GAME INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Nov. 2
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: FS1
TV Talents: Dan Hellie, Robert Smith
Radio: FM 96.9/AM 740 The Game
Radio Talents: Marc Daniels, Gary Parris, Scott Adams
Spanish Radio: UCFKnights.com, YouTube.com/UCFKnights
Live Stats: click here
FIRST AND 10
• UCF and Arizona will meet for the first time in the history of the programs Saturday afternoon at FBC Mortgage Stadium in UCF’s annual Space Game. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on FS1 with Dan Hellie (play-by-play) and Robert Smith (analyst) on the call.
• The UCF Space Game has been played annually since the 2017 season and the Knights are 7-0 all-time in space games with an average margin of victory of 28.8 points. The game recognizes the University of Central Florida’s roots, founded as Florida Technological University in 1963 with the mission of providing personnel to support the growing U.S. space program at the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. As the academic scope expanded beyond its original focus on engineering and technology, the school was renamed the University of Central Florida in 1978.
• During the Space Game each season, UCF utilizes its throwback mascot, the Citronaut, which appeared on the 1969 student handbook.
• Saturday’s matchup will feature two different types of offenses, as UCF leads the league and ranks third nationally with 267.9 rushing yards per game, while the Wildcats are sixth in the conference and No. 40 in the nation averaging 260.3 passing yards per game.
• The Citronauts have now rushed for 2,143 yards with 21 touchdowns on the ground through eight games this season. UCF’s rushing yards average is nearly 30 more than the next-closest Power Four Conference team (Tennessee 241.6).
• UCF leads the nation in explosive running plays, as the Knights have recorded 68 rushing plays of at least 10 yards. That mark is five more than the next-closest team, as Army and Kansas State are tied for second with 63. Additionally, the Black and Gold are tied for the league lead and rank eighth nationally in most offensive plays of 20 or more yards with 50.
• Running back RJ Harvey leads the nation with 31 rushing plays of at least 10 yards. His 13 rushing touchdowns are the most in the conference and fifth nationally.
• Harvey enters this weekend’s game with 1,017 rushing yards, the third most among FBS running backs and the most in the Big 12. He now owns 3,232 career yards on the ground to rank seventh among active FBS running backs with each running back ahead of him owning at least 40 more carries.
• The Orlando native has 496 career rushing attempts and would become just the fifth player in program history with 500 or more carries. Additionally, Harvey is 127 yards shy of tying Alex Haynes for the second most career rushing yards by a UCF player.
• Since the start of the 2017 season, UCF has accumulated 68 wins, the 13th-most nationally by an FBS program and the most by a team from the state of Florida. The Knights went 13-0 in 2017, 12-1 in 2018, 10-3 in 2019, 6-4 in the Covid-shortened 2020 season, 9-4 in 2021, 9-5 in 2022 and 6-7 last season. The Knights join Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Michigan, Appalachian State, LSU, Oregon, Penn State and Boise State as the only programs to win at least 68 games since 2017.
A WIN WOULD...
- Give UCF its eighth consecutive win in its annual Space Game with a perfect 8-0 record.
- Give the Knights their second Big 12 win of the season and first at home.
- Give UCF its 299th all-time win as a program.
- Give UCF head coach Gus Malzahn his first win against Arizona in his first meeting against the program.
- Be better than a loss.
SCOUTING ARIZONA
• Arizona heads to Orlando with an identical record as UCF with a 3-5 mark overall and a 1-4 record in conference action. The Wildcats have lost four in a row and most recently dropped a 31-26 decision against West Virginia at home.
• In his first season as a head coach at Arizona, Brent Brennan has a 37-53 overall record during eight seasons as a head coach. Saturday’s contest will be the first meeting between Brennan and Gus Malzahn as head coaches.
• Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan currently leads the Big 12 and ranks third nationally with 982 receiving yards.
• They’re averaging 23.4 points per game, while opponents have scored 28.0 ppg.
• Arizona ranks among the Big 12 leaders in passing offense, as the Wildcats have attempted at least 25 passes in every game this season.
UCF’S SPACE GAME
The UCF Space Game has been played annually since the 2017 season and the Knights are 7-0 all-time in space games. The game recognizes the University of Central Florida’s roots, founded as Florida Technological University in 1963 with the mission of providing personnel to support the growing U.S. space program at the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. As the academic scope expanded beyond its original focus on engineering and technology, the school was renamed the University of Central Florida in 1978.
UCF Space Game History
Nov. 11, 2023 - W, 45-3, #15 Oklahoma State
Oct. 13, 2022 - W, 70-13, Temple
Oct. 22, 2021 - W, 24-7, Memphis
Oct. 24, 2020 - W, 51-34, Tulane
Nov. 2, 2019 - W, 44-29, Houston
Nov. 1, 2018 - W, 52-40, Temple
Oct. 14, 2017 - W, 63-21, ECU
UCF is averaging 49.9 points per game in previous Space Games, while opponents have been held to 21.0 ppg.
UCF Space Facts
- UCF is No. 1 nationally for placing graduates in aerospace industry jobs.
- In 1968, UCF established its motto: “Reach for the Stars” to represent the University’s promising aerospace education in engineering, electronics and other technological professions.
- 29% of Kennedy Space Center employees are UCF Alumni.
- The 50-yard line of FBC Mortgage Stadium is on the exact latitude as Launch Complex 39A, NASA’s most historic launch pad, 31 miles to the east.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE SPACE GAME
Despite playing a ranked opponent in last season’s Space Game for the first time, UCF continued its dominance in the annual event to improve to 7-0 all-time. Looking for their first Big 12 Conference home win, seventh consecutive win in their annual Space Game and head coach Gus Malzahn’s 100th career win, the Knights or the Citronauts, the team’s moniker in their space games, checked off all of the above.
From the opening kickoff, UCF was dominant en route to a 45-3 win against 15th-ranked Oklahoma State at FBC Mortgage Stadium. UCF recorded its first top-15 win since 2017 in that contest when the Knights defeated seventh-ranked Auburn in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and the first top-15 home win since 2009 against No. 13 Houston.
Following the win, UCF was tabbed the Cheez-It National Team of the Week, Demari Henderson was the Big 12’s Defensive Player of the Week after intercepting two passes with a fumble recovery and Malzahn was named the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week. Additionally, quarterback John Rhys Plumlee earned Manning Award Quarterback of the Week.
UCF IN NOVEMBER
The month of November has historically been great to the Knights, as the program owns a 97-59 all-time mark during the month.
HARVEY CONTINUING TO MAKE HISTORY
Running back RJ Harvey became just the second UCF player and first since Marquette Smith (1994-95) to rush for 1,000 or more yards in consecutive seasons when he surpassed the milestone in Saturday’s game against BYU. His 1,017 rushing yards this season are the third most nationally and lead the Big 12. Harvey has reached the end zone rushing 13 times, which is fifth in the nation and best in the league.
Last season, Harvey eclipsed 1,000 yards in the Space Game against Oklahoma State, the 10th game of the season, and achieved the feat in two fewer games in 2024.
Heading into this weekend’s game, Harvey is just four carrries shy of reaching 500 career rushing attempts. He would become just the fifth player in program history to accomplish it. Additionally, his 3,232 career rushing yards is the third most in UCF record books. With 127 rushing yards against the Wildcats, he would tie Alex Haynes (2001-04) for the second most all-time behind Kevin Smith’s program record 4,679.
DOTSON NAMED TO PFF NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK
Making his first start in a UCF uniform, defensive end Daylan Dotson quickly made his impact felt. After earning more snaps in previous week, Dotson was among the first group to take the field for the Knights defensively against 11th-ranked BYU on Saturday.
He turned in a stellar performance to lead UCF with eight tackles, including seven solo, three tackles for loss, two sacks, one forced fumble and one quarterback hurry. Dotson’s dominant showing earned a spot on the PFF National Team of the Week.
Additionally, he was PFF’s Big 12 Team of the Week along with defensive end Nyjalik Kelly and offensive guard Adrian Medley.
JONES SURPASSES 100 YARDS
Fifth year wide receiver Jacoby Jones made the most of his opportunity in Saturday’s game, as he reeled in six passes for 116 yards with a touchdown. It marked a season high in receptions and yards and the first time that Jones has eclipsed 100 yards as a Knight.
FIRST START FOR JOHNSON
True freshman Chasen Johnson earned his first start against BYU and tallied four solo tackles.
31 AND COUNTING
Despite suffering an injury on the first offensive snap of Saturday’s game for the Knights, wide receiver Kobe Hudson reeled in the reception to increase his streak of consecutive games with at least one catch to 31, dating back to the SMU game in 2022, which is tied with Ted Wilson for sixth all-time in UCF history for most consecutive games with a reception.
Hudson recorded his third 100+ yard receiving game against Cincinnati, hauling in seven catches for 114 yards and one touchdown.
The Pine Mountain, Georgia, native’s 509 receiving yards this season lead the Knights and rank among the league’s top 15. Hudson’s 18.85 yards per catch average is the second best in the league and 28th nationally.