationally-televised on Fox Sports Network. WAY TO GO KNIGHTS!!! BEAT THE LONGHORNS!!!