2023 UCF Knights football team

Last updated

2023 UCF Knights football
UCF Knights logo.svg
Gasparilla Bowl, L 17–30 vs. Georgia Tech
Conference Big 12 Conference
Record6–7 (3–6 Big 12)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Darin Hinshaw (1st season)
Offensive scheme Spread option [1]
Defensive coordinatorAddison Williams (1st season)
Co-defensive coordinator David Gibbs (3rd season)
Base defense 4–2–5 [1]
Home stadium FBC Mortgage Stadium
Seasons
  2022
2024  
2023 Big 12 Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 3 Texas y$^  8 1   12 2  
No. 16 Oklahoma State y  7 2   10 4  
No. 15 Oklahoma  7 2   10 3  
Iowa State  6 3   7 6  
No. 18 Kansas State  6 3   9 4  
West Virginia  6 3   9 4  
Texas Tech  5 4   7 6  
No. 23 Kansas  5 4   9 4  
UCF  3 6   6 7  
TCU  3 6   5 7  
Houston  2 7   4 8  
BYU  2 7   5 7  
Baylor  2 7   3 9  
Cincinnati  1 8   3 9  
Championship: Texas 49, Oklahoma State 21
  • ^ College Football Playoff participant
  • $ Conference champion
  • y Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2023 UCF Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida (UCF) as a member of the Big 12 Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Knights were led by Gus Malzahn in his third year as the Knights head coach. The team played their home games at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

Contents

UCF officially moved into the Big 12 Conference for the 2023 season. In doing so, the Knights became the first NCAA football program to play at every sanctioned level: Division III, Division II, Division I-AA, Division I-A (Independent), Group of Five, and Power Five. [2]

In their first season as part of the Big 12, the Knights jumped out to a 3–0 start, including a last-second victory at Boise State. However, quarterback John Rhys Plumlee suffered an ankle injury in the final minute of the Boise State game, which would sideline him for a month. Redshirt sophomore Timmy McClain took over at quarterback as the Knights entered the conference portion of their schedule. In their first intra-conference home game, the Knights jumped out to a 35–7 lead over Baylor, but blew a 28-point lead, and lost 36–35. The Knights suffered a five-game skid, slipping to 3–5. With Plumlee back to full strength in November, the Knights won three of their last four games to finish the regular season 6–6 overall (3–6 in the Big 12), and became bowl eligible for the eighth consecutive season. Of the four newcomers that joined the Big 12 for 2023 (BYU, Cincinnati, and Houston being the others), UCF finished with the best record, and was the only one bowl-eligible.

Offseason

Transfers

Incoming

PlayerPositionPrevious school
Timmy McClain QB South Florida
Trent WhittemoreWR Florida
Chauncey MagwoodWR Kentucky
Drake MetcalfIOL Stanford
Gage KingLS Arizona State
Fred Davis IIDB Clemson
Amari KightOT Alabama
Marcellus MarshallOT Kent State
DeJordan MaskS Texas State
Jireh WilsonS East Carolina
Bula SchmidtIOL Fresno State
Decorian PattersonDB Middle Tennessee State
Rian DavisLB Georgia
Xavier WilliamsQB Charlotte
Isaiah PaulLB Washington State
Shaun PetersonDE FIU
Derrick LeBlancDL Oklahoma
Corey GammageWR Marshall
Gunnar SmithQBSouth Florida
Kriston EsnardPK Tulane

Outgoing

PlayerPositionDestination
Mikey Keene QB Fresno State
Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste LB Ole Miss
Davonte BrownCB Miami (FL)
Philjae Bien AimeCB North Alabama
Ryan O'KeefeWR Boston College
Terrence LewisLB Hutchinson CC
Trevion Shadrick-HarrisCB Eastern Washington
Jordan JohnsonWR Iowa Western
Ah'Mare LeeDB Florida A&M
Joey GatewoodWR Louisville
Karlis Bailey-ViceDENA
Anthony WilliamsRB Stephen F. Austin
Andrew OsteenP Mississippi State
Matt Lee C Miami (FL)
Miguel MaldonadoOLNA
Tommy Castellanos QB Boston College
Ethan MortOLNA
Keahnist ThompsonDL Weber State
Justin HodgesDB Arkansas State
Branden JenningsLB Hinds CC
Quan LeeWR Florida A&M
Jaden FrancoisDB Utah State
Will BohnQB Southeastern

Preseason

Spring game

The 2023 UCF spring exhibition game was played on Friday April 14 at FBC Mortgage Stadium. The team was split into two squads for gameplay, the Knights and the 'Nauts. [5]

DateTimeSpring GameSiteResult
April 146:30 pmKnights vs. 'Nauts FBC Mortgage StadiumOrlando, FL 43-42 'Nauts

Award watch lists

A total of eight players were named to the preseason All-Big 12 mentions, [6] and eight players were named to the Senior Bowl watchlist. [7]

AwardPlayerPositionYear
William V. Campbell Trophy Jason Johnson [8] LBSr.
Polynesian Football Player of the Year Award Lokahi Pauole [9] OGSr.
Manning Award John Rhys Plumlee [10] QB Redshirt.svg Sr.
Chuck Bednarik Award Jason Johnson [11] LBSr.
Butkus Award Jason Johnson [12] LBSr.
Doak Walker Award RJ Harvey [13] RB Redshirt.svg Sr.
Ray Guy Award Mitch McCarthy [14] PSo.
Davey O'Brien Award John Rhys Plumlee [15] QB Redshirt.svg Sr.
Fred Biletnikoff Award Corey Gammage [16] WR Redshirt.svg Sr.
Lou Groza Award Colton Boomer [17] KSo.
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Jason Johnson [18] LBSr.
Outland Trophy Lokahi Pauole [19] OGSr.
Maxwell Award John Rhys Plumlee [20] QB Redshirt.svg Sr.
Listed in the order that they were released

Big 12 preseason poll

The Big 12 preseason poll was released on July 6. [21] UCF was voted 8th in the conference. First place votes in parentheses.

Big 12 media poll
Predicted finishTeamPoints
1Texas (41)886
2Kansas State (14)858
3Oklahoma (4)758
4Texas Tech (4)729
5TCU (3)727
6Baylor572
7Oklahoma State (1)470
8UCF463
9Kansas461
10Iowa State334
11BYU318
12Houston215
13Cincinnati202
14West Virginia129

Schedule

The 2023 season is UCF's first as a member of the Big 12 Conference. [22] The conference utilizes a nine-game conference schedule, with three out-of-conference games annually. [23] Furthermore, the conference requires at least one of the three out-of-conference games to be against a Power Five opponent. [24] UCF successfully petitioned for a first-year, one-time waiver to count their game at Boise State as their Power Five non-conference opponent, taking into account Boise State's recent successes and status as a top Group of Five team. [24]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 317:00 p.m. [25] Kent State * FS1 W 56–644,088
September 97:00 p.m. [25] at Boise State *FS1W 18–1636,447
September 166:30 p.m. [25] No. 24 (FCS) Villanova *
  • FBC Mortgage Stadium
  • Orlando, FL
ESPN+ W 48–1444,206
September 238:00 p.m. [26] at Kansas State FS1L 31–4451,912
September 303:30 p.m. Baylor
  • FBC Mortgage Stadium
  • Orlando, FL
FS1L 35–3644,005
October 74:00 p.m.at Kansas FOX L 22–5146,107
October 2112:00 p.m.at No. 6 Oklahoma ABC L 29–3183,476
October 2812:00 p.m. West Virginia Dagger-14-plain.png
  • FBC Mortgage Stadium
  • Orlando, FL
FS1 [lower-alpha 1] L 28–4144,136
November 43:30 p.m.at Cincinnati FS1W 28–2638,193
November 113:30 p.m.No. 15 Oklahoma State
ESPN W 45−344,046
November 185:30 p.m.at Texas Tech FS2 L 23−2453,851
November 2512:00 p.m. Houston
  • FBC Mortgage Stadium
  • Orlando, FL
FS1W 27–1343,610
December 226:30 p.m.vs. Georgia Tech *ESPNL 17–3030,281
  1. Partially aired on FOX as a look-in due to lightning delayed Oklahoma-Kansas game

Game summaries

Kent State

Kent State Golden Flashes at UCF Knights
Quarter1234Total
Golden Flashes30306
Knights1414141456

at FBC Mortgage Stadium, Orlando, FL

Game information
StatisticsKENTUCF
First downs1532
Total yards240723
Rushing yards95389
Passing yards145334
Turnovers13
Time of possession28:3431:26
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Kent StatePassingMichael Alaimo12–31, 145 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT
RushingGavin Garcia18 carries, 45 yards
ReceivingChrishon McCray3 receptions, 61 yards
UCFPassing John Rhys Plumlee 22–30, 281 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
RushingJohnny Richardson12 carries, 100 yards
ReceivingXavier Townsend5 receptions, 81 yards, 1 TD

Quarterback John Rhys Plumlee threw for 281 yards and rushed for 90 yards as the Knights routed Kent State 56–6 on Thursday night. The game marked UCF's first football game as a member of the Big 12. The Knights won their 8th consecutive season opener.

at Boise State

UCF Knights at Boise State Broncos
Quarter1234Total
Knights360918
Broncos730616

at Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID

  • Date: September 9, 2023
  • Game time: 5:00 p.m. MDT / 7:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game attendance: 36,447
  • TV announcers (FS1): Eric Collins and Devin Gardner
  • Gamecast
Game information
StatisticsUCFBSU
First downs2322
Total yards530384
Rushing yards258173
Passing yards272211
Turnovers21
Time of possession28:0331:57
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UCFPassingJohn Rhys Plumlee16–24, 272 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT
RushingJohn Rhys Plumlee11 carries, 73 yards
Receiving Kobe Hudson 5 receptions, 134 yards
Boise StatePassing Taylen Green 9–19, 144 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Ashton Jeanty 24 carries, 115 yards
ReceivingAshton Jeanty5 receptions, 97 yards, 1 TD

Colton Boomer kicked a 40-yard game-winning field goal as time expired to lift the Knights over the Boise State Broncos by the score of 18–16. Boomer went 4-for-4 on field goals, including a school record-tying 55 yarder in the second quarter. Late in the game, quarterback John Rhys Plumlee suffered a leg injury which will require him to miss multiple weeks. [28]

No. 24 (FCS) Villanova

No. 24 (FCS) Villanova Wildcats at UCF Knights
Quarter1234Total
No. 24 (FCS) Wildcats0001414
Knights17177748

at FBC Mortgage Stadium, Orlando, FL

  • Date: September 16, 2023
  • Game time: 6:30 pm EDT
  • Game attendance: 44,206
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Drew Fellios and Forrest Conoly
  • Gamecast
Game information
StatisticsNOVAUCF
First downs1131
Total yards228600
Rushing yards84251
Passing yards144349
Turnovers10
Time of possession27:0832:52
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
VillanovaPassingConnor Watkins9-23, 144 yards, 1 INT
RushingDeewil Barlee7 carries, 39 yards
ReceivingJaylan Sanchez1 receptions, 45 yards
UCFPassing Timmy McClain 20–28, 321 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
Rushing R. J. Harvey 14 carries, 85 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingKobe Hudson6 receptions, 147 yards

Timmy McClain started at quarterback for the injured John Rhys Plumlee. McClain threw for 321 yards, and the UCF offense racked up 600 total yards as the Knights soundly defeated FCS #24 Villanova by the score of 48–14.

at Kansas State

UCF Knights at Kansas State Wildcats
Quarter1234Total
Knights1077731
Wildcats714101344

at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, KS

Game information
StatisticsUCFKSU
First downs1932
Total yards407536
Rushing yards143255
Passing yards264255
Turnovers21
Time of possession25:3734:23
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UCFPassingTimmy McClain14-24, 264 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
RushingJohnny Richardson6 carries, 76 yards
ReceivingKobe Hudson6 receptions, 138 yards, 2 TD
Kansas StatePassing Will Howard 27-42, 255 yards, 1 INT
Rushing D. J. Giddens 30 carries, 207 yards, 4 TD
ReceivingD. J. Giddens8 receptions, 96 yards

UCF traveled to Kansas State for their first-ever intra-conference game in the Big 12. Timmy McClain once again started at quarterback, throwing for 264 yards and three touchdowns. The Knights defense, however, could not contain the Wildcats offense, and lost by the score of 44–31. D.J. Giddens rushed for 207 yards and 4 touchdowns, and caught 8 balls for another 86 yards. The game was tied 24–24 midway through the third quarter, but Kansas State put the game away with 20 unanswered points. Ten penalties for 80 yards on UCF, two turnovers in Wildcats territory, plus a lopsided time of possession were factors in the loss.

Baylor

Baylor Bears at UCF Knights
Quarter1234Total
Bears7032636
Knights2177035

at FBC Mortgage Stadium, Orlando, FL

  • Date: September 30, 2023
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 83 °F (28 °C)
  • Game attendance: 44,005
  • Referee: Henry Johns
  • TV announcers (FS1): Eric Collins and Devin Gardner
  • Gamecast
Game information
StatisticsBUUCF
First downs2218
Total yards446469
Rushing yards153235
Passing yards293234
Turnovers12
Time of possession35:3124:29
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
BaylorPassing Blake Shapen 21-34, 293 yards, 1 INT
Rushing Richard Reese 16 carries, 100 yards
ReceivingMonaray Baldwin7 receptions, 150 yards, 1 TD
UCFPassingTimmy McClain13-25, 234 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
RushingJohnny Richardson6 carries, 105 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Javon Baker 3 receptions, 113 yards, 1 TD

UCF hosted Baylor for their first intra-conference home game in the Big 12. The game was a rematch of the 2014 Fiesta Bowl. The Knights blew a 35–7 lead. Baylor scored a go-ahead field goal with 1:21 remaining and won 36–35. On the first play from scrimmage, Johnny Richardson broke free for a 79-yard touchdown run, and after two more quick scores, UCF jumped out to an early 21–0 lead. The Knights eventually built a 35–7 lead, which they held late in the third quarter. Baylor scored 29 unanswered points, including two touchdown passes from Blake Shapen, and a 72-yard fumble return for a touchdown. UCF got the ball back one last time with 1:21 remaining. Colton Boomer's 59-yard field goal attempt fell no good as time expired, and Baylor escaped with the victory.

at Kansas

UCF Knights at Kansas Jayhawks
Quarter1234Total
Knights0081422
Jayhawks321131451

at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, KS

Game information
StatisticsUCFKU
First downs2125
Total yards371490
Rushing yards202399
Passing yards16991
Turnovers10
Time of possession25:3534:25
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UCFPassingTimmy McClain12-15, 136 yards, 2 TD
RushingR. J. Harvey16 carries, 133 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingJavon Baker4 receptions, 85 yards
KansasPassing Jason Bean 8-12, 91 yards, 1 TD
Rushing Devin Neal 12 carries, 154 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Luke Grimm 2 receptions, 41 yards

John Rhys Plumlee returned to start at quarterback, but played for only three drives in the first half. Timmy McClain took over and played the rest of the game. Kansas dominated UCF, jumping out to a 31–0 lead, and pulling away for a 51–22 victory. The Jayhawks put up 399 yards rushing, while UCF was held to a season-low 371 total yards.

at No. 6 Oklahoma

UCF Knights at No. 5 Oklahoma Sooners
Quarter1234Total
Knights0176629
No. 6 Sooners71001431

at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, OK

  • Date: October 21, 2023
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 72 °F (22 °C)
  • Game attendance: 83,476
  • Referee: Derek Anderson
  • TV announcers (ABC): Dave Pasch (play-by-play) , Dusty Dvoracek (analyst) & Tom Luginbill (sideline)
  • Gamecast
Game information
StatisticsUCFOKLA
First downs2030
Total yards397442
Rushing yards149189
Passing yards248253
Turnovers01
Time of possession30:1629:44
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UCFPassingJohn Rhys Plumlee16–30, 248 yards, 2 TD
RushingR. J. Harvey23 carries, 101 yards
ReceivingJavon Baker5 receptions, 134 yards, 2 TD
OklahomaPassing Dillon Gabriel 25–38, 253 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
RushingMarcus Major18 carries, 82 yards
Receiving Nic Anderson 5 receptions, 105 yards, 2 TD

UCF traveled to Norman to take on Oklahoma. Facing former quarterback Dillon Gabriel, the Knights nearly upset the No. 6 ranked Sooners. UCF led 23–17 after three quarters, before Oklahoma scored two fourth quarter touchdowns to take a 31–23 lead. John Rhys Plumlee, back in the starting lineup, drove the Knights 75 yards in 9 plays. On 4th & 10 at the Oklahoma 12, Plumee found Javon Baker for a 12-yard touchdown pass, trimming the deficit to 31–29 with 1:16 left in regulation. UCF's two-point conversion attempt was snuffed out, and the Sooners held on for the victory.

West Virginia

West Virginia Mountaineers at UCF Knights
Quarter1234Total
Mountaineers10771741
Knights777728

at FBC Mortgage Stadium, Orlando, FL

Game information
StatisticsWVUUCF
First downs2527
Total yards450463
Rushing yards286189
Passing yards164274
Turnovers14
Time of possession36:0623:54
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
West VirginiaPassing Garrett Greene 14-23, 156 yards
Rushing C.J. Donaldson 17 carries, 121 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingDevin Carter3 receptions, 47 yards
UCFPassingJohn Rhys Plumlee25–36, 274 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT
RushingRJ Harvey14 carries, 100 yards
ReceivingKobe Hudson3 receptions, 66 yards, 2 TD

UCF hosted West Virginia on Homecoming. Quarterback John Rhys Plumlee threw three interceptions and lost a fumble, as the Mountaineers won 41–28. West Virginia put up 286 yards rushing, and quarterback Garrett Greene ran for three touchdowns.

at Cincinnati

UCF Knights at Cincinnati Bearcats
Quarter1234Total
Knights777728
Bearcats377926

at Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, OH

  • Date: November 4, 2023
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 38,193
  • TV announcers (FS1): Adam Alexander, Devin Gardner
  • Gamecast
Game information
StatisticsUCFCIN
First downs2323
Total yards393515
Rushing yards228248
Passing yards165267
Turnovers02
Time of possession27:0332:57
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UCFPassingJohn Rhys Plumlee13–23, 165 yards
RushingR. J. Harvey20 carries, 164 yards, 3 TD
ReceivingJavon Baker4 receptions, 93 yards
CincinnatiPassing Emory Jones 16–22, 217 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Corey Kiner 19 carries, 114 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingBraden Smith6 receptions, 114 yards, 1 TD

UCF traveled to rival Cincinnati, and won their first conference game in Big 12 conference play. Running back R. J. Harvey had a career-best 164 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Harvey scored a 1-yard touchdown run to put the Knights up 28–20 with 2:41 left in regulation. Emory Jones then drove the Bearcats 75 yards in five plays for a touchdown, making the score 28–26 with 1:27 left. Jones' two-point conversion pass was tipped and fell incomplete, and the Knights held on to win 28–26.

No. 15 Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State Cowboys at UCF Knights
Quarter1234Total
No. 15 Cowboys00303
Knights141014745

at FBC Mortgage Stadium, Orlando, FL

Game information
StatisticsOSUUCF
First downs1521
Total yards277592
Rushing yards52293
Passing yards225299
Turnovers41
Time of possession25:1534:45
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Oklahoma StatePassing Alan Bowman 19–36, 225 yards, 3 INT
Rushing Ollie Gordon II 12 carries, 25 yards
ReceivingRashod Owens6 receptions, 85 yards
UCFPassingJohn Rhys Plumlee11–18, 299 yards, 3 TD
RushingR. J. Harvey24 carries, 206 yards, 3 TD
ReceivingJavon Baker4 receptions, 112 yards

UCF hosted then-No. 15 Oklahoma State in their seventh annual "Space Game". The Knights dominated the game from start to finish, and routed the Cowboys 45–3. John Rhys Plumlee threw for 299 yards and three touchdown passes, while R.J. Harvey rushed for a career-best 206 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. The UCF defense held Cowboys running back Ollie Gordon II (the nation's leading rusher) to only 25 yards, and forced four turnovers. The Knights won their first Big 12 intra-conference home game, and first Big 12 intra-conference game against an existing/original team from the conference. After the game, fans stormed the field to celebrate.

UCF jumped out to a quick 14–0 lead in the first quarter. R.J. Harvey got the Knights on the board with a 1-yard touchdown run on their first drive. Ollie Gordon then fumbled in Knights territory, which led to a 7-yard touchdown pass from John Rhys Plumlee to Kobe Hudson. Braeden Marshall picked off Alan Bowman's deflected pass, which led to a Knights field goal early in the second quarter. A huge downpour then pelted the stadium, but it did not slow down the Knights offense. Plumlee found Kobe Hudson for a 75-yard touchdown, and the Knights led 24–0 at halftime.

Oklahoma State got the ball to start the third quarter. The Cowboys drove to the Knights 7 yard line, but had to settle for a field goal. On the ensuing drive, Plumlee was sacked and fumbled, giving the Cowboys the ball at the UCF 24. Two plays later, however, Demari Henderson tipped and intercepted a pass by Bowman at the 8 yard line. It was Bowman's third interception of the game, and Henderson's second such of the game defensively. On the very next play from scrimmage, R.J. Harvey took a handoff and blasted through for a 92-yard touchdown run to put the Knights up 31–3. UCF would tack on two more scores, and defeated Oklahoma State by the final score of 45–3.

at Texas Tech

UCF Knights at Texas Tech Red Raiders
Quarter1234Total
Knights1400923
Red Raiders0147324

at Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, TX

  • Date: November 18, 2023
  • Game time: 5:30 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 53,851
  • TV announcers (FS2): Guy Haberman, Charles Arbuckle
  • Gamecast
Game information
StatisticsUCFTTU
First downs2325
Total yards486446
Rushing yards238190
Passing yards248256
Turnovers11
Time of possession31:5728:03
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UCFPassingJohn Rhys Plumlee16–32, 248 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingJohn Rhys Plumlee13 carries, 84 yards
ReceivingJavon Baker4 receptions, 117 yards, 1 TD
Texas TechPassing Behren Morton 21–35, 256 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Tahj Brooks 24 carries, 182 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingXavier White3 receptions, 77 yards

UCF traveled to take on Texas Tech. The Knights jumped out to a 14–0 lead in the first quarter, with two touchdown runs by R. J. Harvey. With 5:30 left in the fourth quarter, UCF was trailing 24–17. John Rhys Plumlee found Javon Baker wide open for a 71-yard touchdown pass. But Colton Boomer's game-tying extra point attempt was blocked and sailed wide left. The Red Raiders were able to run out the clock and held on for a 24–23 victory.

Houston

Houston Cougars at UCF Knights
Quarter1234Total
Cougars1000313
Knights6714027

at FBC Mortgage Stadium, Orlando, FL

  • Date: November 25, 2023
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 43,610
  • TV announcers (FS1): Eric Collins, Devin Gardner
  • Gamecast
Game information
StatisticsHOUUCF
First downs1723
Total yards259476
Rushing yards94223
Passing yards165253
Turnovers10
Time of possession27:0432:56
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
HoustonPassing Donovan Smith 12–20, 161 yards, 1 TD, I INT
RushingStacy Sneed3 carries, 33 yards
ReceivingJoseph Manjack IV4 receptions, 74 yards
UCFPassingJohn Rhys Plumlee23–27, 253 yards, 1 TD
RushingR. J. Harvey21 carries, 136 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingKobe Hudson9 receptions, 98 yards

UCF hosted Houston in their regular season finale. Quarterback John Rhys Plumlee threw for 253 yards and running back R. J. Harvey rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns, as the Knights defeated the Cougars 27–13. With the win, UCF finished the regular season 6–6 overall (3–6 in the Big 12), and became bowl eligible for the eighth consecutive season. The UCF offense put up 476 total yards, but the kicking game struggled for the second week in a row. Colton Boomer missed two field goals and an extra point.

Gasparilla Bowl

2023 Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
Quarter1234Total
Georgia Tech01731030
UCF1430017

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

  • Date: Friday, December 22, 2023
  • Game time: 6:30 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Clear • Temperature: 66 °F (19 °C) • Wind: 6 mph (9.7 km/h) NE
  • Game attendance: 30,281
  • Referee: Cravonne Barrett
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Wes Durham (play-by-play), Tim Hasselbeck (analyst), and Taylor Tannebaum (sideline)
  • Box score
Game information
StatisticsGTUCF
First downs2119
Plays–yards69–37169–424
Rushes–yards53–28434–169
Passing yards87255
Passing: compattint7–13–117–33–1
Time of possession33:3026:30
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Georgia TechPassing Haynes King 7/13, 87 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Jamal Haynes 18 carries, 128 yards
ReceivingMalik Rutherford2 receptions, 40 yards, 1 TD
UCFPassingJohn Rhys Plumlee16/29, 198 yards, 2 TD
RushingR. J. Harvey15 carries, 120 yards
ReceivingJavon Baker9 receptions, 173 yards, 1 TD

UCF faced Georgia Tech in the 2023 Gasparilla Bowl. It was the sixth meeting between the two teams. UCF had won the most recent meeting 27–10 in 2022. This was UCF's sixth appearance in the Gasparilla Bowl (formerly known as the St. Petersburg Bowl). George O'Leary, formerly the head coach of both teams, took part in the pre-game coin toss.

The Knights jumped out to a 14–0 lead in the first quarter. John Rhys Plumlee threw touchdown passes to Javon Baker and Kobe Hudson. UCF was looking to go up 21–0 when their drive was snuffed out as R.J. Harvey fumbled away the ball at the Georgia Tech 42. The turnover led to a Yellow Jackets field goal, and was a turning point in the game. The Knights defense held Georgia Tech to only 87 yards passing, but the Yellow Jackets put up 284 yards on the ground. Trailing 17–3, Georgia Tech scored 27 unanswered points, and won by the score of 30–17.

Personnel

2023 UCF Knights Football

Quarterbacks

Running backs

  •  0 Johnny Richardson – Sr.
  •  5 Jordan McDonald – So.
  •  6 Mark-Antony Richards – Redshirt.svg Sr.
  • 7 R.J. Harvey Redshirt.svg Sr.
  •  20 Kam Ingram – Redshirt.svg So.
  • 23 Demarkcus Bowman – Redshirt.svg Jr.
  • 37 Preston Foreman – Redshirt.svg Fr.

Wide receivers

  •  1 Javon BakerSr.
  •  2 Kobe HudsonSr.
  •  3 Xavier Townsend – So.
  •  4 Corey Gammage – Redshirt.svg Sr.
  •  11 Chauncey Magwood – Jr.
  • 15 Tyree Patterson – Fr.
  • 16 Stephen Martin – Redshirt.svg Jr.
  • 17 Amari Johnson – Sr.
  • 18 Jaylon Griffin – Redshirt.svg Sr.
  • 19 Jarrad Baker – Redshirt.svg Sr.
  • 24 Andrew Dickson – Redshirt.svg So.
  • 31 JaJuan Forte – Redshirt.svg 5th-Sr.
  • 38 Dionte Marks – Redshirt.svg Sr.
  • 80 Trent Whittemore – Redshirt.svg Jr.
  • 81 Tyler Griffin – Redshirt.svg Fr.
  • 87 Dwartney Wortham – Redshirt.svg Fr.
  • 89 Cullen Smith – Redshirt.svg So.

Tight ends/H-back

  •  13 Randy Pittman – Fr.
  • 41 Jack Morgan – So.
  • 49 Max Holler – Redshirt.svg Jr.
  • 82 Alec Holler – Redshirt.svg 5th-Sr.(C)
  • 83 Garrett French – Redshirt.svg Jr.
  • 84 Thomas Wadsworth – Redshirt.svg Fr.
  • 85 Zach Marsh Wojan – Redshirt.svg 5th-Sr.
  • 86 Jordan Davis – Redshirt.svg Jr. Injury icon 2.svg
  • 88 Grant Stevens – Redshirt.svg Fr.
 

Offensive Lineman

  • 50 Patrick Barnett – Redshirt.svg Jr.
  • 52 Caden Kitler – Redshirt.svg Fr.
  • 54 Bula Schmidt – Redshirt.svg Sr.
  • 55 Cameron Kinnie – Redshirt.svg Jr.
  • 56 Johnathan Cline – Fr.
  • 57 John Harris – Redshirt.svg Sr.
  • 59 Keyon Cox – Fr.
  • 60 Drake Metcalf – Redshirt.svg Jr.
  • 64 Shaheem Hill – Redshirt.svg Fr.
  • 66 Chidoziri Maghiro – Redshirt.svg 5th-Sr.
  • 68 Ethan Higgins – Fr.
  • 69 Paul Rubelt – Redshirt.svg Jr.
  • 70 Edward Collins – Redshirt.svg 5th-Sr.
  • 71 Tylan Grable Redshirt.svg 5th-Sr.
  • 72 Marcellus Marshall – Jr.
  • 74 Matthew Prigmore – Fr.
  • 75 Andrew Phelan – Fr.
  • 76 Adrian Medley – Redshirt.svg Sr.
  • 77 Lokahi Pauole5th-Sr.(C)
  • 78 Amari Kight – Redshirt.svg Sr.

Kickers/Punters

  • 32 Michael Carter – Redshirt.svg Fr.
  • 35 Colton Boomer – So.
  • 40 Mitch McCarthy – So.
  • 98 Kriston Esnard – Redshirt.svg So.
  • 80 Grant Reddick – Fr.

Long snappers

  • 26 Chris Bowerfind – Redshirt.svg So.
  • 42 Aidan Fedigan – So.
  • 41 Gage King – Redshirt.svg Sr.
 

Defensive tackles

  •  2 Lee Hunter – Redshirt.svg So.
  •  5 Ricky Barber – Redshirt.svg Sr.(C)
  • 40 Kervins Choute – Redshirt.svg Jr.
  • 55 John Walker – Fr.
  • 56 Matthew Alexander – Redshirt.svg So.
  • 87 Andrew Rumph – Fr.
  • 90 Derrick LeBlanc – Fr.
  • 91 Keshaun Hudson – So.
  • 94 Chris Ficka – Fr.

Linebacker

  • 0 Jason Johnson Redshirt.svg 5th-Sr(C)
  • 16 T.J. Bullard – Redshirt.svg Fr.
  • 15 Isaiah Paul – Redshirt.svg Sr.
  • 17 Rian Davis – Redshirt.svg Sr.
  • 20 Troy Ford Jr. – Fr.
  • 25 Camden Vining – Redshirt.svg So.
  • 27 Walter Yates III – Redshirt.svg 5th-Sr.
  • 28 Andrew Harris – Fr.
  • 30 Kam Moore – So.
  • 35 Keenan Cupit – Redshirt.svg Jr.
  • 43 Kingston Gorney – Redshirt.svg Sr.
  • 45 Quentin Hatch – So.
  • 54 Keeron Henderson – Sr.

Defensive back

  •  3 Ja'Cari Henderson – Redshirt.svg Fr.
  •  4 Braeden Marshall – Fr.
  •  7 Fred Davis – Sr.
  •  8 Demari Henderson – So.
  • 9 Jireh Wilson – 5th-Sr.
  • 10 Quadric Bullard – Sr.
  • 11 Decorian Patterson – Redshirt.svg Sr.
  • 13 DeJordan Mask – 5th-Sr.
  • 14 Corey Thornton – Sr.
  • 18 Ja'Maric Morris – Redshirt.svg Sr.
  • 19 Hudson Gibbs – Fr.
  • 21 Nikai Martinez – So.
  • 22 Jason Duclona – Fr.
  • 24 Jarvis Ware – Redshirt.svg Sr.
  • 26 Daniel McCullon – Redshirt.svg Jr.
  • 29 William Wells – Jr.
  • 31 Brandon Adams – Jr.
  • 34 Terrell Jackson – So.
  • 36 Champ Jenkins – Redshirt.svg So.
  • 39 R.D. Cooper – Sr.
  • 46 Nicholas Antoine– Redshirt.svg Fr.
 

Defensive ends

  • 3 Tre'Mon Morris-Brash5th-Sr.
  • 6 Isaiah Nixon – Fr.
  • 33 Kaven Call – Fr.
  • 47 K.D. McDaniel – Redshirt.svg Sr.
  • 51 Malachi Lawrence – Redshirt.svg So.
  • 12 Shaun Peterson Jr. – Redshirt.svg Sr.
  • 58 Dallaz Corbitt – Redshirt.svg Sr.
  • 88 Josh Celiscar – Sr.(C)
  • 96 Trace O'Hara – Redshirt.svg Jr.
  • 92 Finau Fine – Redshirt.svg Jr.
  • 99 Jamaal Johnson – Redshirt.svg Fr.

Legend

  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured
  • Redshirt.svg Redshirt

Coaching staff

Roster updated September, 2023
Depth chart updated September, 2023

Awards and milestones

National honors

All-Americans

All-American Honors
PlayerAthleticAthlonBRCBS SportsCFNESPNFOX SportsPhil SteeleSIUSA Today
Javon Baker HM
RJ Harvey HM
Tre'Mon Morris-Brash HM
HM = Honorable mention.

All-Big 12 Conference

Big 12 All-Conference Honors
PlayerBig 12APAthlonCFNPFFPhil SteeleUSA Today
Javon Baker 1st [33] [34] 2nd [35] 1st [36] 1st [37] S [38] 1st
Colton BoomerHM
Tylan Grable HMHM
Demari HendersonHM
RJ Harvey HM2nd1st2nd
Kobe Hudson HM2nd2nd2nd
Lee HunterHM3rd2nd
Jason Johnson 2nd2nd2nd2nd1st
Malachi LawrenceHM
Nikai MartinezHM
Marcellus Marshall2nd
Tre'Mon Morris-Brash 1st1st1st1st1st
Lokahi Pauole HM2ndS [39]
John Rhys Plumlee HM
Corey ThorntonHMHM
Xavier TownsendHMHM3rd
Walter Yates IIIHM
HM = Honorable mention.

S = Selected, indicating they were selected for a singular "best of" All-Big 12 team.

Big 12 Conference honors

School records

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