Since officially accepting the invitation to join the Big 12 Conference on Sept. 10, 2021, everyone connected with the UCF program has been looking forward to starting play in one of the nation’s toughest conferences. The Knights open their tenure in the Big 12 on Saturday against the reigning conference champion Kansas State. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. CT/8 p.m. ET from Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Fox Sports 1.
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Sept. 23
Time: 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT
TV: Fox Sports 1
Talents: Eric Collins, Devin Gardner
Radio: FM 96.9/AM 740 The Game
Spanish Radio: UCFKnights.com, YouTube.com/UCFKnights
Live Stats: click here
A UCF WIN WOULD...
• Mark the first Big 12 Conference win in program history.
• Mark the first against Kansas State in the second all-time meeting between the programs.
• Give the Knights a 4-0 start to the season for the first time under head coach Gus Malzahn and the first time for the program since 2018.
• Give Malzahn his second win against Kansas State and his 99th career win as a head coach, one shy of reaching 100 career victories.
• Be better than a loss
SERIES BREAKDOWN
| Overall | K-State leads, 1-0 |
| in Manhattan | K-State leads, 1-0 |
| Last Meeting | L, 17-13 (9/25/10) |
| Streak | K-State won 1 |
KNIGHT NOTES
• UCF’s first season of football was in 1979 and the Knights have moved from Division III, Division II, the FCS level, the FBS level that included time in the MAC, Conference USA, the AAC, and now the Big 12 Conference.
• The Knights’ entrance into the Big 12 comes after previous conference relationships with the Sunshine State Conference (1975-84), New South Women’s Athletic Conference (1986-90 for women’s sports only), American South Conference (1990-91), Sun Belt Conference (1991-92), Atlantic Sun Conference (1992-2005), Mid-American Conference (2002-04 for football only), Conference USA (2005-12) and most recently the American Athletic Conference (2013-14 through 2022-23). The Knights began football competition in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision in 1996.
• Following the first three games, UCF leads the nation in total offense, averaging 617.7 yards per game. The Knights have surpassed 500 or more yards in each game this season, including 723 yards in the season opener against Kent State, the most yards by any team in the country this year in a single game.
• Additionally, the Knights are second nationally in rushing offense with 299.3 rushing yards per game, behind Air Force (320.7), which runs the triple option.
• Defensively, the Knights have not allowed an opponent to surpass 16 points in a game and UCF is the only team in the Big 12 Conference to accomplish that feat this season. UCF’s scoring defense ranks 16th nationally and second in the Big 12 with 12.0 points per game. The Knights allowed six points against Kent State, 16 at Boise State and 14 against Villanova. The 36 total points allowed is the second fewest of any Big 12 team behind Oklahoma’s 28.
SCOUTING KANSAS STATE
Kansas State is in its fifth season under head coach Chris Klieman, who has compiled a 32-21 record during his time with the Wildcats. The Wildcats own a 2-1 record this season and are the reigning Big 12 Champions after compiling a 10-4 overall mark and defeating TCU in the championship game, 31-28.
K-State was picked to finish second in the Big 12 Preseason Poll with 14 first-place votes and 858 points, just shy of Texas’ 886 points to lead the way. Fullback Ben Sinnott, offensive lineman Cooper Beebe, KR/PR Phillip Brooks and defensive back Kobe Savage were named to the Big 12 Preseason All-Conference Team.
Saturday’s matchup will be the second all-time meeting between UCF and Kansas State and the first since 2010 when the Wildcats came away with a 17-13 victory in a defensive matchup. The Knights led 7-3 entering the fourth quarter before K-State scored 14 points to rally for the win.
In the last meeting, UCF rushed for 252 yards on 51 attempts headlined by Ronnie Weaver tallying 130 yards on 22 attempts with a touchdown. Leading 13-10 with 5:14 remaining, K-State put together a 13-play, 67-yard drive to secure the win for the Wildcats.
CONFERENCE HISTORY
Saturday’s game begins a new era in UCF football, as the program kicks off its tenure as a member of the Big 12 Conference against Kansas State. The Knights joined the Mid-American Conference in 2002 and remained in that league through the 2004 season for football only. UCF became a member of Conference USA from 2005-12 and most recently the American Athletic Conference (2013-14 through 2022-23).
The Knights were 57-23 in conference games during its tenure in the American, the best mark of any team during that span. UCF was 40-21 in CUSA games and 8-16 versus opponents in the MAC.
MEMORABLE FIRST START AT UCF FOR McCLAIN
Making his first start in a UCF uniform, quarterback Timmy McClain turned in a great performance. In his 10th career start, the Sanford, Florida, native threw for a career-high 321 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns. He was 20-for-28 with a 58-yard long and rushed for 44 yards on nine carries. It marked the first time the redshirt sophomore has eclipsed 300 passing yards in a game.
RUNNING WILD
UCF’s running backs have enjoyed a stellar start to the season, as RJ Harvey and Johnny Richardson each rank among the top 10 in the Big 12 Conference in average rushing yards per game. Harvey is sixth with 79.67 and Richardson is ninth with 71.0. The Knights are the only team in the conference with two players average 70 or more rushing yards per game this season.
Harvey’s 30 points scored (4 rushing, 1 receiving TD) are tied for the fourth most in the Big 12. Richardson is one of 14 players in the conference with a 100-yard rushing game this season, as he tallied 100 yards in the season opener against Kent State.
JOHNSON AMONG THE NATION’S BEST
Jason Johnson’s 378 career tackles are the third most among active players behind Richmond’s Tristan Wheeler (403) and UCLA’s Darius Muasau (383). Last season, Johnson led UCF with 126 tackles to rank 13th nationally and the ninth most in a single season in program history.
A GAME OF FIRSTS
Last Saturday’s 48-14 win against Villanova was a game of ‘firsts’ for many players on the UCF roster. It marked the first start at quarterback for Timmy McClain in a Knights uniform and also the first time McClain has surpassed 300 passing yards in a game with a career-high 321.
Defensive tackle Matthew Alexander made his first career start and recorded his first career sack. Sophomore defensive back Nikai Martinez notched his first career interception. Offensively, wide receiver Jaylon Griffin reeled in his first touchdown pass and running back Jordan McDonald logged his first multi-TD game. Tight end Max Holler recorded his first career catch.
MALZAHN APPROACHING 100 CAREER WINS
Now in his third season as UCF head coach, Gus Malzahn is just two wins shy of 100 for his career. His 98 victories are the fourth most among active coaches in the Big 12 Conference.
Big 12 Head Coaching Wins
1. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State, 158-76
2. Lance Leipold, Kansas, 157-56
3. Chris Klieman, Kansas State, 104-34
4. Gus Malzahn, UCF, 98-47
5. Dana Holgorsen, Houston, 89-63
Additionally, Malzahn’s .676 career winning percentage (98-47) ranks among the nation’s top 20 active coaches.
BACK-TO-BACK 100-YARD GAMES FOR HUDSON
After setting a career best at Boise State with 134 receiving yards, wide receiver Kobe Hudson put together an even better showing in the Knights’ 48-14 win against Villanova. The senior caught six passes for a career-high 147 yards, headlined by a 58-yard catch, which was the longest play for either team in the game.
Hudson tallied consecutive 100-yard games for the first time in his career and he is one of just three players in the Big 12 with two 100-yard games this season. His back-to-back 134- and 147-yard receiving games mark best on consecutive weeks for UCF since 2020 when Marlon Williams had 191 vs Memphis on Oct. 17, then added 174 vs Tulane on Oct. 24.
MATCHUP TO KEEP AN EYE ON
One of the key matchups in Saturday’s game at Kansas State will be the battle in the trenches. UCF leads the conference in rushing offense (299.3) and K-State leads the league in rushing defense (50.0). The Knights rank second nationally in that metric and the Wildcats are third in the nation in that category.
DEFENSIVE TAKEAWAYS
UCF has recorded an interception in each of its first three games with DeJordan Mask intercepting a pass against Kent State, Corey Thornton at Boise State and Nikai Martinez tallying his first takeaway against Villanova.
DOMINANT DISPLAY
In the Knights’ win against Villanova, the defense was on the field for just 24 defensive snaps in the first half. UCF held the Wildcats without a trip past midfield and Villanova completed just one pass in the opening 30 minutes of the game.
The Knights ran more than twice as many plays as Villanova in periods one and two combined, led 34-0 at intermission—and more than set the stage for the resulting 48-14 final score.
SCORING FIRST
UCF scored first in seven games last season and the Knights were a perfect 7-0 when scoring first. This season, the Knights have scored first in all three wins.
In three years under head coach Gus Malzahn, UCF is 17-3 when scoring first as the Black and Gold were 7-3 in 2021 when accomplishing the feat.
Malzahn’s team has scored first in 20 of his 30 games as the Knights’ head coach.