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The UCF Knights (11-0; 8-0 AAC) handed their rival USF Bulls (9-2; 6-2 AAC) a loss on Black Friday in front of a sold-out, loud, and raucous crowd of almost 48,000 fans at Spectrum Stadium. The contest, nationally televised on ABC, was one of dramatic highs and lows, with the lead exchanging several times. The game had major implications for both teams’ seasons–the winner would go on to host the AAC Conference Championship game; that game’s victor will then earn a coveted spot in a NY6 Bowl (the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, GA). As reported by the AAC:

Mike Hughes 95-yard kickoff return with 1:28 remaining was the difference as No. 12 UCF completed the first unbeaten regular season in program history with a wild 49-42 victory over No. 19 USF on Friday to clinch the American Athletic Conference’s East Division title. The Knights (11-0, 8-0 AAC, CFP No. 15) will host Memphis in the conference title game on Dec. 2.

Hughes’ touchdown capped a crazy 53-second span where the Knights took an eight-point lead, South Florida tied it and then the Knights took the lead for good. The Bulls (9-2, 6-2) tied it at 42 when Quinton Flowers connected with Darnel Salomon for an 83-yard touchdown, and then found D’Ernest Johnson for a 2-point play. Flowers finished with 605 yards of total offense. On the ensuing kickoff, Hughes found an opening on the right side and scored.

South Florida drove to midfield late, but Mitchell Wilcox fumbled and it was recovered by Chequan Burkett. McKenzie Milton was 29 of 44 for 373 yards and four touchdowns. UCF led 21-7 late in the first quarter but South Florida took a 34-28 lead with 3:41 remaining in the game on Flowers’ 24-yard touchdown run, which marked the first time this season that the Knights had trailed in the second half.

UCF has scored 30 points or more in every game this season, which is the longest streak in the nation. Flowers threw for a career-high 503 yards (24 of 45, four touchdowns) and ran for 102. He had 348 yards alone in the first half with five completions of 30 yards or more. Tryre McCants had already set a USF single-game receiving record with 6 minutes remaining in the first half. The junior had 227 yards on nine receptions, including a 55-yard touchdown. The previous record was 191 yards by Andre Davis in a 2012 game at Nevada. McCants previous career high was 105 yards against SMU last season.

The Knights will now host the AAC Conference Championship game on Saturday at Bright House Networks Stadium. Kickoff is set for Noon and the game will be nationally televised on ABC. Check out video highlights of UCF’s win over South Florida courtesy of the American Digital Network below:

The UCF Knights (10-0; 7-0 AAC) crushed the Owls of Temple (5-6; 3-4 AAC) on Saturday in Philadelphia, marking their 10th win in an undefeated season. The AAC recaps the win:

PHILADELPHIA — McKenzie Milton threw four touchdown passes and ran for a score as No. 14/12 UCF took care of business against Temple, winning 45-19 Saturday to stay unbeaten heading into a showdown with rival USF. The Knights (10-0, 7-0 American Athletic conference, CFP No. 15) turned three Temple turnovers inside the Owls’ 25 into 17 first-half points, taking a 31-10 lead when Gabriel Davis stretched across the goal line for a 5-yard touchdown reception with 2:36 left in the second quarter.

The American’s East Division will be decided on Black Friday in Orlando, Florida, when No. 23/20 USF (9-1, 6-1) visits UCF. Temple (5-6, 3-4) could have been easy to overlook for the Knights. The game had no bearing on whether they play for a conference title and a loss probably wouldn’t have damaged their chances to play in a New Year’s Six bowl. Shaquem Griffin, the 2016 American defensive player of the year whose left hand was amputated when he was 4, was all over the field for the UCF defense.

He forced a fumble in the first half that set up a score and made his second career interception in the second half, running step-for-step down field with a receiver and cradling the ball into his chest. Frank Nutile, who helped revive Temple’s offense when he took over at quarterback four games ago, was picked off four times. UCF now faces what could be its toughest battle of the season against rival USF, who comes to Spectrum Stadium on Black Friday to face the Knights. That game will be nationally-televised on ABC with a kickoff set for 3:30pm. If the Knights win, they’ll take on the #22 Memphis Tigers (9-1; 6-1 AAC) for the second time this season in the American Athletics Conference Championship Game on 12/2. UCF defeated Memphis earlier in the season 40-13. Check out video highlights of UCF’s win over Temple, courtesy of the American Athletics Association, below:

Photo Courtesy American Athletic Conference.

The UCF Knights (9-0; 6-0 AAC) pummeled past the Huskies of UCONN (3-7; 2-4 AAC) 49-24 Saturday in a rainy day matchup at Spectrum Stadium. The win kept the Knights at #12 in the Coaches Poll. UCF was ranked #18 in the College Football Playoff Poll last week; and new standings will release Tuesday. The AP recaps UCF’s Saturday victory against UCONN below:

ORLANDO, Fla. — Otis Anderson rushed for 84 yards and two touchdowns, McKenzie Milton passed for 311 yards and No. 14 UCF pulled away from UConn for a 49-24 victory on Saturday. Anderson had a 3-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and helped the undefeated Knights break it open with a 65-yard touchdown run, making it 35-17 with 14:11 left.

UCF (9-0, 6-0 American Athletic Conference, CFP, No. 18) also got a solid performance from Milton, who was 24-for-36 passing. He tossed a 6-yard TD pass to Marlon Williams in the first quarter and a 41-yarder to Tre’Quan Smith with 7:43 left in the first half, helping the Knights to a 28-10 lead at the break. After Anderson’s second TD, Milton added a 4-yard touchdown run that made it 42-17 with 8:54 left.

David Pindell passed for 201 yards and a touchdown and also ran for a score for UConn (3-7, 2-5), but the Huskies were unable to keep up with the high-scoring Knights. Pindell was inserted into the starting lineup in place of the injured Bryant Shirreffs. Pindell’s 9-yard touchdown run made it 28-17 early in the second half. UCF failed to score in the third, just the second time this season the Knights went scoreless in a quarter.

But they made up for it with a big finish. Noah Vedral’s 35-yard touchdown pass to Cam Stewart made it 49-17 with 7:03 left. Pindell led the Huskies with 21 carries for 96 yards. He was 18 for 31 through the air, also throwing an interception. Smith also finished with seven catches for 120 yards for UCF.

UCF takes on the Owls of Temple this Saturday in Philadelphia (5-5; 3-3 AAC). Kickoff is set for Noon and the game will be broadcast live on ESPNU. Video highlights of the UCF v  UCONN game appear below, courtesy of the American Athletic Conference:

Photo Courtesy Orlando Sentinel.

The UCF Knights (8-0; 5-0 AAC) continued their win streak to 8-0 on Saturday in a 31-24 battle to the finish against the Mustangs of SMU (6-3; 3-2 AAC). The win also saw UCF move up to #12 in the Coaches’ Poll rankings and #14 in the AP rankings. Official playoff rankings will be released Tuesday night. The AP reports:

DALLAS — McKenzie Milton threw a touchdown pass and ran for a score, Adrian Killins Jr. rushed for two more touchdowns and No. 15/14 UCF stayed undefeated with a 31-24 victory over SMU on Saturday night. The Knights (8-0, 5-0 American, No. 18 CFP) remained on track to play in a major New Year’s Day bowl game if they can win out.

SMU’s best opportunity at an upset fizzled with 5:10 remaining when wideout Trey Quinn dropped a pass on fourth-and-3 that would have given the Mustangs (6-3, 3-2) a first down deep in UCF territory. The game wasn’t quite the shootout that was expected. UCF entered the weekend averaging 51 points, the most in the nation. SMU was averaging 41.5 points.

Still, there were plenty of explosive plays throughout. Two of UCF’s scoring drives lasted three plays or less but covered at least 75 yards. Killins scored on runs of 64 yards and 34 yards for UCF, splitting defenders and shedding would-be tacklers along the way. And early in the second quarter, Milton found wide receiver Gabriel Davis down the right sideline for an 80-yard touchdown strike.

SMU scored on its first offensive play from scrimmage when Ben Hicks connected with James Proche for an 86-yard touchdown player. The sophomore receiver made five defenders miss on the catch-and-run, following a couple blockers down the sideline to the end zone. Offensive miscues proved costly for both teams. The Mustangs saw a 56-yard drive in the first half end a yard short when running back Ke’Mon Freeman fumbled into the end zone for a touchback. Milton, who had thrown just three interceptions entering the game, threw two against SMU. One of them was returned by SMU defensive back Jordan Wyatt 36 yards for a touchdown.

The Knights next opponent is the UCONN Huskies (3-6; 2-4 AAC). Kickoff is set for Noon at Spectrum Stadium on the beautiful UCF Campus. The game will be nationally televised on ESPNU.

Check out video highlights of the UCF win over SMU, courtesy of the American Athletic Conference below:

Photo Courtesy Orlando Sentinel.