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: