For the first time in history, the UCF football team is headed to the Military Bowl. UCF will meet Atlantic Coast Conference representative Duke at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022, in 34,000-seat Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland, in the Military Bowl presented by Peraton, benefiting the USO. The game will be televised by ESPN.
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 28
Time: 2 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Talents: Kevin Brown, Hutson Mason, Marilyn Payne
Radio: FM 96.9/AM 740 The Game
Live Stats: click here
A UCF WIN WOULD…
• Give UCF 10 wins for the ninth time in program history and eighth time in the FBS era of the program
• Give UCF its seventh bowl win in program history
• Give the Knights bowl wins in consecutive seasons for the second time
• Give Gus Malzahn and the Knights their first win against Duke in the first meeting for both
• Be better than a loss
KNIGHT NOTES
• It’s a program-record seventh consecutive postseason bowl appearance for the Knights, the 10th in 11 seasons and the 14th in 18 years. UCF also previously played in the NCAA Division II playoffs in 1987 and in the NCAA FCS Playoffs in 1990 and 1993.
• UCF is looking for its seventh bowl win in program history and second consecutive after the Knights defeated Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl. A win against the Blue Devils would give UCF a bowl win in consecutive years for just the second time (2012-13).
• The Knights are also in search of their ninth 10-win season in program history and their fourth in the last six seasons. UCF last won 10 games in 2019 with a 10-3 mark, after compiling a 12-1 record in 2018 and a 13-0 mark in 2017.
• UCF just completed its final season in the American Athletic Conference. In 10 seasons as a member of the AAC, the Knights compiled a 57-23 (.713) mark in regular-season conference games.
• UCF’s red zone defense continues to rank among the best in the country at No. 5 nationally, as opponents have scored on 68% of their trips to the red zone, converting on 37-of-54 attempts. The Knights have allowed 24 touchdowns in the red zone in 54 trips for opponents, a 44% rate. UCF has forced at least one red zone stop in 10 of its 13 games this season, headlined by a season-high five red zone stops against Georgia Tech.
• The Knights’ rushing attack ranks eighth nationally, averaging 236.1 rushing yards per game. UCF has rushed for 200 or more yards in nine of its 13 games this season, headlined by a season-high 345 rushing yards in the win over South Florida. The Knights’ 33 rushing touchdowns this season are tied for 10th nationally and lead the conference.
• UCF’s offense has been ranked among the nation’s best throughout the season, as the squad is 11th with 480.6 yards per game. The Knights are one of just four teams (Ohio State, Oklahoma, Tennessee) nationally to surpass 650 yards of total offense in two games this season. UCF had a season-high 737 yards against Temple, the second most by any team in a single game this year, and 653 yards against Florida Atlantic.
ABOUT DUKE
After winning just three games overall last season and zero conference games, first-year Duke head coach Mike Elko has put together one of the best turnarounds in college football. The Blue Devils are 8-4 overall and 5-3 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, which resulted in Elko earning ACC Coach of the Year honors.
Duke is coming off a 34-31 win against Wake Forest in its most recent game of the season on Nov. 26. The Blue Devils own a 6-8 all-time record in bowl games and the squad is making its first appearance in a bowl since 2018.
The Blue Devils have committed very few turnovers this season, as they rank 10th nationally and first in the ACC in fumbles lost with four and they are No. 1 nationally for most fumbles recovered with 15.
The Military Bowl matchup will be the first meeting between the programs, as the Knights and Blue Devils have never met on the gridiron. Duke and UCF share two common opponents this season, as both teams defeated Temple (UCF: 70-13, Duke: 30-0) and the Knights defeated Georgia Tech (27-10), while the Blue Devils were edged in overtime by the Yellow Jackets (23-20).
SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE BOWL APPEARANCE
For the first time in history, the UCF football team will play in the Military Bowl.
UCF (9-4) will meet Atlantic Coast Conference representative Duke (8-4) at 2 p.m. EST on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022, in 34,000-seat Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland, in the Military Bowl presented by Peraton, benefiting the USO. The game will be televised by ESPN.
It’s a program-record seventh consecutive postseason bowl appearance for the Knights, the 10th in 11 seasons and the 14th in 18 years. UCF also previously played in the NCAA Division II playoffs in 1987 and in the NCAA FCS Playoffs in 1990 and 1993.
The Knights previously have played twice each in the Fiesta Bowl (following 2014 and 2018 seasons), Liberty Bowl (2007 and 2010), St. Petersburg Bowl (2009 and 2014) and Gasparilla Bowl (2019 and 2021) and once each in the Hawaii Bowl (2005), Beef O’Brady’s Bowl (2012), Cure Bowl (2016), Peach Bowl (2017) and Boca Raton Bowl (2020).
The Military Bowl has been played since 2008—the first two seasons as the EagleBank Bowl and then as the Military Bowl beginning with the 2010 campaign. The game benefits the USO and Patriot Point, the Military Bowl Foundation’s 294-acre retreat for wounded, ill and injured service members, their families and caregivers.
Here are details of UCF’s previous postseason appearances (6-7 in bowl games, 6-10 overall):
— 1987–Troy defeated UCF 31-10 in NCAA Division II Playoffs
— 1990—Georgia Southern defeated UCF 44-7 in NCAA FCS Playoffs
— 1993–Youngstown State defeated UCF 56-30 in NCAA FCS Playoffs
— 2005—Nevada defeated UCF 49-48 in Hawaii Bowl
— 2007—Mississippi State defeated UCF 10-3 in Liberty Bowl
— 2009—Rutgers defeated UCF 45-24 in St. Petersburg Bowl
— 2010—UCF defeated Georgia 10-6 in Liberty Bowl
— 2012—UCF defeated Ball State 38-17 in Beef O’Brady’s Bowl
— 2013—#15 UCF defeated #6 Baylor 52-42 in Fiesta Bowl
— 2014—NC State defeated UCF 34-27 in St. Petersburg Bowl
— 2016—Arkansas State defeated UCF 31-13 in Cure Bowl
— 2017–#12 UCF defeated #7 Auburn 34-27 in Peach Bowl
— 2018–#11 LSU defeated #7 UCF 40-32 in Fiesta Bowl
— 2019—UCF defeated Marshall 48-25 in Gasparilla Bowl
— 2020–#13 BYU defeated UCF 49-23 in Boca Raton Bowl
— 2021—UCF defeated Florida 29-17 in Gasparilla Bowl
CHASING 10 WINS
UCF is in search of its ninth 10-win season in program history and its fourth in the last six seasons. The Knights last won 10 games in 2019 with a 10-3 mark, after compiling a 12-1 record in 2018 and a 13-0 mark in 2017.
2019: 10-3, 6-2 American, Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl
2018: 12-1, 8-0 American, PlayStation Fiesta Bowl
2017: 13-0, 8-0 American, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
2013: 12-1, 8-0 American, Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
2012: 10-4, 7-1 C-USA, Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl
2010: 11-3, 7-1 C-USA, AutoZone Liberty Bowl
2007: 10-4, 7-1 C-USA, AutoZone Liberty Bowl
1990 (FCS): 10-4, NCAA FCS Playoffs
UCF VERSUS THE ACC
UCF will face its third ACC opponent of the season when it takes on Duke in the bowl game. The Knights fell to Louisville, 20-14, but defeated Georgia Tech, 27-10.
Duke and UCF share two common opponents this season, as both teams defeated Temple (UCF: 70-13, Duke: 30-0) and the Knights defeated Georgia Tech (27-10), while the Blue Devils were edged in overtime by the Yellow Jackets (23-20).
UNIQUE CONNECTION
All-AAC linebacker Jason Johnson will notice a familiar face on the sidelines when the Knights face Duke. After spending three seasons at Eastern Illinois, Johnson entered the transfer portal after his head coach Adam Cushing accepted the run game coordinator and offensive line coach position with the Blue Devils.
WRAPPING UP THE AMERICAN
UCF wrapped up play in the American Athletic Conference by playing for its fifth conference championship on Saturday, Dec. 3. The Knights won the title in the first year of the conference in 2013, again in 2014, 2017 and 2018. UCF’s four AAC Championships are the most of any school.
UCF compiled a 57-23 (.713) mark in regular-season conference games in 10 seasons as a member of the American Athletic Conference, which is the most wins and best winning percentage of any team.
MATCHUP TO KEEP AN EYE ON
Both teams love to run the football. In fact, UCF has rushed for 200 or more yards in nine of its 13 games this season and Duke has surpassed the 200 rushing yards mark in six games.
The Knights are seventh nationally and second in the American Athletic Conference with 236 rushing yards per game, while the Blue Devils are 40th in the nation and third in the Atlantic Coast Conference with 184.8.
Defensively, UCF has allowed 156.2 rushing yards per game and opponents have averaged 121.1 against Duke.
PLUMLEE CHASING HISTORY
With 11 rushing touchdowns this season, UCF quarterback John Rhys Plumlee is one rushing touchdown shy of tying for the most by a quarterback in a single season in program history. Daunte Culpepper holds the record with 12 rushing touchdowns in a single season set in 1998.
COURTESY UCF ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
