UCF–USF football rivalry

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UCF–USF football rivalry
UCF Knights South Florida Bulls
Sport(s) Football
Total meetings 5
Series record South Florida leads, 4–1
First meeting September 17, 2005
South Florida 31, UCF 14
Last meeting November 29, 2013
UCF 23, South Florida 20
Next meeting 2014
Largest win South Florida, 64–12 (2007)
Longest win streak South Florida, 4 (2005–2008)
Current win streak UCF, 1 (2013–present)

The UCF–USF football rivalry, sometimes known as the "War on I–4" or "I–4 Corridor Clash", is an American college football rivalry game played annually between the University of Central Florida Knights and the University of South Florida Bulls. It was played from 2005–08 and returned in 2013 as a yearly conference game, following UCF's entrance into the American Athletic Conference. South Florida currently leads the series, 4–1–0.

History

Discussions about scheduling a game between the University of Central Florida Knights and the University of South Florida Bulls began as soon as South Florida fielded its first NCAA Division I-AA team in 1997.[1] Supporters suggested such a rivalry could help generate interest and revenue for both burgeoning teams. The prospect became more serious when USF entered Division I-A in 2001 and was very popular among fans, but as it would be a non-conference series, difficulties arose. UCF had overbooked its future schedules and would have to break commitments.[1] Meanwhile, USF officials worried that their young program stood to take in less revenue from a home-and-away series against UCF than it would with an additional home game on the schedule.[2]

In 2003, the schools' athletics directors met and agreed to schedule games for the 2005 and 2006 seasons.[1] USF won both games, which drew crowds over 45,000, and the series was extended for 2007 and 2008.[3] USF won these games as well, including a 64-12 blowout in 2007. Subsequently USF, which had joined the Big East, a BCS conference, declined to schedule further games in the series, indicating it wished to pursue more competitive and high profile BCS opponents.[4][5][6]

The two schools discussed scheduling more games over the next several years, including a failed proposal by USF to play at the Citrus Bowl in 2011.[7][8][9] In 2011, UCF was admitted to the Big East Conference (later realigned as the American Athletic Conference). The game will resume as a regular conference match beginning with the 2013 season.[10]

Starting in 2005, some writers dubbed the rivalry the "War on I–4", and in 2013, promoters named it the "I–4 Corridor Clash". Both name refer to Interstate 4, which runs through both Orlando and Tampa.[11][12]

Game results

Legend

     USF victory
     UCF victory

Date Stadium City Winner Score Attendance Series record
September 17, 2005 Raymond James Stadium Tampa, FL South Florida 31–14 45,139 USF 1–0
September 16, 2006 Citrus Bowl Orlando, FL South Florida 24–17 46,708 USF 2–0
October 13, 2007 Raymond James Stadium Tampa, FL South Florida 64–12 65,948 USF 3–0
September 6, 2008 Bright House Networks Stadium Orlando, FL South Florida 31–24 (OT) 46,805 USF 4–0
November 29, 2013 Bright House Networks Stadium Orlando, FL UCF 23–20 45,952 USF 4–1

Game notes

2005

1 234Total
Golden Knights 0 077 14
• Bulls 7 1473 31
  • Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
  • Game start: 7:00 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 45,139
  • Television network: FSN

A crowd of 45,139, second-largest (until that time) in South Florida's relatively brief football history, watched the Bulls build a 21-0 halftime lead on the strength of a relentless running attack that finished with 326 yards. Andre Hall ran for 155 yards and scored two touchdowns Saturday night to help South Florida beat Central Florida 31-14.

UCF was held to 45 yards rushing and was shut out until Joe Burnett returned a third-quarter punt 60 yards to the South Florida 4, setting up Steven Moffett's touchdown run on the next play. Moffett also threw a 9-yard TD pass to Brandon Marshall late in the fourth quarter.

One play after Hall nearly scored on a 17-yard run, Pat Julmiste added South Florida's last TD on 1-yard quarterback sneak late in the third quarter. Kyle Bronson added a fourth-quarter field goal to make it 31-7.

2006

1 234Total
• Bulls 7 0314 24
Golden Knights 0 1007 17
  • Location: Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando, FL
  • Game start: 2:30 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 46,708
  • Television network: CBSSN

USF freshman quarterback Matt Grothe threw for 302 yards and ran for another 73, eclipsing Marquel Blackwell's 239-yard game against New Haven in 1999. Blackwell also had a 238-yard game that same year against Liberty. Meanwhile, Grothe now has the top three rushing games by a freshman quarterback in USF history, including his 73 yards today. He had 82 rushing yards against Florida International and 58 in the season opener against McNeese State. Blackwell had held the record with 57 yards against Southwest Texas State in 1999.

2007

1 234Total
Knights 7 302 12
• #5 Bulls 12 171421 64
  • Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
  • Game start: 12:00 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 65,948
  • Television network: ESPNU

The Bulls defeated the cross-state Knights 64-12 in front of a home crowd announced at 65,948. The Bulls held the Knights to just 145 total yards and Kevin Smith, who came in as the nation's leading rusher at 172 yards per game, to just 55 yards in one half of play, the only time during the season that a defense held Smith to under 100 yards. South Florida gained 543 total yards—over three times as much as UCF—while holding the ball three fewer minutes than the Knights. UCF scored their only offensive points—a Kyle Israel rush for a touchdown, and a field goal—in the first half. UCF and USF would also exchange safeties.

2008

1 234OTTotal
• #17 Bulls 10 01407 31
Knights 7 30140 24
  • Location: Bright House Networks Stadium, Orlando, FL
  • Game start: 7:00 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 46,805
  • Television network: ESPN2

In what was the final meeting of the War on I-4 for many years due to USF is too good for UCF, the visiting Bulls downed the Knights 31-24 in a closely contested overtime battle. With UCF trailing 24-7 late in the 4th quarter, quarterback Michael Greco threw two touchdown passes in less than a minute, including passes of 13 yards to Corey Rabazinski and 31 yards to Rocky Ross, to tie the game at 24 with 1:40 remaining in regulation. South Florida won the game when they stopped UCF on a 4th and short in overtime.

2013

1 234Total
Bulls 3 377 20
• #17 Knights 3 1037 23
  • Location: Bright House Networks Stadium, Orlando, FL
  • Game start: 8:00 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 45,952
  • Television network: ESPN

Despite turning the ball over five times, the Knights found a way to earn their first victory in the I–4 Corridor Clash against South Florida. Running back Storm Johnson fumbled the ball on UCF's first two drives, including a drop at the Bulls 10 yard line. Trailing with under five minutes left in regulation, Blake Bortles found Breshad Perriman for a 52–yard go-ahead touchdown reception. With 1:20 left in the fourth quarter and charging down the field, South Florida quarterback Mike White was intercepted by Jordan Ozerities, and he returned the ball 52 yards to the Bulls 37 yard line. The Knights ran out the clock, and with the victory, UCF earned at least a share of the inaugural American Athletic Conference football championship.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Pete Young (May 3, 2003). "USF-UCF comes to fruition". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved August 12, 2012. 
  2. ↑ Mike Bianchi (May 5, 2001). "Hey Bulls: An I-4 War is Good for USF; UCF Medical Journal". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 13, 2012. 
  3. ↑ Greg Auman (August 16, 2006). "Schedule news, new commitment ...". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved August 12, 2012. 
  4. ↑ Greg Auman (September 6, 2008). "Should USF play UCF every year?". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved August 14, 2012. 
  5. ↑ Greg Auman (April 29, 2011). "USF says no contracts proposed for football with UCF". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved August 14, 2012. 
  6. ↑ http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa-09/big-east/2009-usf-bulls-football-schedule.php
  7. ↑ "Report: O'Leary says USF-UCF rivalry rekindled". Tampa Bay Times. 2011-04-28. Retrieved 2012-01-17. 
  8. ↑ "UCF officials say there is no contract yet for potential new series with USF". Orlando Sentinel. 2011-04-29. Retrieved 2012-01-17. 
  9. ↑ Greg Auman (January 12, 2012). "USF offered to play UCF in Citrus Bowl this fall". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved August 13, 2012. 
  10. ↑ Mike Bianchi (December 7, 2011). "Finally, Big East gives UCF some much-needed good news". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 13, 2012. 
  11. ↑ Rick Brown (September 17, 2005). "It's First Nickname Saturday". The Ledger. Retrieved August 13, 2012. 
  12. ↑ Bruey, Christian (November 27, 2013). "Bru's Clues: Week 14 College Football Picks". www.wftv.com. WFTV. Retrieved November 30, 2013. 
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