UCF 11th Academically of Bowl-bound Teams

Of the 56 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools playing in bowl games this postseason, UCF's student-athletes academically finished No. 11 in the nation and No. 1 in Florida, according to a graduation-success report released today by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport based at UCF.

The Knights also ranked second of the six American Athletic Conference schools headed for post-season games.

Richard Lapchick, director of the institute and primary author of the study titled "Keeping Score When It Counts," uses Academic Progress Rate (APR) data collected by the NCAA from member institutions for the graduation study.

UCF's football student-athletes earned an APR score of 981. The highest academically ranked bowl-bound teams for the 2020-21 season are Northwestern University and the University of Mississippi at 995, followed by Clemson University at 993 and the University of Alabama, the University of Cincinnati and Wake Forest University, all at 990.

The Knights' score of 981 ranked the school's football student-athletes highest in Florida, ahead of the University of Miami at 973 and Florida Atlantic at 965.

The NCAA created the APR in 2004 as part of an academic-reform package to more accurately measure student-athletes' academic success and improve graduation rates at member institutions. The measurement holds universities accountable for student-athletes' success in the classroom and their progress toward graduation.

UCF (6-3) will play 13th-ranked BYU (10-1) tonight in the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl at FAU Stadium (on the Florida Atlantic University campus) in Boca Raton. Kickoff is 7 p.m. EST and the game will be televised by ESPN. 
 
2020 Keeping Score When It Counts report
Top 10 in the Nation                                                            Top in Florida
1. (tie) Northwestern University 995                                   1. UCF 981
University of Mississippi 995                                              2. University of Miami 973
3. Clemson University 993                                                   3. Florida Atlantic University 965 
4. (tie) Wake Forest University 990
University of Cincinnati 990                                                Top in American Athletic Conference
University of Alabama 990                                                  1. University of Cincinnati 990
7. University of Nevada, Reno 987                                      2. UCF 981
8. University of Wisconsin 986                                            3. University of Memphis 980
9. The Ohio State University 985                                         4. University of Houston 961
10. Mississippi State University 984                                   5. Tulane University 958
11. UCF 981                                                                          6. University of Tulsa 945