The Knights touched down in Tulsa around 2:30 p.m. central standard time for the final time this season and for the final time as members of Conference USA.

Saturday will be the third time the Knights will meet the Golden Hurricane in the Conference USA Championship game, but it will be the first at H.A. Chapman Stadium. Just two weeks ago, UCF lost to Tulsa in the regular season 23-21 and missed out on earning home field advantage for this championship contest.

Sophomore quarterback Blake Bortles will look to improve from his last contest at Tulsa when he completed 13-of-31 pass attempts for 169 yards and one touchdown. The Oviedo native has had a solid season compiling 2,593 passing yards and 20 touchdowns. Bortles continues to be one of the most efficient signal callers in the conference with a 145.2 rating, which is ranked second in C-USA.

Senior running back Latavius Murray finished the regular season ranked first in C-USA with 107.1 rushing yards per game and tied for first in scoring averaging 10 points per game. Murray is coming off a 95 rushing yard and one touchdown performance against the UAB Blazers.

The UCF defense looks to improve from its last performance against Tulsa, where the Knights gave up 461 total yards. Senior linebacker Jonathan Davis had a career performance with 17 tackles in that game. Defensive back A.J. Bouye also had a game changing 76-yard interception return for a touchdown as well.

The Knights are 2-4 all-time against the Golden Hurricane. This will be the first C-USA Championship away from home for the Knights. Since the start of the conference championship game, road teams are 3-4 overall.

Weather Report

Saturday's forecast calls for it to be mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain. The projected high is 72 degrees and a projected low is 55 degrees.

Game Notes

Want to go in-depth to learn more about UCF and Tulsa and their matchup tomorrow? Click on the links below for the media notes, distributed by the communications staff of both squads.

UCF Game Notes

Tulsa Game Notes

Links/Media Coverage

UCFAthletics.com - BLOG: Knights Ready For Rematch In Tulsa

UCFAthletics.com - BLOG: O'Leary - "Those are the games you remember"

UCFAthletics.com - BLOG: On The Verge Of History, Focused On The Present

UCF Athletics.com - Looking Back on UCF's C-USA Championship Games

Orlando Sentinel - Friday morning round-up: UCF, Tulsa ready for C-USA championship showdown

Orlando Sentinel - Current, former UCF players say championship week is unique

Orlando Sentinel - UCF  Breakdown: Key matchups and statistical comparison for the C-USA championship at Tulsa

Tulsa World - TU Football Notebook: UCF Rivalry

Radio/TV/Video

Kickoff is set for noon eastern standard time and 11 a.m. central standard time. The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports Network and the UCF-IMG College Radio Network. At the top of this blog is a quick preview of Saturday's game with "The Voice of the Knights" Marc Daniels and UCF color analyst Mike Gruttadauria.

It is a pretty fitting ending for UCF's run in Conference USA to be facing Tulsa in the title game Saturday at noon. The two teams have met twice for the right to represent the league in the Liberty Bowl, and the rubber match promises to be another dandy. UCFAthletics.com has you covered once again with 10 Tweetable tidbits to tweet out to all of your followers for the championship game.

• @UCF_Football (9-3, 7-1) vs. @TulsaFootball (9-3, 7-1)
• 
  
  
• H.A. Chapman Stadium (30,000) - Tulsa, Okla. - 12 p.m. EST
• 
  
  
• Watch the game live on ESPN2. It can also be seen on your computer, tablet or any mobile device by following the link for WatchESPN. You can listen on WYGM @740thegame (flagship), WFLF 540-AM (Maitland), WDCF 1350-AM (Clearwater), WROD 1340-AM (Daytona Beach), WWCN 770-AM (Fort Myers)
• 
  
  
• Follow the action all game long with updates from @UCF_Football and @UCF_Athletics on Twitter. Don't forget to "Like" the Knights on Facebook as well. For the stat buffs out there, follow on .

• 

• Since '05, no other conference has had 2 teams play each other more in its title game than the matchup of UCF & Tulsa #ItTakesTwoToTango
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• The C-USA winner in '05 & '07 had the edge in halftime score, rushing yds, TOs, penalties, red-zone conversions & sacks #KeysToVictory
• 
  
• A win Saturday would give #UCF double-digit victories for the fourth time in school history #DoubleYourPleasureDoubleYourFun
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• UCF continues to be a disciplined squad, ranking fifth in the nation in fewest penalties (3.67) per game in 2012 #LockedIn
• 
  
• RB Latavius Murray owns 40-career overall TDs. That ranks second all-time behind Kevin Smith who hit pay dirt 46 times #Tay_24K
• 
  
• Speedster Quincy McDuffie became the first UCF WR to rush for 3 TDs in a game last week against UAB #WhatCanQdoForYou
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• On just 3 INTs, DB A.J. Bouye has racked up 111 return yards on his picks, currently the fifth-best mark in a season at UCF #BooYa!
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• Did you know #UCF has five players (Ishmael, Geathers, Plummer, Shipman & Jonathan Davis) with at least 80 tackles? #GrassStains
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• On This Day: UCF is 2-0 all-time on Dec. 1, including its first @ConferenceUSA1 title over Tulsa in 2007, 44-25 #GoodKarma
• 
  
• Record Watch: With 15 more pass completions, QB Blake Bortles (444) could break into the top five for career pass completions #EarlyRiser
• 
  

The Knights have had a football program for 33 years and on Saturday UCF will play its final game in Conference USA before it begins a new chapter in the Big East Conference next season.

One of the reasons the Knights are able to make that move to the Big East is because of all of the success they've had during their short history as a football program. Saturday's Conference Championship game against Tulsa will give the Knights a chance to write more history against the Golden Hurricane.

A win would give the Knights a Conference USA record third championship and the squad will go down as one of the greatest teams in school history.

"It means a lot," senior fullback Billy Giovanetti said. "I feel like we're not so much focused on the history that it's creating, but more the task at hand right now and how much another championship would mean. We're out there, we're working hard and you can't ask for anything more than what the team is giving. We're ready to play."

Just two weeks ago the Knights were in Tulsa and came up short against the Golden Hurricane 23-21. That result has been plenty of motivation for the squad.

"It's all business right now," senior defensive back Kemal Ishmael said. "We owe these guys and that's how we're taking our action."

"All of us came here and signed a letter of intent to win," junior offensive lineman Justin McCray said. "That's what we're trying to come out and do."

All season long UCF head coach George O'Leary talked about the goals the Knights set for themselves and what they want to accomplish in their final season in Conference USA. On Saturday, UCF will have a chance to accomplish one of their major goals, which is to win its third conference championship.

"They have a chance to reach that and that's all that really needs to be said because their goal meant something when they made it," O'Leary said during his weekly press conference. "It's important because you only get to play for a certain amount of championships, especially if you're a college player."

For the third time in the conference championship game the Knights will take face the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, but it will be the first time UCF will play the game at H.A. Chapman Stadium. Just two weeks ago, the squad traveled to Tulsa, Oklahoma for a regular season match up and came up short 23-21.

A win in the game will not only give the Knights a conference record third championship, but also a trip to the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee. Last time UCF went to that bowl the squad came away with a historic 10-6 win over current SEC power house Georgia.

"The only thing we talk about as a football team is getting to Memphis," O'Leary said. "We never really discussed anything else."

Last contest against the Golden Hurricane, the Knights gave up 461 yards of total offense to the run heavy Tulsa offense. The defense has been working hard to improve their performance from that contest and seniors like Kemal Ishmael and Troy Davis are two of the many players O'Leary wants to see above average performances from.

"The good ones play big in big games. The average guys who are role players need to play good. That's the difference between winning the conference championship and losing it," O'Leary said. "You expect your players to play well, plus the average guys have a role on the team. That's what separates winning and losing conference games."

Coach O'Leary has always stressed to his players people remember the championship games and Saturday's match up will give this year's Knights a chance to be remembered forever in the program's final game in Conference USA.

"It's another game. It's another championship," O'Leary said. "That's the goal and I think since we're leaving the conference it would be a good way to say goodbye. I like Conference USA. They've treated us very well and I appreciate what they've done for our program and to get us started."

"Those are the games you remember," O'Leary continued. "You don't remember some of the other games, but you do remember the championship games."

It's rare that a football team faces the same team twice in one season. Not only will the Knights do that this upcoming weekend in the Conference USA Championship game, but they will play the same team in the span of three weeks.

Two weeks ago, UCF fell to the Tulsa Golden Hurricane 23-21 in a battle for home field advantage in the C-USA Championship game. Now the Knights return to Tulsa, Oklahoma to try and win its third and final Conference USA Championship before moving to the Big East Conference next season.

"It is in the back of your mind. That's why we had to win that last game because we wanted to get back out there and have another shot at Tulsa," Senior captain and offensive lineman Jordan Rae said. "Our goal is still in front of us and that's to win the conference championship and that's what we're working for this week."

The squad is coming off a dominating 49-24 victory over division rival UAB. That was a game that clinched the fourth Conference USA East Division for the Knights. UCF is hoping to carry some of that offensive momentum into their final game in C-USA.

"Last time we played them they did play faster than us and harder than us," Rae said. "We're able to look at this film and find out where they attacked us and where our weakest points were."

"When it all comes down to it we have to block people and that's all that really matters," Rae continued

The defense made some key plays in the last contest against Tulsa, which included two blocked field goals and a 76-yard interception return by senior cornerback A.J. Bouye. Fellow senior captain Kemal Ishmael made a few key interceptions during the regular season and would like to make one in his final game against Tulsa. The Miami native says making plays will make the difference in this championship contest.

"It's just going out there and competing," Ishmael said. "Both teams know what to expect from each other and it's just going to be who is going to be more successful and more physical on the field."

"They know our personnel and we know their personnel," Ishmael continued. "We know what to expect from them and what they're trying to do. We just have to go out there and compete right now. It's all about who is going to be more successful on the field."

="" alt="Twitter Logo" border="0"> ="" alt="Facebook Logo" border="0"> UCF Athletics Social Media Directory

By Marc Daniels
UCFAthletics.com

UCF will play in its fourth CUSA Championship game in its eighth season in the league. The Knights 49-24 win over UAB earned the return trip to Tulsa, where UCF fell 23-21 two weeks ago.

Among the UAB win highlights were the fact that the 20 seniors closed out their home careers at Bright House Network stadium with a win. That group posted a 21-5 record playing at home and earned their 33^rd overall win and becomes the all-time leader in wins with one more victory in their final two games.

Quincy McDuffie dazzled those at the game with three rushing touchdowns including UCF's final score on a beautiful 43-yard run to the end zone. It was also fitting for Lyle Dankenbring, as the former walk-on picked off a UAB pass and went 78-yards for the touchdown.

Now on to Tulsa again, where UCF can say it did not play its best game of the season yet still had a chance to win. Tulsa enters the game off a 35-27 loss to SMU in Dallas. The Golden Hurricane ran 103 plays and had 32 first downs to the Mustangs 12.

This will mark the second time Tulsa has hosted the CUSA title game.  In 2008, East Carolina beat Tulsa 27-24. The visiting team has won three of the previous seven conference championship games.  Houston and Southern Miss have faced each other twice in the title game, while UCF and Tulsa will face off for the third time in the game.

Follow me on twitter @UCF_MarcDaniels for notes, news and more.

Radio coverage, on the UCF/IMG Radio Network, for UCF and Tulsa begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Kickoff from is set for noon.  

Since the beginning of the season, UCF head coach George O'Leary said he wanted his team to play for a championship and the Knights will get a chance to do that after a 49-24 victory over the UAB Blazers. Many of the seniors played a huge role in the Senior Day win that clinched the Conference USA East Division for the UCF and a trip back to Tulsa, Oklahoma to face the Golden Hurricane in the C-USA Championship game.

"It's mainly for the seniors, but our main goal all year has been to get to the conference championship and to win it," sophomore receiver J.J. Worton said. "To get a second chance at Tulsa is definitely something we're looking forward to."

"It's like a sense of urgency now," senior receiver and Orlando native Quincy McDuffie said. "We now clinched the division and now we got a chance to go back to Tulsa and get out revenge in the conference championship, which is our main goal."

Last week, UCF went to Tulsa and lost 23-21. That game has been on the squads' mind all week as motivation to bring UCF its third Conference USA Championship.

"This is definitely a big win," Worton said. "It carries [us] right into it (C-USA Championship game), but we also know what happened last time we were there and we're not going to forget about that."

Senior Latavius Murray had another solid performance in his final game at Bright House Networks Stadium rushing for 94 yards and one touchdown. Quincy McDuffie came into this contest with only one career rushing touchdown and ran for three scores and had 140 total yards.

The defense had some seniors who shined on the field as well. Palm City native Lyle Dankenbring returned an interception 78 yards for a score to help the Knights pull away from the Blazers. 

"It's coming down towards the end of the season and most guys won't play at the next level," senior defensive back Kemal Ishmael said. "This is going to be their last game at home, so we just had a lot to lose this game and everybody just took it seriously and knew we had to get back to Tulsa and handle business."

The UCF women's basketball team just spent the past week in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, for the Hardwood Tournament of Hope, but it wasn't all business for the team in the tropical locale. The Knights were able to enjoy the amenities of the all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel and had a chance to sprinkle in a little fun when they weren't playing games. Before heading back to the States, the players discussed what they most enjoyed about the trip. Here are their answers:

Kiana Morton: I ate octopus for the first time. It tasted like shrimp to me. I liked it.

Andrea Hines: I tried guacamole. Usually, I just eat my chips with salsa because guacamole is green and I always thought it would be gross. But I liked it.

Sara Djassi: I just enjoyed competing, especially against the top teams. It was good to see how hard they play and showed me how hard I have to work to get there. All the extra stuff was nice, but I came here for business.

Sarah Green: I ate spicy tuna for the first time and it was delicious.

Stephanie Taylor: I liked everything. The scenery was extremely pretty.

Briahanna Jackson: I'm glad we came because it was my first time out of the country. And I ordered room service like 10 times a day. I probably had 15 club sandwiches.

Gevenia Carter: It was a great experience being in another country - the scenery, the culture, all of it. And I love Mexican food.

Kayli Keough: I think our team got closer coming here. It was a good bonding trip.

Bryeasha Blair: I'm happy that I got to leave with six boxes of cereal.

Meghan Keough: It was my first time seeing the Pacific Ocean. Waking up here and playing basketball is better than waking up anywhere else and playing basketball.

Erika Jones: It was nice to see the coaches happy and more laid back.

A photo gallery of the trip can be found on Facebook. 

On what looks to be "Chamber of Commerce Weather" at Bright House Networks Stadium, the Knights will look to send off the senior class with a victory over UAB in what will be the Conference USA home finale for UCF. The Knights will also be looking to improve their all-time record against the Blazers to 8-2 and UCFAthletics.com has you covered once again with 10 Tweetable tidbits to tweet out to all of your followers.

• @UABathletics (3-8, 2-5) vs. @UCF_Football (8-3, 6-1)
• 
  
• Bright House Networks Stadium (45, 323) - Orlando, Fla. - 12 p.m. EST
• 
  
• Watch it live on @FoxSports Networks. You can listen on WYGM @740thegame (flagship), WFLF 540-AM (Maitland), WDCF 1350-AM (Clearwater), WROD 1340-AM (Daytona Beach), WWCN 770-AM (Fort Myers)
• 
  
• Follow the action all game long with updates from @UCF_Football and @UCF_Athletics on Twitter. Don't forget to "Like" the Knights on Facebook as well. For the stat buffs out there, follow on .

• 

• Prior to the game, 20 seniors will be honored in what will be their final game at Bright House Networks Stadium #Thanks4TheMemories
• 
  
• The 2012 seniors could end their careers as the winningest class in UCF history. They need 1 more to tie all-time mark (33) #AllIDoIsWin
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• #UCF has played more teams from the state of Alabama (41) than any other state including Florida (31) #YellowHammerState
• 
  
• UCF's offense is poised to break the all-time mark for least TOs in a season. It currently has 14 with 19 ('10) as the record #BallSecurity
• 
  
• So far in 2012, 16 Knights have caught a pass, the most since 2001. The all-time mark is 18 in 1995 #DemocraticPasser
• 
  
• #UCF has 27 scoring drives of at least 70 yards (25 TDs, 2 FGs), that includes two of at least 98 yards #TheKnightsGoMarching1by1
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• #UCF is one of 12 programs in the FBS which has not allowed at least 300 passing yards in a game #YouAreGrounded
• 
  
• Did you know #UCF has given up just 44 points in the 1st quarter, including five teams being held scoreless? #1stQuarterBlues
• 
  
• On This Day 1990: On the foot of Franco Grilla, UCF beat Youngstown State in the 1st Round of the 1-AA Playoffs, 20-17 #PlunderingPenguins
• 
  
• Record Watch: FS Kemal Ishmael (336) is just five tackles shy of fifth on the all-time list at UCF #KemalAmerican
• 
  

The Knights will conclude their busy week with a big challenge. UCF will face host No. 7 Florida in Gainesville at 4 p.m. Friday.

• @GatorZoneMBK 4-0) vs. @UCF_MBasketball (3-1)
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• O'Connell Center (11,548) - Gainesville, Fla. - 4 p.m.
• 
  
• Watch it live on @SunSportsFOXFL. You can listen on WYGM @740thegame
• 
  
• Follow the action all game long with updates from @UCF_MBasketball and @UCF_Athletics on Twitter. Don't forget to "Like" the Knights on Facebook as well.

  

• #UCF will be playing its second road game of the year, having defeated host USF on Nov. 10 #SeekingInStateSuccess
• 
  
• The Knights will be looking for their first win in Gainesville as they are 0-7 all-time at Florida #AChanceforHistory
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• #UCF coach Donnie Jones is familiar with the Gators having served as a Florida assistant from 1996-07 #WelcomeBack
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• UCF will be playing a ranked foe for the 4th time under Donnie Jones and are 2-1 vs. ranked teams under his guidance #BigTimeWins
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• Tristan Spurlock is averaging 13.5 points this year, compared to 7.2 points a year ago #SteppingUp
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• Keith Clanton will make his 95th-consecutive start on Friday #Longevity
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• Keith Clanton and Florida's Kenny Boynton were teammates on the AAU level #ThatTeamwasLoaded
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• Keith Clanton has 13 assists this year; Florida assist leader Mike Rosario has 12 #TheBigGuyCanPass
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• Isaiah Sykes is shooting 64.3 percent overall this year #MakingThemCount
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• Keith Clanton and Isaiah Sykes both competed against the Gators for #UCF back in 2010 #Memories
• 
  

Offense
- Daiquan Walker had a great first half. He hit two big time 3-pointers and made some solid decisions in the half court.
- The best way to attack a zone defense is dribble penetration in the gaps of the zone. When the Knights did that, they were successful.
- There were small stretches of stagnant offense throughout the game. That will be fixed as the season progresses.
- I thought Tristan Spurlock was great all night! He was aggressive on both ends of the floor.
- Spurlock's tip dunk of the Wilson miss was insane! #imustdunkonyou #ohmomacita
- Staphon Blair continues to improve. I wouldn't mind seeing him demand the ball a little more.

Defense
- Middle Tennessee's guards were very good at getting into the lane with their dribble attack.
- The Knights had to chase on stagger screens, double stagger screens and flare picks all game.
- Middle Tennessee subbed a lot! That's a tough scouting report.
- I Thought Walker and Rod Days provided good energy when needed.

Intangibles
- Tough loss... Middle Tennessee is a very good basketball team. You will see them in the NCAA tourney and they will win their league.
- All-American trainer Andy Reber had on a half zip dark green pullover. He looked like the mannequin I saw from Jos A. Bank. However, the best dressed award goes to Senior Associate AD Zack Lassiter with a timeless argyle sweater vest #ladieslovetheargyle
- Song of the Day = Gangnam Style. Taylor Young and I were skipped by the dance cam again.
- Marc Daniels gave me some of his goldfish crackers at halftime. #honored
- I'll be eating tons of turkey and stuffing (like unfathomable amounts) on Thursday and I hope you will be too! Happy Thanksgiving Knight fans!
- The next game vs. that school up the street is this Friday at 4 p.m.

"Finish" has been the theme for the Knights (8-3, 6-1) all season long and the players and coaches have been reminding each other of that quite a bit this week. UCF head coach George O'Leary certainly reiterated that to the media during his Tuesday press conference.

"We have to finish," O'Leary said. "That's the marketing term that we've used and I think it's a good term and that's what we need to do is Finish."

The UAB Blazers (3-8, 2-5) travel to Orlando this weekend for the Knights' regular season finale. A UCF win or an ECU loss will clinch the Conference USA East Division for the Knights and a trip back to Tulsa, Oklahoma to face the Golden Hurricane in the conference championship game.

 "Very few teams still have a chance to play for two championships," O'Leary said. "This game coming up gives [us] the division championship, where we can go out there and win that one, and that gives you another chance to go back for the conference [championship]."

This will be UCF's final season in conference USA and the Knights have already won three division titles and two conference championships in C-USA. This contest against the Blazers gives the Knights a chance to get more than just another win.

"We have the opportunity and we have to take advantage of it," O'Leary said. "The opportunity is there and now we need to grasp it."

Saturday is also senior day and 20 seniors will be honored before the contest at Bright House Networks Stadium. A win that day will also tie this senior class for the most victories over a four-year stretch with 32. As pleased as Coach O'Leary is with what his seniors have accomplished during their tenure at UCF, he wants them to concentrate on the task at hand.

"In my opinion they wouldn't have accomplished anything unless we win Saturday," O'Leary said. "That's the feeling I've let them know as far as all of the good you've done. People remember what you do in November, not in September. That's how I look at those things and you're remembered for your last game, your last at bat, your last shot, whatever it is and that's what I told them."

On Saturday the Knights (8-3, 6-1) will have a chance to earn a trip back to Tulsa for the Conference USA Championship game with a win against the UAB Blazers (3-8, 2-5). Last week's loss against the Golden Hurricane was a tough one for the Knights, by the squad knows it needs to move on and it can still accomplish its goal of winning a division and conference championship in the Knights' final season in Conference USA.

One area the Knights are hoping to improve on from last week is the running game. Senior back Latavius Murray ran for just 60 yards in the game, which ended a streak of four consecutive 100+ rushing yard games for the New York native.

"We need to establish this run game again and get it going," senior offensive lineman Jordan Rae said. "Looking back from the last two weeks we made a lot of mistakes up front, stupid little mistakes that we shouldn't have."

"Everything is not as crisp as it should have been so the coaches have been making it an issue to get back to the fundamentals of base blocking and getting up to the backers and stuff like that," continued Rae.

The Blazers will arrive at Bright House Networks Stadium with an offense led by freshman quarterback Austin Brown. UCF head coach George O'Leary said during his weekly press conference that the young signal caller has improved in every game he's played. Brown has thrown for 2,470 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. Senior defensive back Kemal Ishmael says this isn't your typical 3-8 squad.

"They have good skill position kids," Ishmael said. "They just have a lot of speed on their team. Give credit to their offensive coordinator and their coach for putting together their schemes well and making plays in space."

Making plays is something the Knights hope to do against the Blazers. Last year, making plays was what helped UAB defeat UCF. The Blazer made a 40-yard field goal with only 21 seconds remaining in the contest to knock the Knights out 26-24.

"We keep it in the back of our head, what happened last year," Murray said. "We know what's most important and we know what we have to get done."

The Knights will continue their busy week, which includes three games in six days, with a 7 p.m. home game Tuesday against Middle Tennessee State.

• @MT_MBB (2-1) vs. @UCF_MBasketball (3-0)
• 
  
• UCF Arena (10,000) - Orlando, Fla. - 7 p.m.
• 
  
• Watch it live on All-Access. You can listen on WYGM @740thegame
• 
  
• Follow the action all game long with updates from @UCF_MBasketball and @UCF_Athletics on Twitter. Don't forget to "Like" the Knights on Facebook as well. For the stat buffs out there, follow on .

  
  

• #UCF will be playing its second game in three days and its second of three games this week #KeepingBusy
• 
  
• #UCF is averaging 37.0 points in the first half, compared to 22.3 for its opponents #StrongStarters
• 
  
• UCF has a 2-0 series edge over Middle Tennessee State, but has not played the Blue Raiders since 2000 #Reunited
• 
  
• UCF's starters have combined for 193 of the team's 212 points this year #FollowtheLeaders
• 
  
• #UCF is averaging 5.3 blocks, compared to 2.0 for its opponents #BlockParty
• 
  
• The Knights have not lost a non-league home game since 2009 #HappyatHome
• 
  
• Isaiah Sykes is shooting 63.2 percent from the floor in 2012-13 #StrongShotSelection
• 
  
• Rod Days played a career-high 31 minutes in Sunday's win over Savannah State #MakingaContribution
• 
  
• Keith Clanton has recorded double doubles in all three of the team's games this year #SeeingDouble
• 
  
• Keith Clanton has started 93-straight games at power forward #Longevity
• 
  

Offense
- Keith Clanton is so good in the post. Even if he doesn't score or make an assist, his presence down low demands so much attention from opposing defenses.
- UCF had only three assists to 15 turnovers, yet still won the game.
- The Knights halfcourt offense looked out of sync for most of the night. It wasn't that they were selfish, not even remotely that, but they just seemed unsure of themselves. It was extremely surprising considering their fluid continuity the last 2 games.
- Daiquan Walker = see my thoughts on him in the intangibles section.
- I needed more "point guard" out of Isaiah Sykes. He still had 14 points, but only one assist. His "and 1" with about a minute to go was crazy clutch. Weight room!!!
- Staphon Blair did a great job of keeping the ball alive on the offensive glass. It's hard to box that beast out!

Defense
- Give Savannah State credit, they ran a really solid halfcourt offense. They were in attack mode all game - dribble weave, flares and pick and rolls all day.
- Overall pretty solid "D" by the Knights except for that 4-minute stretch in the second half.
- UCF had 20 deflections last night as opposed to 32 against Alabama State. Please read my definition of deflections in my last write up.
- Walker has a chance to be a great lock down defender.
- Kasey Wilson had two huge blocks late in the second half. People underestimate his athleticism.
- UCF won the rebounding stat line by three - 36-33.
- The Knights did a fantastic job of guarding the 3-point line! UCF held Savannah State to 30 percent from the 3-point line.

Intangibles
- We won! Did UCF play to its potential? No. It doesn't matter. As my old high school coach would say, "an ugly win is always better than a pretty loss."
- People told me Clanton had a bad game. He had 17 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks. What a horrible game!
- Everyone is a great captain when the waters are calm, what happens when the waters are rough? Who will emerge as that great captain for the Knights?
- Walker is going to be good folks. For freshmen point guards to get more playing time the formula is simple: play hard + no turnovers + high energy + knowing your scouting report = playing time. The more simplistic Walker plays the better the Knights will play. Simplistic does not mean playing timid. It means playing at a pace that makes your teammates feel comfortable. Walker wants to be good, he's already a great teammate, and he will get better.
- I was with the football team at Tulsa this weekend. I learned that Marc Daniels has a phenomenal voice (especially on any song by Pitbull). I couldn't even look at him and for a second I thought he took the shape of a unicorn. #majestic
- At the 15:51 mark of the second half the song "Moves Like Jagger" came on the loudspeaker. Taylor Young and I deserve to be on the dance cam for that song. #hypesong
- Speaking of TY, Justin Bieber won artist of the year at the AMA's last night. He's been suffering from Bieber Fever all year. I'm more of a Selena Gomez fan.
- If Wilson does not grab that loose ball at the end of the second half, we do not win that game.
- Knight fans... tomorrow night's game is huge! Middle Tennessee State is really really good. 7 p.m. at the UCF Arena tomorrow night! #barnburner

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By Marc Daniels
UCFAthletics.com

UCF can clinch the east division of Conference USA before taking the field Saturday.  If Marshall wins at East Carolina, UCF wins the division. The Thundering Herd has much to play for as a win would make Marshall bowl eligible. If East Carolina wins, UCF can still advance to its fourth conference title game with a win over UAB.

A.J. Bouye might want his dad to keep coming to road games. After witnessing his son return a fumble for a touchdown at Marshall, his son returned an interception 76-yards at Tulsa.

UCF is 6-1 in its last seven regular season finales. Saturday's game also marks the fourth time UCF will play UAB in final game of the regular season since both joined Conference USA.

A total of 20 seniors will be honored before Saturday's kickoff.  The group has a chance to be the most successful class in UCF history. The Knights are 32-18 the last four seasons. The 32 wins ties the mark for most wins over a four-year period.

UAB Garrick McGee is in his first season as head coach of the Blazers. He was an assistant at Arkansas prior to taking the job.

This week's interesting fact about UCF's opponent is golfer Graeme McDowell, winner of the 2010 US Open, played on the UAB golf team from 1998-2002.

Follow me on twitter @UCF_MarcDaniels for notes, news and more.

Radio coverage, on the UCF/IMG Radio Network, for UCF and UAB begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Kickoff from is set for noon.  

Off to a strong start in 2012-13, UCF will look to improve to 3-0 when it hosts Savannah State Sunday.

• @SavStateTigers (3-1) vs. @UCF_MBasketball (2-0)
• 
  
• UCF Arena (10,000) - Orlando, Fla. - 2 p.m.
• 
  
• Watch it live on All-Access. You can listen on WYGM @740thegame
• 
  
• Follow the action all game long with updates from @UCF_MBasketball and @UCF_Athletics on Twitter. Don't forget to "Like" the Knights on Facebook as well. For the stat buffs out there, follow on .

  
  

• Through two games this year, UCF is shooting 57.9 percent from the floor #OnTarget
• 
  
• #UCF is averaging 18.5 assists per game, compared to 11.4 assists last year #SharingisCaring
• 
  
• #UCF has 11 blocks this season, while its foes have blocked only three shots #SwatTeam
• 
  
• The Knights own a +23.5 scoring margin this year #TheScore
• 
  
• 100 of UCF's 159 total points this year have come inside the paint#InsideWork
• 
  
• Against Savannah State, #UCF will be playing the first of three games this week #NoDaysOff
• 
  
• Isaiah Sykes has dished out 15 assists with only four turnovers as the #UCF point guard #HandlewithCare
• 
  
• Keith Clanton has recorded double doubles in both of the team's games this year #SeeingDouble
• 
  
• Kasey Wilson has made 10-of-12 field-goal attempts in 2012-13 #SureShot
• 
  
• Rod Days had a career-best four assists Tuesday vs. Alabama State #MovetheRock
• 
  

Saturday's historic conference matchup against Tulsa (9-2, 7-0) presented a chance for the Knights (8-3, 6-1) to accomplish some of the goals they set out for this season. After a 23-21 loss against the Golden Hurricane, UCF will have to wait one more week until it has a chance to check some of those goals off its list.

Tulsa's win against the Knights clinched the Conference USA West Division for the Golden Hurricane as well as home field advantage in the C-USA Championship game. Hosting the conference championship game was something the Knights worked hard for all season long. Even though the players are upset about the result, they are going to use this as motivation for the rest of the season.

"No doubt about it that it was a big loss, but we have to take care of the next game which is UAB and if we beat UAB we still have a chance to achieve our goals," sophomore quarterback Blake Bortles said. "We just have to get ready for Saturday."

On Saturday the Knights will play their regular season finale against the UAB Blazers. UCF will secure the C-USA East Division with a win or an ECU loss. If that happens, the following week UCF will travel back to Tulsa to face the Golden Hurricane in the conference championship game.

Sophomore wide receiver J.J. Worton had two receptions for 12 yards against Tulsa. He says experiencing that environment will make the Knights even more prepared to face their conference foe again.

"We're going to use it to our advantage," Worton said. "We played here and now we know what it's like. It's nothing we can't win and this is definitely a team we can beat, but right now our focus is on UAB."

Even though the chances of the Knights playing the Golden Hurricane again is all but imminent, the seniors will make sure no one forgets about this week's game against UAB.

"We just have to come ready to work on Monday," senior running back Latavius Murray said. "We'll find out what corrections we need to make and put the game behind us and just look forward to the games we have left."

The Knights (8-2, 6-0) have arrived in Tulsa, Oklahoma for their final road game of the regular season after a two and a half hour flight from Orlando, Florida. Saturday's match up against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (8-2, 6-0) will be the latest the leaders of both divisions have squad off since Conference USA began divisional play in 2005.

A win for UCF will clinch the C-USA East Division and will also secure home field advantage for the Knights in the conference championship game. The Knights have won three C-USA division titles and two conference championships since joining conference USA.

UCF sophomore quarterback Blake Bortles and senior running back Latavius Murray have paced the Knights on offense all season and look to have another strong performance against the Golden Hurricane. Last week against UTEP, Bortles ran for two touchdowns and threw for 213 yards and a score. On the season, the Oviedo native has thrown for 2,199 yards and 17 touchdowns. Borltes has also ran for six scores. Murray has ran for over 100 yards in four consecutive weeks. Last contest against the Miners, the fifth year back ran for 117 yards and the game winning touchdown. The New York native leads UCF in rushing with 810 yards and 11 touchdowns.

On defense, the Knights remain ranked first in the conference in scoring defense (21.2 points per game), passing defense (191.6 yards per game) and total defense (343.9 yards per game). UCF will face the top rushing offense in the conference on Saturday. Tulsa has ran for 2,446 yards on the season. The majority of those yards have been split between the Golden Hurricane's Ja'Terian Douglas (808 yards), Trey Watts (645 yards) and Alex Singleton (572 yards).

Weather Report

Saturday's forecast calls for zero percent chance of rain with a projected high at 64 degrees and a projected low at 36 degrees.

Game Notes

Want to go in-depth to learn more about UCF and Tulsa and their matchup tomorrow? Click on the links below for the media notes, distributed by the communications staff of both squads.

UCF Game Notes

Tulsa Game Notes

Links/Media Coverage

UCFAthletics.com - Blog: Knights Know What's On The Line

UCFAthletics.com - Blog: George O'Leary - "I love games like this"

UCF Athletics.com - Blog: Making Sure Hard Work Pays Off Against Tulsa

Orlando Sentinel - UCF defensive line faces must-win challenge up front against Tulsa

Orlando Sentinel - Tulsa QB Cody Green talks about UCF defense, development of first-year starting QB

Tulsa World - TU will face complete team in UCF 

Tulsa World - TU football notebook: No holding back

Radio/TV/Video

Kickoff is set for noon eastern standard time and 11 a.m. central standard time. The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports Network and the UCF-IMG College Radio Network. At the top of this blog is a quick preview of Saturday's game with "The Voice of the Knights" Marc Daniels and UCF color analyst Mike Gruttadauria.

You couldn't ask for a more meaningful late-season matchup in Conference USA. Actually, the league has never seen two 6-0 teams in conference play go head-to-head, but when UCF meets Tulsa, a lot is on the line in the high-noon showdown. UCFAthletics.com has you covered once again with 10 Tweetable tidbits to tweet out to all of your followers.

• @UCF_Football (8-2, 6-0) vs. @TulsaFootball (8-2, 6-0)
• H.A. Chapman Stadium (30, 000) - Tulsa, Okla. - 12 p.m. EST
• Watch it live on @FoxSports Networks. You can listen on WYGM @740thegame (flagship), WFLF 540-AM (Maitland), WDCF 1350-AM (Clearwater), WROD 1340-AM (Daytona Beach), WWCN 770-AM (Fort Myers)
• Follow the action all game long with updates from @UCF_Football and @UCF_Athletics on Twitter. Don't forget to "Like" the Knights on Facebook as well. For the stat buffs out there, follow on .

  

• A #UCF win will clinch the East while a #Tulsa victory gives them the West. Winner is in the driver's seat to host title game #WhoaNelly
• 
  
• Tulsa owns the 3-2 all-time advantage in the series with each team beating the other for a C-USA title in the past #WinningPrograms
• 
  
• If #UCF pulls out the victory, it will tie for the longest win-streak (7) in school history #2007wasAgoodYearToo
• 
  
• The 2009-12 Senior Class could go down as the top one is school history with a current winning % of .653 and a 32-17 record #LeadByExample
• 
  
• After just 4 yards and a TD last year, B. Bortles has turned on the wheels with 132 yards and 6 TDs on the ground in 2012 #DualThreat
• 
  
• Latavius Murray continues to batter defenses as he has racked up 620 yards in his last 4 games, and a TD in his last 5 #AnimalStyle
• 
  
• LB Ray Shipman's progression on defense is paying dividends as he has 73 tackles so far, including a career-high 14 at UTEP #ShipShape
• 
  
• Did you know Quincy McDuffie ranks second in the nation averaging over 36 yards per KO return on just 13 in 2012? #Q4AllAmerican
• 
  
• On This Day 2007: UCF clinched a share of C-USA East with a 49-20 win at SMU while 24K scored his league-record 25 rushing TD #SolidGold
• 
  
• Record Watch: FS Kemal Ishmael became UCF's all-time leader in tackles by a defensive back (327) with 10 at UTEP #KemalAmerican
• 
  

Every team in the nation sets goals for itself each season. Some squads achieve those goals and others fall short.

On Saturday, the Knights (8-2, 6-0) have a chance to accomplish some of their goals when they take on the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (8-2, 6-0).

A win will clinch the Knights' fourth Conference USA East Division title and also home field advantage in the C-USA Championship game. An opportunity like this is what the players and coaches have been working towards ever since last season ended.

All of the hard work UCF has done is what makes this week's game against Tulsa more than just another game. It represents what the Knights want to accomplish this season.

"In all of the hard work we put in the offseason we know how much this game means and we don't want any of that to go to waste," senior running back Latavius Murray said. "We know how important this game is and this game sets us up closer to our goal and being able to have home field advantage [in the conference championship game] here at home."

 "Our slogan this year is 'finish' and wanting to write our own destiny," senior linebacker Ray Shipman said. "Basically this game is another stepping stone for us to writing our own destiny. If we don't win this game it doesn't mean anything because we didn't finish. Now is the time to finish."

The future starts now for the UCF men's basketball program. Head coach Donnie Jones has a large freshman class, led by Staphon Blair, Dylan Karell, Daiquan Walker and Matt Williams. Learn more about these new Knights, who should make a positive impact in 2012-13:

Following every home contest, UCF basketball legend Mike O'Donnell will share his thoughts on the Knights' play on the court. Here is the first installment of @MOD4Three, which includes his observations following UCF's 85-56 victory over Alabama State:

Offense
- After a huge road win against USF, I had a feeling about what the first five minutes of the game would look like. I was right, it was somewhat of a slow start. But that didn't last long.
- Ball movement and unselfishness (my absolute favorite characteristic of this team) continues to reign supreme for the Knights half-court attack.
- Let's play a game: You have to guard Isaiah Sykes in a pick and roll situation. What do you do? Hedge and go under? Double him at the point of contact? Double him before the pick even happens? Sink your wings in to prevent penetration? Well, you can try any of those delightful options. Unfortunately they will all end up achieving one of these results: A drive for a layup, a kickout to Clanton, Wilson, Spurlock or Days for a 3-ball, or a pass back to conference player of the year candidate at the top of the key (wonder what he will do with it).
- Twenty-five assists as a team! Did I mention how much I love this team's unselfishness?
- Really impressed with Sykes' 23 points, but the scoring number pales in comparison to his seven assists with only one turnover.
- Another boring night for Clanton. Just 20 points and 11 rebounds. And how about that beard?
- Tristan Spurlock gets more of the press coverage (rightfully so) as the "third" guy, but Kasey Wilson has been the unsung hero for this team. He is definitely a player who needs to make his first shot to get going.
- Fun team to watch on the fastbreak... so far, haven't seen a bad break-out... you can tell this team loves to get out play in transition. Donnie Jones loves it too!
- Daiquan Walker was much better tonight. He is a pass-first point guard who will see more time as the game slows down for him.
- Staphon Blair continues to look more comfortable in the offense.
- Dylan Karell is a crowd favorite! Long, athletic, great hair... wait, what?
- Nothing like stepping on to the court for the first time and draining a trey ball... T-Coons for three!!! #FearTheMuttonChops #TaylorYoung2.0

Defense
- After the first five minutes, the Knights defense was very good.
- UCF forced 15 Alabama State turnovers.
- Deflections are a great way to gauge the effort of a team. A deflection is not an official stat on the stat sheet but 95 percent of college coaches chart them. A deflection is anytime a player changes the course of a ball, like steal, loose ball, deflected pass or tip on offensive rebound. It's a great barometer of your team's effort. A good number for a game total is 25. The Knights had 32 last night.
- Clanton had three blocks and you wouldn't even know it. I believe we underestimate his sneakiness. 

Intangibles
- Sykes is playing like a draft pick right. He is a 6-foot-6 point guard who is as strong as a power forward and doesn't turn the ball over. Channeling my inner Herm Edwards "Hello?!?!?"
- The announced attendance was 4,454. This team is crazy fun to watch. Let's hope more of Knight Nation can be there for Sunday's game
- There was a technical foul called at the 17:28 mark of the first half on Clanton for hanging on the rim. It was easily one of the oddest technical foul calls I have ever seen. I have hung on the rim longer than that, and I have never hung on the rim, ever!
- The little girl who won the dance contest has crazy swag!
- Sat next to former UCF star quarterback Kyle Israel for most of the game. He kept saying touchdown and interception... it was awkward.
- Keep an eye on the 2-man game between Clanton and Wilson. They have a great feel together working the high-low action.
- All-American trainer Andy Reber was disappointing in his outfit last night - a simple black sweater vest (the gold cuff links saved him). DJ's suit was phenomenal but director of athletics communications Doug Richards stole the show with a classic bowtie look. It was a thing of beauty.
- The next game is Sunday at 2 p.m. vs. Savannah State... be there Knight Nation!!!

UCF defender Ashley Nicol was named to the CS360 Primetime Performers Honor Roll on Wednesday for her performance in the Knights' thrilling shootout against Miami on Saturday. Nicol is one of 13 players around the country to earn the distinction.

Nicol netted a highlight-reel diving header with less than six minutes remaining to tie the game against the Canes. She would eventually connect on her PK during the shootout to help UCF advance to the second round for the sixth-consecutive season.

T

Since George O'Leary became the head coach at UCF (8-2, 6-0) he's taken the Knights to three C-USA Championship games and won two. The longtime head coach would like to take the Knights to another Conference USA Championship game in the squad's final season in C-USA. The Knights have a chance to do that this week against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (8-2, 6-0).

A win will not only clinch the Conference USA East Division for the Knights, but it will also clinch home field advantage in the conference championship game.

"I think it's a big game because it's the next game and the players probably understand that," O'Leary said during his weekly news conference. "This group of kids probably understands it more than some other groups of kids that I've had."

"Basically it's another conference game, but it's what goes with it," O'Leary continued. "We both still have to win games to win the division. No one has secured that yet."

For the second week in a row, the Knights will travel out to the Midwest for a conference contest and will have the challenge of dealing with a time zone change and a change of environment. Last week, UCF came away with a 31-24 victory in El Paso against UTEP.

"I think anytime teams have to travel from west to east or east to west, about 30 percent of all of the teams win when you look at all of football," O'Leary said. "That's because of time change. That's because of distance. It's because of focus. A lot of things come into play."

O'Leary says he loves coaching in these types of games because these are the kind of matchups you train all season for. The ninth year UCF head coach says his team will have to bring its "A" game if the squad wants to accomplish its goals and continue its road to a conference championship.

"This game is basically going out and getting your job done in all three phases," O'Leary said. "I think practice so far this week has been one of the better weeks we've had as far as contact, speed and doing the things you need to do to prepare to win."

This weekend's contest against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (8-2, 6-0) will be one of the most significant regular season games the UCF Knights (8-2, 6-0) will play this season and in program history. For the second week in a row, the Knights will travel west to a different time zone, will play for the C-USA East Division title and will play for home field advantage in the conference championship game.

On top of all of that, the Knights are facing the C-USA West Division leader and a team with the exact same record as them. This will also be the latest the two leaders in each division have faced each other since Conference USA went to divisional play in 2005.

"It's a big game for us," senior safety Kemal Ishmael said. "Just having home field advantage for the conference championship [game] is going to be huge. We'll be playing our part."

"We have a lot of seniors who all want to achieve the same goal, great coaches, the offense is playing well, the defense is playing well," Ishmael continued. "It's everybody doing their part and just getting the job done."

No team in the conference has been able to take down the Knights this season. UCF head coach George O'Leary said since C-USA play began the Knights have been a completely different team and have matured into a dominant squad since the beginning of October.

The Knights will have to use that maturity and experience against the Golden Hurricane this weekend in Tulsa. Both UCF and Tulsa are ranked in the top three in Conference USA in scoring offense, rushing offense, scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense.

"I love the challenge and the whole offense loves the challenge," senior running back Latavius Murray said. "We know how hard we have to work during the week to go out there and make the yards we need to make."

"We have our work cut out for us and we're working hard to improve," senior center Jordan Rae said.

One player UCF is going to rely on in this historic conference matchup is Murray. The New York native has played very well in the past four games, running for 620 yards and 10 total touchdowns. Murray's contribution -- as well as stopping Tulsa's trio of running backs -- will play a key role in the game, according to the seniors.

"We have to be able to run the ball, but that's every week and we definitely have to make sure we do it this week to open up the rest of the offense," Murray said.

Following its huge season-opening win at USF, the Knights will make their 2012-13 home debut Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the UCF Arena against Alabama State. UCF went 16-1 at home a year ago is looking to continue its success in Orlando this season.

• @ASUBUZZ (0-2) vs. @UCF_MBasketball (1-0)
• 
  
• UCF Arena (10,000) - Orlando, Fla. - 7 p.m.
• 
  
• Watch it live on All-Access. You can listen on WYGM @740thegame
• 
  
• Follow the action all game long with updates from @UCF_MBasketball and @UCF_Athletics on Twitter. Don't forget to "Like" the Knights on Facebook as well. For the stat buffs out there, follow on .

  

• The Knights have won 11-straight home openers #OpeningKnight
• #UCF has won 20-consecutive non-conference home games #Non_LeagueLove
• At USF, Isaiah Sykes almost became the third Knight to post a triple-double with 26 pts./11 reb./8 ast. #TripleTrouble
• Isaiah Sykes recorded a career-high eight assists at USF in his first career start at point guard #TheDish
• Keith Clanton (16) and Isaiah Sykes (11) combined for 27 boards at USF; the Bulls only had 26 as a team #HittingtheGlass
• The game against Alabama State is the first of a school-record 20 contests at the UCF Arena this year #HappyatHome
• Three Knights - Tristan Spurlock (39), Keith Clanton (39), Isaiah Sykes (38) - played at least 39 min. at USF #MajorMinutes
• The win in Tampa over USF was the first for the Knights since 1978 #MakingHistory
• Keith Clanton will make his 100th appearance as a Knight Tuesday #KeepIt100
• Keith Clanton needs only seven points to move into the UCF top-10 list for career scoring #MovingUptheCharts

More than 1,700 miles separates Orlando, Florida from El Paso, Texas, which is where UCF conference foe UTEP is located. That was the furthest distance the Knights football team had to travel for a road contest this season.

Because the game was so far away the UCF ticket office had some leftover tickets in the Knights' seating section. It didn't take the department too long to put those tickets to use.

UCF Director of Ticket Sales, Torey Brewer, has a brother stationed in the Army at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, who was planned to going to the UCF game since the beginning of the season. What Brewer didn't plan on was bringing a good portion of his army friends with him.

Major Breck Brewer decided to email his army colleagues that UCF was donating tickets for them to come out to the Sun Bowl to cheer on the Knights. Brewer got about 150 replies in two days.

"We really appreciate the University of Central Florida helping us with this and giving these guys a good weekend in celebration of the troops that are doing their part to preserve the countries freedom," Major Brewer said.

"I was really happy to be a part of that and help deliver some tickets to these guys just so they can come out here and have fun tonight and cheer for the Knights," Brewer continued.

Captain Joseph Breig is a West Palm Beach native and is stationed with Brewer in El Paso. He said cheering for the Knights on Saturday made him feel like he was back in college again.

"I loved it," Captain Breig said. "I haven't been to a college game since I was in college."

Other members of the army said it was great to spend time with their friends outside of work and cheering on the Knights.

"It's great seeing people from work here," First Class Sergeant Annette Cisneros said. "It's nice they did this for the soldiers."

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By Marc Daniels
UCFAthletics.com

UCF has its first six game win streak since the 2007 Conference USA title run. That season, UCF won seven in a row with that seventh win coming against Tulsa in the conference championship.

Most impressive pass at UTEP? The most likely answer was the 56-yard pass from Bortles to Ranell Hall late in the 3rd quarter which set up a Bortles touchdown run to put the Knights up 24-10. But considering the wind he was throwing into, the best pass of the night was Blake's roll out on the opening drive of the game and throwing across his body on a 3rd down and eight. Bortles hit Jeff Godfrey for a 46-yard score into a 20 mile-an-hour wind.

A huge play that should not be overlooked in UCF's win at UTEP was Jamie Boyle's recovery of the ball after his punt was blocked. Boyle dove on the ball at the one-yard line. With the score tied at 7, the UCF defense stopped the Miners on three straight plays and forced a field goal. Boyle could have easily lost the ball and UTEP may have scored a touchdown.

Saturday's game at Tulsa marks the latest in a season where Conference USA will have two teams unbeaten in league play square off. In addition, Saturday there are two games possible in college football where teams unbeaten in conference play can play and will play. While UCF and Tulsa are both 6-0 in the league, Louisiana Tech and Utah State are perfect in WAC play this season and will play Saturday.

In the last three seasons, UCF and Tulsa have won 22 league games, the best among all Conference USA teams. Both the Knights and Golden Hurricane are 22-8 in regular season league games since 2010.

In four of the five games UCF and Tulsa have played, the winning team has scored 44 points or more in the game.

This week's interesting tidbit about UCF's opponent is Tulsa has just over 4,000 students while UCF has over 60,000.

Follow me on twitter @UCF_MarcDaniels for notes, news and more.

Radio coverage, on the UCF/IMG Radio Network, for UCF and Tulsa begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Kickoff from Tulsa is set for noon.  

All season long, the Knights' (8-2, 6-0) defense has been ranked as one of the top units in Conference USA. Saturday's performance against UTEP (2-8, 1-5) proved to be another reason why UCF's defense is one of the best in the league.

Multiple times during UCF's contest against the UTEP Miners, the Knights were put in difficult situations defensively and the team came away with minimal damage. When UTEP began a drive on the UCF 1-yard line in the second quarter, the Knights held the Miners to only a field goal. In the third quarter, the Miners' offense had the ball at midfield and drove down to the Knights 29-yard line only to miss one of its two field goal attempts on the night.

The Knights also held the Miners to only 346 totals yards of offense in the contest.

"You can't praise the defense enough," senior fullback Billy Giovanetti said. "They played great and that's a testament to the leaders on the defense."

Once of those leaders is Miramar native and linebacker Ray Shipman. He led all defenders with 14 tackles. This fifth year senior says he's been pleased with the attitude and effort all of the defensive players have shown this season.

"We preach bend, but don't break," Shipman said. "Plays are going to happen and some people are going to make mistakes. We want to play perfect, but no one has ever seen a perfect game. That's what we're striving for every game."

The 31-24 final score in El Paso was a bit closer than the Knights hoped to record. UCF has won its last three contests by an average margin of 27 points. The Knights will work hard to continue their dominate performances in the final two games of the regular season.

Next week, UCF will travel back out to the Midwest for a showdown against the C-USA West Division leading Tulsa Golden Hurricane (8-2, 6-0).

"We're a better team than what we played today, but we got the win and we did it in a different environment," Shipman said. "Every game is important, no matter what their record is, our goal is to get a win. That's what we did. Survive and move on."

"We didn't come out and do what we normally do," senior offensive lineman Jordan Rae said. "But a win is a win and we have some stuff to improve on for next week, but we're going to get ready for Tulsa."

UCF is in Tampa, ready to make its 2012-13 debut. The Knights will open the season tonight at USF in the first game inside the renovated Sun Dome. The game will be the first of two this year against the Bulls as USF will head to the UCF Arena on Jan. 2 for another showdown against the Knights. To get you ready for the rivalry game, here are 10 Tweetable tidbits to tweet out to all of your followers. 

• @UCF_MBasketball at @USFMBB
• 
  
• Sun Dome - Tampa - 7 p.m. 
• 
  
• Watch it live on @BHSN and @ESPN3. Listen on 540 AM in Orlando.
• 
  
• Follow the action all game long with updates from @UCF_MBasketball. Don't forget to "Like" the Knights on Facebook as well.<="" a="">

  ="">

• The Nov. 10 contest with USF will serve as the earliest game in UCF program history #ReadyforTipoff
• The Knights will be seeking their first win in Tampa since 1978 #ChangingHistory
• UCF has one of the nation's youngest teams as only three scholarship upperclassmen are currently available #FutureStartsNow
• The Knights have won nine-straight season openers #OpeningKnight
  
• USF is one of six 2012 NCAA Tournament or NIT squads that UCF will face during the non-conference portion of its schedule #ToughSlate
• UCF and USF will also meet this season in Orlando on Jan. 2 #BIGEASTPreview
• USF is the 1st of 3 major in-state programs that UCF will face this year (Florida, Miami) #GoingforStateTitle
  
• UCF returns 3 of its top 4 scorers from a year ago (Clanton, Spurlock, Sykes) #FollowtheLeaders
  
• Keith Clanton needs only 23 points to move into the top 10 on the UCF career scoring list #MovingUptheCharts
• Clanton has started 90-consecutive games at power forward #Longevity

After a nearly four hour flight from Orlando to El Paso, Texas, the UCF Knights (7-2, 5-0) are getting ready to play the UTEP Miners (2-7 1-4) at the Sun Bowl for the second time in program history.

UCF is 2-1 all-time against the Miners. The two wins for the Knights came in Orlando, including a 31-14 victory last season at Bright House Networks Stadium. In the contest, running back Latavius Murray ran for a career high 233 yards and two touchdowns.

Murray has been on fire the past few games and UTEP head coach Mike Price said in his weekly press conference that Murray should be a first round pick in the NFL Draft. On the season, Murray has ran for 693 yards and 10 touchdowns. In the last three games, the New York native has ran for 513 yards and nine total touchdowns.

On defense, the Knights have given up no more than 17 points in each of the last three contests and UCF remains in first place in Conference USA in scoring defense, giving up an average of only 20.9 points per game. Senior defensive end Troy Davis continues to have a standout season. Last week, he was named the C-USA Defensive Player of the Week for his two sacks and five tackles against SMU. The Georgia native leads the Knights in sacks with 6.5.

The Knights currently remain in first place in the Conference USA East Division by one game ahead of East Carolina. The only other undefeated team in C-USA is Tulsa at 5-0 and next week UCF will travel to H.A. Chapman Stadium to face the Golden Hurricane.

Weather Report

Saturday's forecast calls for a 10 percent chance of rain with the projected high at 76 degrees and the projected low at 44 degrees.

Game Notes

Want to go in-depth to learn more about UCF and UTEP and their matchup tomorrow? Click on the links below for the media notes, distributed by the communications staff of both squads.

UCF Games Notes

UTEP Game Notes

Links/Media Coverage

UCF Athletics.com - BLOG: Learning From The Last Trip To El Paso

UCF Athletics.com - BLOG: Knights Ready For Tenth One-Game Season

Orlando Sentinel - Few UCF players were part of last loss at UTEP

Orlando Sentinel - UTEP head coach Mike Price won't say who will start at quarterback against UCF

El Paso Times- UTEP Football: Sullivan prepares for more action

Radio/TV/Video

Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Fox College Sports and the UCF-IMG College Radio Network. At the top of this blog is a quick preview of Saturday's game with "The Voice of the Knights" Marc Daniels and UCF color analyst Mike Gruttadauria.

Saturday's contest at UTEP marks the first of back-to-back road trips to the farthest teams in Conference USA for the Knights. Owning a 2-1 overall lead in the series, UCF will look to keep its perfect record in C-USA play intact against the Miners. UCFAthletics.com has you covered for this weekend's showdown in the Lone Star State with 10 Tweetable tidbits to tweet out to all of your followers.

• @UCF_Football (7-2, 5-0) vs. @UTEPathletics (2-7, 1-4)
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• Sun Bowl (51, 500) - El Paso, Texas - 7 p.m. EST
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• Watch it live on @FoxCollegeSport - full channel listings HERE. You can listen on WYGM @740thegame (flagship), WFLF 540-AM (Maitland), WDCF 1350-AM (Clearwater), WROD 1340-AM (Daytona Beach), WWCN 770-AM (Fort Myers)
• 
  
• Follow the action all game long with updates from @UCF_Football and @UCF_Athletics on Twitter. Don't forget to "Like" the Knights on Facebook as well. For the stat buffs out there, follow on <="" a="">.

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• A win against #UTEP would make it six in a row for the Knights, the longest streak since a 7-game stretch in 2007 #KevinRanWild
• Did you know #UCF is 14-9 all-time vs. teams from the Lone Star State? #TheWinsForTheKnightsAreBigAndBright
• Last year against #UTEP, RB Latavius Murray ran wild to a career-high 233 yards in the 31-14 triumph #GetOutOfTheWay
• #UCF is outscoring opponents 177-78 in the first half this year, including 113 second-quarter points #BurstingOutOfTheGates
• The Knights are averaging 36.7 points per game in 2012, the highest in the FBS era and most since 1992 (37.3) #CrookedNumbersRule
• The O-line has only allowed 12 sacks all year, including just 2 in the last 3 games while the D-line has 20 sacks in 2012 #ItStartsUpFront
• #UCF 's defense has not allowed a team to throw for over 300 yards all season. The last time that happened was 2001 #Grounded
• At No. 12 with an average of 26.75 yards per kickoff return, #UCF has ranked in the top-13 in the country every year since 2008 #SpeedKills
• On This Day in 1979: DC Jim Fleming couldn't help his alma mater, Univ. of the South, get on the scoreboard in a 24-0 loss to UCF #Blanked
• Record Watch: FS Kemal Ishmael needs just 6 tackles to move into sole possession of No. 6 on the all-time list at UCF (323) #TheJeffersons

Ever since the beginning of the season, UCF head coach George O'Leary has been telling his team it's going to play 14 one-game seasons this year, 12 in the regular season and two in the post season.

This week, the Knights (7-2, 5-0) will play their tenth one-game season against the UTEP Miners (2-7, 1-4) at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. This is a city few members of the team have ever visited. As much as O'Leary wants to players to enjoy seeing a new area of the country, he wants to make sure they're focused and ready to take care of business come kickoff.

"Anytime you're in a strange environment and everything is new it's more of a sightseeing tour for some of these kids," O'Leary said. "I think the big thing is that you have to get their minds right, especially when you have three games left and each and every one of them is equally important."

Last season in Orlando, the Knights defeated UTEP 31-14 and running back Latavius Murray had a career day running for 233 yards and two touchdowns. The New York native has been on fire the past three games running for 503 yards and seven touchdowns.

"Anytime you run the ball the offensive line is getting the job done," O'Leary said during his weekly press conference. "I think they've gotten a lot more aggressive as in staying on blocks and getting the line of scrimmage moved. When you can do that, a good running back will make the line look good too."

The Knights have the third ranked rushing offense in Conference USA and the running game has played a big role in UCF's success all season.

Just like O'Leary, UTEP head coach Mike Price is in his ninth season as the Miners' head coach. The long time UCF head coach had high praise for Price's coaching style when he talked about UTEP's play on the field.

"I have a great respect for Mike Price and his coaching staff," O'Leary said.  "I know their record is 2-7, but to keep his team playing with the great effort they've been playing with and to keep them upbeat with a lot of enthusiasm, it's a heck of a job that he's done. If you look at the schedule he's had them play, he's had a tough schedule."

The last time the Knights (7-2, 5-0) traveled to El Paso, Texas the squad experienced one of its worst losses in the last five years losing to the UTEP Miners (2-7, 1-4) 58-13.

Even though a good majority of the current Knights weren't on that trip or even on the team at that time, the seniors played in the game will be doing what they can to come away with a big victory in the Lone Star State.

"That was my first start and it was embarrassing," senior and wide receiver Rob Calabrese said. "There were a couple guys here on that trip. Again we want to go back there and get a win this time and make it a lot better trip."

Fellow seniors Latavius Murray and Brynn Harvey also played in that game. Calabrese said he and Harvey have talked about the disappointing loss a few times this week and are using that as motivation for this year's trip to El Paso.

"It's something we don't want to look back at, but we have to and we're ready to play this week," Calabrese said. "You always want to forget a game like that, but you have to learn from it."

One area the Knights are hoping to have success in is the offense. UCF has averaged 43.7 points per game in the last three contests. The squad will face the Miners' fifth ranked scoring defense in Conference USA.

In the non-conference portion of their schedule, UTEP has faced teams from the SEC, Big 12 and Big Ten conferences. Despite its 2-7 record, the Knights know they have their work cut out for them.

"They're a lot better than their record says they are," Calabrese said. "Defensively, they play with great effort and they do a lot of different things. It's something we need to work on this week in practice and more importantly in the film room."

"It's hard not to look at the other scores, but you can't really tell how good a team is by how they played someone else," Garvy said. "We may match up to a team differently than an East Carolina or a Southern Miss. We always have to focus on ourselves first."

Before the season began, the UCF Knights (7-2, 5-0) were picked as one of the favorites to win Conference USA. Saturday's 42-17 victory against SMU (4-5, 3-2) continues to prove that this year's Knights squad is a championship caliber team.

UCF remains in first place in the Conference USA East Division and if the squad wins out, they will host the Conference Championship game at Bright House Networks Stadium. If the Knights continue to play the way they have the past few weeks they should earn their fourth trip to the C-USA Championship game.

In the last three weeks, UCF has outscored Memphis, Marshall and SMU 131-51. Senior running back Latavius Murray has been on fire as well. The New York native has accounted for 503 rushing yards, 96 receiving yards and 9 total touchdowns in those three contests.

Even though the scoreboard has shown a great bit of dominance by the Knights during that stretch, the players feel their dominance has shown on the field since the beginning of the season.

"I feel like we do that every week," senior defensive end Troy Davis said. "As the season has gone on we've gotten better and better. That's what you're seeing with the result of hard work."

"That's what we're capable of if we go out there and execute the game plan," senior center Jordan Rae said. "We have to continue to get better and we're looking forward to next week."

That week the Knights will face the UTEP Miners for the final time as a Conference USA opponent. Senior defensive back Kemal Ishmael feels things won't slow up for the Knights in their final three games of the regular season.

"Chemistry has been picking up real well," Ishmael said. "We've been running the ball well, throwing the ball well, playing good defense and just getting the ball in the end zone."

Movie Knight, Comedy Knight, Skit Knight, Spirit Splash and the parade -- all of the great Homecoming traditions at UCF lead up to the battle on the gridiron. This year, UCF looks to keep its Conference USA record unblemished while pacing the East Division when it takes on SMU at 7 p.m. UCFAthletics.com has you covered for this weekend's Homecoming contest with 10 Tweetable tidbits to tweet out to all of your followers.

• @SMU_Football (4-4, 3-1) vs. @UCF_Football (6-2, 4-0)
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• Bright House Networks Stadium (45, 323) - Orlando, Fla. - 7 p.m. EDT
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• Watch it live on @CBSSportsNet. You can listen on WYGM @740thegame (flagship), WFLF 540-AM (Maitland), WDCF 1350-AM (Clearwater), WROD 1340-AM (Daytona Beach), WWCN 770-AM (Fort Myers)
• 
  
• Follow the action all game long with updates from @UCF_Football and @UCF_Athletics on Twitter. Don't forget to "Like" the Knights on Facebook as well. For the stat buffs out there, follow on <="" a="">
  ="">
• <="" a="">Don't forget the loads of festivities on IOA Plaza prior to kickoff at 4:30 p.m. Saturday

  
  

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• The Knights are 22-10 all-time in Homecoming games, including winners of their last three #SpiritSplash
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• #UCF is 3-1 against SMU and a perfect 3-0 against the Mustangs in Orlando, including a 17-7 C-USA Championship victory in 2010 #PonyUp
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• With a win, #UCF would reach 200 in program history. It is also playing in its 200th FBS contest #SaveTheDate
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• The Knights are third in C-USA in rushing o?ense, while the Mustangs are ?rst in the league in rushing defense #BattleInTheTrenches
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• #UCF will wear an "RP" sticker on its helmet to honor former DE Robert Pritchard who suffered a rare massive stroke #HonoringRobert
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• The Knights lead C-USA in scoring differential (+117), having put up 288 points in 2012 while limiting opponents to 171 #StopTheMatch
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• #UCF has 21 scoring drives of at least 70 yards (19 TDs, two FGs). That includes two drives of at least 98 yards #MatriculateDownTheField
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• At Marshall, #UCF totaled 11 tackles for loss, the most in a game since 11 at Rice on Oct. 24, 2009 #GetOverHere
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• On This Day in 1990: After Liberty took a 6-0 lead, UCF responded with 28-unanswered points and held the Flames to 163 yards #Extinguishers
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• Record Watch: Quincy McDuffie broke the #UCF & C-USA record with his two KO return TDs at Marshall and tied the NCAA mark #HeGone

During George O'Leary's weekly press conferences this season he's had a lot of positive things to say about this year's squad. He's pleased with the effort his team has shown, he's pleased with the way the Knights have prepared for each game and of course he's pleased with the squad's undefeated record in conference play.

UCF (6-2, 4-0) became bowl eligible after last week's convincing win against Marshall and continues to control its own destiny in Conference USA. Confidence is one of the many reasons the Knights have accomplished everything they have this season and O'Leary sees confidence and energy flowing through all of his players during practice.

"I think when they practice well they know they're going to play well," O'Leary said. "They've been practicing better than I thought. We're banged up a little bit, but I think they're going after each other in practice and they're competing, which I think is the key... Sometimes you start not competing and you get relaxed in some things."

The Knights have been confident all season with the success they've had, but O'Leary feels the team's confidence has gone to another level after UCF's 54-17 blowout win against the Thundering Herd in Huntington, West Virginia last weekend.

"I think the big thing is when you get a game like that I think it's great for the locker room and great for morale," O'Leary said. "Again, they treat every game like it's a one game season and that's what I like about this squad. They're not talking about anything, but SMU right now."

The Mustangs will be the first team from the Conference USA West Division the Knights will face this season. UCF is still just one game ahead of the Pirates in the East Division for first place. In order for the Knights to continue to control their own destiny and earn a berth in the Conference USA Championship game they will need a win against SMU this weekend.

"It's a very big conference game because of the implications with losses," O'Leary said. "East Carolina is still sitting there with one and we have to control our own destiny each week. Again, it will be a big game as far as we're concerned."

Playing a complete 60 minute game of football has been what UCF head coach George O'Leary has been preaching to the team since the beginning of the season. Last week, during the Knights' 54-17 blowout victory over Marshall, UCF (6-2, 4-0) played its most complete game of football all season.

The squad accumulated 568 yards of total offense and held one of the nation's top offenses to 364 total yards and only two touchdowns. The Knights also accounted for 213 yards and two touchdowns on special teams by Orlando native Quincy McDuffie.

For as much success as UCF had against Marshall, the Knights don't expect that performance to be the peak of their season.

"There's always room for improvement," senior h-back Dontravius Floyd said. "Coach always preaches about staying consistent. We were pretty consistent last game and we want to keep it up."

"We want to play a complete game, offense, defense and special teams," senior h-back Brendan Kelly said. "That's what we're going to strive for each week."

UCF has four games left this season. This weekend the Knights will take on the SMU Mustangs (4-4, 3-1), who have scored 116 points in the last two games. The Mustangs will have to take on the Knights' top ranked defense in Conference USA. UCF continues to lead the conference in total defense (354.2 yards per game) and scoring defense (21.4 points per game).

SMU's run defense is first in the conference giving up 119. 1 yards per game, but this weekend the Mustangs will face one of the hottest players in the conference in senior running back Latavius Murray. In the past two weeks, the New York native ran for 348 yards and scored six total touchdowns.

"Latavius is a triple threat," Floyd said. "He brings a new element to the offense. I love playing with him."

"Tay has always been the guy. He's matured a lot, especially after being injured and on the sideline," Kelly said about Murray returning from the shoulder injury he sustained in the season opener. "There have been times he's been in the yellow jersey because he can't do much, but then he takes it off and showed that he's a leader out there and he's willing to stick it out for the team."

UCF has four games left in the regular season and the Knights know consistency and playing 60 minutes of football every week will help them accomplish their goals in the squad's final season in Conference USA.

"Every game from here on out is important, not just SMU," Floyd said. "From here to the end of the season it's important if we want to reach our goal of getting to the championship game."