TEAM NOTES

AWESOME ACADEMICS
• This past spring, UCF Athletics extended its streak to 27 consecutive semesters with a department
average GPA of 3.0 or better and it marked the ninth straight semester of a 3.2 or better as a department.
• The UCF football team put 49 student-athletes on the AAC All-Academic Team this past spring.
• A total of 37 football student-athletes earned Dean’s List honors over the course of the 2020-21 school
year, with Derek Gainous, Anthony Montalvo and Alex Swenson earning the accolades both semesters.
• Gainous, a senior safety for the Knights, also received CoSIDA Academic All-District honors this past year.

KNIGHTS IN THE NFL
• The UCF football team set a program record this spring when five Knights were selected in the 2021 NFL
Draft, topping the previous best of four, attained both in 2003 and 2018.
• Safety Richie Grant went to the Falcons in the second round, cornerback Aaron Robinson was picked by
the Giants in the third round, wide receiver/tight end Jacob Harris was snagged by the Rams in the fourth
round, cornerback Tay Gowan went to the Cardinals in the sixth round, and wide receiver Tre Nixon was
picked by the Patriots in the seventh round.
• In all, UCF totaled more NFL Draft picks in 2021 than all other American Athletic Conference teams, 80 %
of all Big 12 teams, 79 % of all Big Ten teams, 79% of all ACC teams, 75 % of all Pac-12 teams, and 57% of
all SEC teams.

NATIONAL EXPOSURE
• UCF ranks among the FBS leaders in major network national television appearances by its football team
over the last three seasons (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, ESPN2).
• In 2018, 2019 and 2020, the Knights appeared 26 times on either ABC, ESPN or ESPN2, ranking ninth
nationally in that category.
• The Knights have appeared on ESPN twice in their first five games of the 2021 season and are on ABC in
this one at Cincinnati.

BOWLS, BCS AND NEW YEAR’S SIX
• The Knights appeared in their fifth straight bowl game in 2020 (Roofclaim.com Boca Raton Bowl vs.
BYU), extending the program record for most consecutive bowl game appearances. UCF played in the Cure
Bowl in 2016, the Peach Bowl in 2017, the Fiesta Bowl in 2018 and the Gasparilla Bowl in 2019.
• The 2020 Boca Raton Bowl marked UCF’s eighth bowl appearance in the last nine seasons and the
Knights’ 12th in the past 16 years.
• Since the 2013 season, UCF has appeared in three BCS/New Year’s Six bowl games and won two (2014
Fiesta Bowl, 2018 Peach Bowl).
• The Knights are one of only 16 FBS programs in the nation to appear in three such games during that
span and one of only 13 teams to win two games during that time.
• UCF is the only current non-”Power 5” team to appear on either list.

BIG 12 CONFERENCE
• The University of Central Florida accepted an invitation to join the Big 12 Conference, as announced
by Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby, UCF director of athletics Terry Mohajir, and UCF President Alex
Cartwright on Friday, Sept. 10.
• The Knights athletics program has now moved from Division III, Division II, the FCS level, the FBS level
that included time in the MAC, Conference USA, the AAC, and now to the Big 12 Conference.
• Mohajir: “This is a landmark day for anyone ever associated with UCF or UCF Athletics. As we anticipate
a future move to the Big 12 Conference, we first owe a vote of thanks to all those at UCF who have gone
before us. There’s a long list of student-athletes, coaches, athletics directors, university presidents and
support staff, fans and donors and, of course, our student body, plus so many others whose hard work and
successes have helped pave the way for today’s announcement. The bases were already loaded, and I feel
very blessed and honored to get to step up to the plate on behalf of UCF.”

FUTURE FOOTBALL CAMPUS VISION
• On August 19, new UCF director of athletics Terry Mohajir announced his planned vision for UCF
Athletics’ football campus at the Kenneth G. Dixon Athletics Village.
• UCF’s previously announced McNamara Cove that will include a recovery river for student-athletes and
“Covegating” experiences for fans on game days is part of the plan.
• Also announced was the Launch Club, a new structure on the south side of the stadium located above
the Garvy Center for Nutrition, featuring coaches’ offices combined with premium seating areas.
• The north end zone will feature additional seating and standing-room only decks for expansion of the
Knightmare Student Section.

GRADUATES

The Knights currently have 21 student-athletes playing
this season who have already earned degrees in college,
which ranks among the top 15 in the nation.

UCF’s Graduates
Bryson Armstrong
Brett Bell
Isaiah Bowser
Anthony Brito
Big Kat Bryant
Austin Camden
Nate Craig-Myers
Kalia Davis
Derek Gainous
Noah Hancock
Jake Hescock
Brandon Johnson
Samuel Jackson
Zamari Maxwell
Josh McMullen
Anthony Montalvo
Jon Powell
Cole Schneider
Alex Swenson
Marcus Tatum
Stephon Zayas

OFFENSE NOTES

PRETTY DARN OFFENSIVE
• UCF has ranked in the top eight nationally in both total offense and scoring each of the last three
seasons, the only team in the country to accomplish that.
• The Knights scored 30 or more points in 31 straight games from Aug. 31, 2017 to Sept. 28, 2019, which
set a record for the longest streak in the Associated Press Poll era (since 1936).
• UCF has scored 30 or more points in 49 of its last 53 outings, 40 or more points in 30 of its last 53
games and has reached the 50-point plateau 16 times in the last 53 outings.
• Last season, the Knights ranked second in the nation in total offense for the second straight year,
averaging 568.1 yards per game, an all-time UCF and American Athletic Conference high.
• UCF also ranked fourth in passing, seventh in first downs and eighth in scoring, averaging 42.2 points
per game in 2020.
• The Knights are still among the nation’s top offenses in 2021, ranking 21st in the nation in scoring
offense at 36.8 points per game and 22nd in total offense with 469.0 yards of total offense per game.

GABRIEL’S GONE FOR NOW…KEENE COME ON IN
• Dillon Gabriel made a name for himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the nation, came into the
2021 season as a PFF preseason honorable mention All-American, and was a watch list honoree for every
national quarterback and player of the year award.
• In 2020 he threw for 3,570 yards and 32 passing touchdowns with only four interceptions in just a 10-
game season.
• He earned second-team all-conference accolades from the AAC and led the nation with 357.0 passing
yards per game. Gabriel’s 32 passing touchdowns ranked fourth in the nation and were the second most
in a single season in UCF history. As a sophomore he threw for 400 or more yards in four games in 2020,
which was more than any other Knight has done in an entire career.
• Gabriel didn’t miss a step through three games of the 2021 season, but fractured his clavicle in the loss
to Louisville on Sept. 17.
• True freshman Mikey Keene was named Gabriel’s backup prior to the start of the season, earned his
first-career start in the loss to Navy on Oct. 2, and picked up his first win against ECU on Oct. 9. He has
gone 43-of-68 for 427 yards with three touchdown passes in replacing Gabriel.
• As a senior at Chandler High in Arizona in 2020, Keene led his team to a 10-0 record and a state title,
while throwing for over 2,000 yards and 22 touchdowns while recording just one interception.

THE RUNNING BACK ROOM
• The UCF rushing attack looks a lot different in 2021, as the Knights replaced their top three running
backs from a season ago in Greg McCrae, Otis Anderson and Bentavious Thompson.
• The most experienced back in the room is graduate transfer Isaiah Bowser, who totaled 334 carries for
1,300 yards and seven touchdowns with Nortwestern the last three seasons.
• In his first game as a Knight, Bowser rushed 33 times for a career-high 172 yards and a touchdown.
In week two he scored four rushing touchdowns. He suffered an injury in the loss at Louisville and only
played limited snaps, and then missed the Navy game and the ECU game due to injury.
• As a team, UCF ranks 24th in the nation in rushing after five games, thanks to the efforts of Bowser,
Johnny Richardson, Mark-Antony Richards and Trillion Coles. Richardson has rushed 42 times for 297
yards (7.1 per carry), while Coles has rushed 29 times for 156 yards and Richards scored the gamewinning touchdown against ECU on Oct. 9.

THE BIG BOYS ARE BACK
• UCF returns its an entire offensive line from last season, which includes six different o-linemen that
started games in 2020.
• Both Matthew Lee at center and Edward Collins at tackle started all 10 games a season ago, while Cole
Schneider started nine times at guard, Samuel Jackson started eight times at both guard and tackle,
Lokahi Pauole started eight times at guard, and Marcus Tatum started five times at tackle.
• Between the six of them, the offensive linemen have now combined for 112 career starts at UCF and
123 total collegiate starts, including Tatum’s 11 starts at Tennessee.
• Schneider leads the pack with 39 career starts in his time at UCF, but got his first start at center at
Louisville on Sept. 17, filling in for the injured Lee.

RECEIVER ROUNDUP
• The top returning receiver target is Jaylon “Flash” Robinson, who totaled 979 yards and six touchdowns
in his first season with the Knights in 2020.
• Jay Flash earned first-team all-conference honors in the AAC as a sophomore, ranking 14th in the nation
in receiving yards.
• Robinson went over 100 yards six times on the season, which tied for the third most in UCF history.
• Robinson caught 12 passes for 234 yards and two scores in just over two games of action in 2021, but
has missed the Navy game and ECU game due to injury. Brandon Johnson and Ryan O’Keefe have stepped
up this season. Johnson leads the way with five touchdowns to go with 240 yards and 20 grabs. O’Keefe
leads the team with 28 receptions and 315 yards to go with one score. Amari Johnson has 14 catches for
97 yards, while tight end Alec Holler has eight catches for 67 yards and a score.

DEFENSE NOTES

DEFENSE DIGS DEEP
• The Knights held their first two opponents to 283 yards and 279 yards of total offense, respectively. UCF
was 2-0. In the two losses this season, the Knights have given up 501 yards and 406 yards of offense. In
the Oct. 9 victory over ECU, UCF allowed just 16 points and 360 yards of offense.
• UCF ranks 81st in scoring defense, allowing 27.4 points per game, 61st in total defense, giving up 365.8
yards per game, 55th in passing defense (221.0), and 63rd in rushing defense (144.8).
• New defensive coordinator Travis Williams has had the task of turning around UCF’s defense that
ranked 123rd in the nation in total defense a season ago, allowing 491.8 yards per game, and 92nd in
scoring defense, giving up 33.2 points per game.
• Allowing less than 300 yards in each of its first two games, UCF did so in consecutive outings for the first
time since achieving the feat against SMU and South Florida on Nov. 22 and Nov. 28, 2014

TURNOVER TOWN
• The Knight defense had success turning opponents over in 2020, ranking sixth in the nation with 22
turnovers gained, which helped the Knights rank fifth with a 1.20 turnover margin.
• In fact, UCF led the entire nation in fumbles recovered last season, totaling 13 in a 10-game season.
• The Knights were 6-0 when recording more takeaways than their opponent and 0-4 when having an
equal amount of turnovers last season. UCF did not give the ball away more times than its opponent in
any game in 2020.
• UCF had just three interceptions through the first three games of 2021, one in each game, and then
recovered a pair of fumbles at Navy, and forced a trio of turnovers in the win over ECU. The Knights rank
41st in turnovers gained with nine in 2021.

D-LINE DOING ITS THING
• With the addition of Auburn transfer Big Kat Bryant, Western Kentucky transfer and freshman AllAmerican Ricky Barber, and the return of Kalia Davis, who opted out last season due to the COVID-19
pandemic, the UCF defensive line looked to be a bright spot in 2021. Barber has missed the last two
games due to injury and Davis has been ruled out for the season.
• Bryant has 20 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack and leads the team with six hurries. Anthony Montalvo
has 19 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Cam Goode has 14 tackles, a TFL, a breakup and
three forced fumbles, which ranks third in the nation. Josh Celiscar has 13 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, three sacks,
two hurries and a fumble recovery.

BACKFIELD FIGHTING
• A pair of cornerbacks in Davonte Brown and Corey Thornton combined for 15 starts as true freshmen
last season. The two started each of the first three games of the 2021 season, but Thornton missed the
Navy game due to injury and returned in a reserve role against ECU.
• Divaad Wilson, Quadric Bullard, Derek Gainous and Dyllon Lester have all started at safety this year.
• Bullard is second on the team with 35 tackles, and is third in the nation with two fumble recoveries.

THE LINEBACKER LINE
• Tatum Bethune, Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste and Bryson Armstrong have all started at linebacker this
season.
• Bethune, the AAC Defensive Player of the Week, returned from injury to make 17 tackles in the
win over ECU. He has 32 on the season to go with a TFL, a pick and a hurry. Jean-Baptiste got his first
interception against ECU, ranks fourth on the team with 27 tackles and has 3.0 TFLs.
• UCF newcomer and former FCS All-American Armstrong is a two-time Big South Defensive Player of the
Year and has totaled 40 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks in his career. He currently leads the Knights with 45
tackles after totaling 22 at Navy, one off the school record.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

KICKIN’ IT
• Daniel Obarski is the only UCF kicker on the roster with experience kicking field goals at the collegiate
level, having gone 12-of-17 and scoring 82 points as a sophomore for the Knights in 2020.
• He has hit 23 of his 24 extra point attempts in 2021, and has connected on all three of his field goal
attempts, including a career-long 40-yarder against ECU on Oct. 9.

OH OH IT’S OSTEEN
• Andrew Osteen returns for his third season on punting duties for the Knights in 2021, and now ranks
sixth in UCF history with 120 career punts, sixth with 5,059 career yards punting, and second with a 42.2
yards per punt average.
• Last season, he punted 40 times for 1,756 yards, an average of 43.9 yards per punt, which ranked third
in the AAC. Osteen was honored by the Ray Guy Award as a member of its preseason watch list for 2021.

OTHER SPECIALTIES
• Alex Ward returns to snapping duties as a redshirt senior and was among those honored on the Patrick
Mannelly Award preseason watch list this summer.
• The Knights have gotten kick returns from Johnny Richardson (9 for 195), Ryan O’Keefe (3 for 71) and
Titus Mokiao-Atimilala (2 for 42) so far in 2021.
• On punt returns in 2021, it has been Mokiao-Atimalala (4 for 16) and Amari Johnson (5 for 57).

THE AMERICAN

STANDINGS
American Overall Streak
Houston 3-0 5-1 W5
SMU 2-0 6-0 W6
Cincinnati 1-0 5-0 W5
UCF 1-1 3-2 W1
ECU 1-1 3-3 L1
Temple 1-1 3-3 L1
Tulsa 1-1 2-4 W1
Navy 1-2 1-4 L1
South Florida 0-1 1-4 L2
Memphis 0-2 3-3 L3
Tulane 0-2 1-5 L4

SCHEDULE
Thursday, Oct. 14
Navy at Memphis 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Saturday, Oct. 16
UCF at Cincinnati 12 p.m. (ABC)
Tulsa at South Florida 12 p.m. (ESPNU)

HONORS
Offensive Player of the Week
Sept. 6 Tanner Mordecai, QB, SMU
Sept. 13 Calvin Austin III, WR, Memphis
Sept. 20 Tanner Mordecai, QB, SMU
Sept. 27 Davis Brin, QB, Tulsa
Oct. 4 Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
Oct. 11 Jerome Ford, RB, Cincinnati
Defensive Player of the Week
Sept. 6 Kalia Davis, DL, UCF
Sept. 13 William Kwenkeu, LB, Temple
Sept. 20 Deshawn Pace, LB, Cincinnati
Sept. 27 Derek Parish, LB, Houston
Oct. 4 Taylor Robinson, S, Navy
Oct. 11 Tatum Bethune, LB, UCF

Special Teams Player of the Week
Sept. 6 Joe Doyle, K, Memphis
Sept. 13 Mannie Nunnery, LB, Houston
Sept. 20 Calvin Austin III, WR, Memphis
Sept. 27 Marcus Jones, CB, Houston
Oct. 4 Marcus Jones, CB, Houston
Oct. 11 Bryan Massey, S, SMU
Knights on the Honor Roll
Sept. 6 Isaiah Bowser, RB, UCF
Sept. 13 Dillon Gabriel, QB, UCF
Oct. 4 Bryson Armstrong, LB, UCF

HULA BOWL TO ORLANDO

Early in August, UCF announced that the Hula Bowl,
one of the most tradition-rich college football all-star
games, will be heading to the Bounce House. The game
is scheduled to be played Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022 on the
campus of UCF.

FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS

The Hula Bowl is a post-season college football all-star game held annually, usually in January. From inception through the 2021 playing, it was held in Hawaii; the 2022 playing is planned for Orlando, Florida.

The game was first staged in 1947, between mainland collegiate players and local Hawaiian players; it has been played exclusively with collegiate players since 1960. The bowl was paused following its 2008 edition, then was revived in January 2020.

The game was originally held at Honolulu Stadium in Honolulu, then moved to Aloha Stadium in Halawa starting with the January 1976 edition. The game remained at Aloha Stadium through the 2021 edition, except for eight editions played at War Memorial Stadium on the island of Maui. The University of Central Florida (UCF) agreed to host the January 2022 playing of the game, due to Aloha Stadium being closed for repairs and upgrades.

SCHOLARSHIPS EARNED

On August 27, head coach Gus Malzahn awarded three
walk-ons scholarships for the 2021 season; defensive
back Alex Swenson, punter Alan Kervin and running
back Trillion Coles.

SERIES SCHEDULED

The Knights announced two new series to their future
schedules during the offseason, adding a three-game
series with Florida (2024 in Gainesville, 2030 at the
Bounce House, 2033 in Gainesville) and a home-andhome seris with Maryland (2025 in College Park, 2028
at the Bounce House)

HONORS AND AWARDS

Bryson Armstrong
• AAC Weekly Honor Roll (10/4)
Ricky Barber
• PFF Preseason Third-Team All-AAC (7/1)
Tatum Bethune
• AAC Defensive Player of the Week (10/11)
• College Sports Madness AAC Def. Player of the Week (10/10)
Isaiah Bowser
• CBS Sports Inside College Football Game Ball (9/7)
• AAC Weekly Honor Roll (9/6)
Big Kat Bryant
• Phil Steele Preseason Third-Team All-AAC (6/22)
• Athlon Preseason Second-Team All-AAC (5/21)
Kalia Davis
• AAC Defensive Player of the Week (9/6)
• Phil Steele Preseason Third-Team All-AAC (6/22)
• Athlon Preseason Third-Team All-AAC (5/21)
Dillon Gabriel
• AAC Weekly Honor Roll (9/13)
• Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List (8/19)
• Manning Award Watch List (8/5)
• Walter Camp Award Watch List (7/30)
• Davey O’Brien Award Watch List (7/20)
• Maxwell Award Watch List (7/19)
• PFF Preseason First-Team All-AAC (7/1)
• PFF Preseason Honorable Mention All-America (6/28)
• Phil Steele Preseason Second-Team All-AAC (6/22)
• Athlon Preseason Second-Team All-AAC (5/21)
Derek Gainous
• PFF Preseason Second-Team All-AAC (7/1)
Cam Goode
• PFF Preseason Third-Team All-AAC (7/1)
Brandon Johnson
• Phil Steele Preseason Third-Team All-AAC (6/22)
Matthew Lee
• College Football News Preseason All-AAC (8/7)
• Phil Steele Preseason Second-Team All-AAC (6/22)
• Athlon Preseason Third-Team All-AAC (5/21)
Gus Malzahn
• FWAA Steve Spurrier Award Weekly Watch (9/7)
Tre’mon Morris-Brash
• PFF Preseason Second-Team All-AAC (7/1)
Ryan O’Keefe
• Phil Steele Preseason Fourth-Team All-AAC (6/22)
Andrew Osteen
• Ray Guy Award Watch List (7/30)
• PFF Preseason Second-Team All-AAC (7/1)
• Phil Steele Preseason Third-Team All-AAC (6/22)
• Athlon Preseason Second-Team All-AAC (5/21)
Jaylon Robinson
• Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Weekly Honorable Mention (9/7)
• College Football News Preseason All-AAC (8/7)
• Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List (8/5)
• Biletnikoff Award Watch List (7/22)
• Phil Steele Preseason First-Team All-AAC (6/22)
• Athlon Preseason First-Team All-AAC (5/21)
Cole Schneider
• Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List (8/12)
• College Football News Preseason All-AAC (8/7)
• Outland Trophy Watch List (7/27)
• Phil Steele Preseason First-Team All-AAC (6/22)
• Athlon Preseason First-Team All-AAC (5/21)
Alex Ward
• Patrick Mannelly Award Watch List (8/9)
• Phil Steele Preseason Third-Team All-AAC (6/22)
Divaad Wilson MALZAHN VS. OPPONENTS • Phil Steele Preseason Third-Team All-AAC (6/22)

HISTORICAL NOTES

Milestone Attendance Marks
• Including an exhibition game against Team Moscow
in 1992, a total of 6,178,869 have attended UCF
home games since 1979.
• Including all games, home, away, neutral and
exhibition, since 1979 a total of 12,538,975 have
watched the Knights play in person.
• Since opening the Bounce House in 2007, a total
of 3,370,311 fans have attended UCF home football
games.
Largest Home Crowds in UCF History
Opponent (Year) Attendance

1. Tulsa (2005 – C-USA Champ.) 51,978
2. Virginia Tech (2000) 50,220
3. Miami (2009) 48,453
4. Cincinnati (2018) 47,795
5. South Carolina (2013) 47,605
6. South Florida (2017) 47,129
7. South Florida (2008) 46,805
8. South Florida (2006) 46,708
9. Marshall (2007) 46,103
10. South Florida (2013) 45,952
    UCF played at the Florida Citrus Bowl from 1979-06
    until the Bounce House opened in 2007.
    Largest Away Crowds in UCF History
    Opponent (Year) Attendance
11. Michigan (2016) 109,295
12. Ohio State (2012) 104,745
13. Penn State (2002) 103,029
14. Penn State (2004) 101,715
15. Texas (2009) 101,003
16. Penn State (2013) 92,855
17. Florida (2006) 90,210
18. Georgia (1999) 86,117
19. Florida (1999) 85,346
20. Alabama (2000) 83,818
    RECORD AT THE BOUNCE HOUSE
    OVERALL 69-22
    CONFERENCE 44-13
    POSTSEASON 3-0
    Outscored Opponents 3,077-1,765
    GAMES (without 1992 exhibition game)
    1 9/22/79 at St. Leo W 21-0
    100 10/8/88 New Haven L 23-31
    200 9/27/97 at Auburn L 14-41
    250 11/24/01 Louisiana-Lafayette W 31-0
    300 9/9/06 at Florida L 0-42
    350 9/4/10 South Dakota W 38-7
    400 11/29/13 S. Florida W 23-20
    450 11/18/17 at Temple W 45-19
    494 10/9/21 East Carolina W 20-16
    HOME WINS
    1 9/29/79 Fort Benning 7-6
    100 10/26/02 Akron 28-17
    180 10/9/21 East Carolina 20-16
    AWAY WINS (does not include neutral-sites)
    1 9/22/79 at St. Leo 21-0
    50 10/24/09 at Rice 49-7
    88 11/27/20 at S. Florida 58-46
    FOOTBALL BOWL SUBDIVISION ERA GAMES
    1 8/29/96 William & Mary W 39-33
    100 11/13/04 at Ball State L 17-21
    300 10/24/20 Tulane W 51-34
    310 10/9/21 East Carolina W 20-16
    FOOTBALL BOWL SUBDIVISION ERA WINS
    1 8/29/96 William & Mary 39-33
    50 10/21/05 Tulane 34-24
    100 10/13/12 Southern Miss 38-31 (2OT)
    150 9/29/18 Pittsburgh 45-14

KNIGHTS IN THE NFL

Jordan Akins Houston Texans
A.J. Bouye Carolina Panthers
Gabriel Davis Buffalo Bills
Jordan Franks Cleveland Browns (practice)
Tay Gowan Arizona Cardinals
Richie Grant Atlanta Falcons
Shaquem Griffin Miami Dolphins (practice)
Shaquill Griffin Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacob Harris Los Angeles Rams
Trysten Hill Dallas Cowboys
Mike Hughes Kansas City Chiefs
Charley Hughlett Cleveland Browns
Adrian Killins Jr. Denver Broncos (reserve)
Justin McCray Houston Texans
Latavius Murray Baltimore Ravens
Tre Nixon New England Patriots (practice)
Breshad Perriman Chicago Bears
Matt Prater Arizona Cardinals
Aaron Robinson New York Giants
Tre’Quan Smith New Orleans Saints
Matthew Wright Jacksonville Jaguars

HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE

UCF’s all-time record of 69-22 (.758) at the Bounce House ranks
in the top 10 in the nation for best win percentage in a home
stadium.

MALZAHN VS. OPPONENTS

Alabama ………………………3-5
Alabama A&M ………………1-0
Alabama State ………………1-0
Alcorn State ………………….1-0
Arkansas………………………7-1
Arkansas State ………………2-0
Bethune-Cookman ………..1-0
Boise State……………………1-0
Clemson……………………….0-2
East Carolina…………………1-0
Florida …………………………0-1
Florida Atlantic ……………..1-0
Florida International………1-0
Florida State …………………0-1
Georgia………………………..2-7
Georgia Southern ………….1-0
Idaho …………………………..1-0
Jacksonville State…………..1-0
Kansas State …………………1-0
Kent State …………………….1-0
Kentucky………………………2-0
Liberty …………………………1-0
LSU……………………………… 3-5
Louisiana ……………………..1-0
ULM…………………………….3-0
Louisiana Tech ………………1-0
Louisville………………………1-1
Memphis ……………………..2-0
Mercer…………………………1-0
Middle Tennessee………….1-0
Minnesota ……………………0-1
Ole Miss……………………….7-1
Mississippi State ……………5-3
Missouri……………………….2-0
Navy……………………………. 0-1
Nebraska………………………0-1
North Texas…………………..1-0
Oklahoma …………………….0-1
Oregon…………………………1-1
Purdue…………………………1-0
Samford ……………………….2-0
San Jose State……………….2-0
South Alabama ……………..1-0
South Carolina ………………1-1
Southern Miss ………………1-0
Tennessee…………………….2-1
Texas A&M……………………5-3
Troy…………………………….. 1-0
Tulane………………………….1-0
UCF …………………………….. 0-1
Vanderbilt…………………….1-0
Washington ………………….1-0
Washington State ………….1-0
Western Carolina…………..1-0
Western Kentucky …………0-1

Wisconsin …………………….0-1

Gus Malzahn, who led Auburn to the Bowl Championship Series
National Championship Game following the 2013 season in the first
of eight straight years his Tigers qualified for bowl games, was named
the ninth head football coach at UCF on Feb. 15, 2021.
In eight years as head football coach at Auburn, Gus Malzahn also
led the Tigers to a Southeastern Conference Championship, two SEC
West Division titles and six New Year’s Day bowl selections among
those eight postseason appearances.
Malzahn, 77-38 in nine seasons overall as a head coach, has helped
teams to seven conference championship game appearances in his
15 seasons as a collegiate coach, including winning a pair of SEC
Championships at Auburn (2010, 2013) and a Sun Belt Championship
at Arkansas State in 2012. In the final Associated Press rankings his
Auburn teams finished second (2013), 10th (2017), 22nd (2014) and
24th (2016).
“When I started the search process, it became very evident very
quickly that, based on the conversations I had with the players last
week and what they told me were looking for, Gus Malzahn was the
guy for the job,” said Mohajir. “He has won at every level, and he
has coached a Heisman Trophy winner and NFL draft picks. There has
never been a better time for Coach Malzahn to lead this program than
right now.”
“I’m thrilled to be the head coach at UCF, and I’m truly looking
forward to being part of Knight Nation,” said Malzahn. “It’s exciting
to be head of a program where the future is extremely bright. I will
be hitting the ground running in terms of getting to know our team
and everyone else connected with UCF. Our goal is to be ready to win
championships.

PRODUCTIVE OFFENSES
Gus Malzahn was responsible for two of the four most
productive offenses in SEC history: Auburn in 2013 (7,018
yards of total offense and Auburn in 2010 (6,989 yards of
total offense).

50-POINT GAMES
Since the year 2000, in the eight years Malzahn was at
Auburn, the Tigers posted 25 50-point games. In the 10
seasons without Malzahn, Auburn recorded just seven
50-point games. The Tigers recorded three 50-point
games in a season four times with Malzahn as head coach
(2013, 2016, 2018, 2019)

MALZAHN AT HOME
Malzahn now holds a record of 53-12 (.815) at home as
a collegiate head coach. He was 5-1 in 2012 at Arkansas
State, at Auburn went 8-0 in 2013, 6-1 in 2014, 3-4 in
2015, 6-2 in 2016, 7-0 in 2017, 5-2 in 2018, 6-1 in 2019
and 4-1 in 2020, and then started 2021 with UCF 3-0. He
started his tenure at Auburn with 13 consecutive home
victories.

NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR
Gus Malzahn earned multiple national coach of the year
awards in 2013, including the Eddie Robinson Award,
the Bobby Bowden Award, and the Bear Bryant Award,
as well as national coach of the year honors from Home
Depot, the Associated Press, Liberty Mutual, Sporting
News, SB Nation, and USSA Amos Alonzo Stagg.

CHAMPIONSHIPS
Year School Championship
2013 Auburn SEC
2013 Auburn SEC West
2012 Arkansas State Sun Belt
2010 Auburn BCS
2010 Auburn SEC
2010 Auburn SEC West
2008 Tulsa C-USA West
2007 Tulsa C-USA West
2006 Arkansas SEC West

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