GAME INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Nov. 23
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPNU
TV Talents: Mike Monaco, Kirk Morrison, Dawn Davenport
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 will make its second trip to Morgantown, West Virginia, this weekend in search of its 300th win in program history, as the Knights battle the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium.Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon on ESPNU with Mike Monaco (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (analyst) and Dawn Davenport (sideline) on the call.
• The game marks the fourth all-time meeting between the programs, as WVU has won each of the previous three matchups. UCF last traveled to Morgantown on Oct. 31, 2003 when the Mountaineers earned a 36-18 victory.
• Last season, West Virginia led 17-14 at halftime but outscored UCF 24-14 in the second half to earn the 41-28 victory. The Mountaineers rushed for 286 yards that game, headlined by CJ Donaldson with 121 while RJ Harvey had 100 for UCF.
• In UCF’s last outing, despite recording nearly 150 more yards offensively and limiting Arizona State to its fewest yards of the season, a few big defensive plays proved to be the difference as UCF came up short against ASU 35-31 at Mountain America Stadium.
• Saturday’s matchup will feature two of the nation’s best rushing attacks, as UCF leads the league and ranks second nationally with 262.8 rushing yards per game, while the Mountaineers are fourth in the conference and No. 28 in the nation averaging 197.2 rushing yards per game.
• The Knights have now rushed for 2,628 yards with 30 touchdowns on the ground this season. UCF’s rushing yards average of 262.8 is nearly 40 more than the next-closest Power Four Conference team (Tennessee 226.2). The 262.8 rushing yards per game mark is 60 more than the next conference opponent (Kansas 202.9).
• UCF is second in the nation in explosive running plays, as the Knights have recorded 86 rushing plays of at least 10 yards. Additionally, the Black and Gold are tied with Baylor for the lead league and tied for 10th nationally in most offensive plays of 20 or more yards with 61.
• Running back RJ Harvey, a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award for the second consecutive season, leads the nation with 44 rushing plays of at least 10 yards, which is 10 more than the next Big 12 player. His 19 rushing touchdowns are the most in the conference and fifth most nationally.
• Harvey enters this weekend’s game with 1,328 rushing yards, the third most among FBS running backs and the most in the Big 12, and 3,543 career rushing yards. His 43 total touchdowns scored are the third most in program history, just three shy Kevin Smith’s program record 46. Harvey’s 40 rushing TDs are second in the UCF record books behind Smith’s 45.
• UCF was the only Big 12 Conference newcomer to make a bowl game last season, as the Knights finished with six wins and earned an invitation to play in the Gasparilla Bowl. It marked a program-record eighth consecutive postseason bowl appearance, 11th in the last 12 seasons and the 15th in 19 years. UCF’s streak of eight consecutive bowl game appearances is tied for the 10th longest streak nationally with one of the teams ahead of the Knights already eliminated from the postseason this year.
A WIN WOULD...
- Give UCF its 300th all-time win as a program.
- Give the Knights their third Big 12 win of the season and second on the road.
- Give UCF its first win against West Virginia in program history
- Give UCF head coach Gus Malzahn his first win against West Virginia in his second meeting against the program.
- Be better than a loss.
HARVEY A DOAK WALKER SEMIFINALIST
For the second consecutive year, UCF running back RJ Harvey is a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation’s best collegiate running back. The Orlando native becomes the first player in program history to garner the recognition twice or in consecutive years and is one of just three players nationally to be a semifinalist in 2023 and 2024.
Harvey leads the Big 12 Conference and ranks third nationally with 1,328 rushing yards this season. His 19 rushing touchdowns are the fifth most among FBS players and best among conference running backs. Harvey’s 21 total touchdowns (19 rushing, 2 receiving) are the most in the Big 12 and second nationally behind fellow semifinalist Ashton Jeanty of Boise State (27).
The UCF standout is the first player since Marquette Smith (1994-95) and just the second in program history to record consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons after rushing for 1,416 in 2023.
Harvey has scored 128 points this season to top the Big 12 and rank second nationally behind Jeanty, averaging 12.8 points per game, which is third in the nation. He averages 132.8 rushing yards per game to lead the league and rank third in the country.
Harvey leads the nation with 44 rushes of 10 or more yards and has seven games with 100 or more rushing yards. In his last four games, Harvey has rushed for 634 yards with 10 rushing TDs.
He owns 3,543 career rushing yards to rank second in the UCF record books behind Knights Hall of Famer Kevin Smith with 4,679.
HOMECOMING FOR MARCELLUS MARSHALL
UCF captain and offensive lineman Marcellus Marshall will have the opportunity to play in front several members of his family and friends this weekend, as the Morgantown, West Virginia, native is expected to have more than 50 guests in attendance.
Marshall grew up just five minutes away from the West Virginia campus and attended Morgantown High School, where he was a first-team all-state selection by MaxPreps.
Marshall has started every game for the Knights this season on the offensive line that has paved the way for one of the nation’s best offenses and top rushing attacks.
COACHING CONNECTIONS
UCF’s special teams coordinator/tight ends coach Brian Blackmon spent the 2018 season at Troy under then head coach and now current West Virginia head coach Neal Brown. The Trojans went 10-3 and 7-1 during the 2018 campaign with Brown hired in Morgantown following the season. Mountaineers assistant head coach/offensive line coach Matt Moore was also a part of that staff.
Knights offensive line coach Herb Hand spent six years (2001-06) at West Virginia, serving as tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator. He helped the Mountaineers win three Big East Conference titles and go to five straight bowl games during the span, including a 38-35 victory over SEC champion Georgia in the 2006 Sugar Bowl. In 2006, West Virginia finished with an 11-2 record with an offense that ranked second nationally in rushing, third in scoring and fourth in total offense.
BEST AMONG FBS
UCF’s Jacoby Jones has graded out at 92.2 on third and fourth down, which is the best among FBS wide receivers, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). Jones has reeled in 20 catches this season with 12 of them on third and fourth down.
In his last three games, Jones has 18 catches for 277 yards, including consecutive 100-yard receiving games. Against Arizona, Jones secured five passes for 106 yards with a touchdown and he had six catches for a season-high 116 yards against BYU.
RUNNING WILD
After ranking among the nation’s top 10 in rushing offense the past two seasons, UCF is in the midst of achieving that mark again in 2024. UCF has now rushed for 2,628 yards with 30 touchdowns on the ground this season.
UCF’s rushing yards average of 262.8 is nearly 40 more than the next-closest Power Four Conference team (Tennessee 226.2). The 262.8 rushing yards per game mark is 60 more than the next conference opponent (Kansas 202.9).
The Black and Gold rushed for 454 yards in the season opener against New Hampshire, the second most in program history. Additionally, UCF’s 8.4 rushing yards per carry were the second most in a single game in program history.
The Knights were fourth nationally in rushing offense with 228.2 rushing yards per game last season. UCF rushed for 200 or more yards in nine of its 13 games in 2023 and has picked up where it left off.
PROLIFIC OFFENSE
The Knights’ prolific offense ranks seventh nationally and leads the conference with 464.6 yards per game. UCF has recorded 400 or more yards in seven games this season, including 602 in the 56-12 victory against Arizona, the most in a Big 12 Conference game.
Additionally, the Black and Gold’s 240 first downs this season lead the conference and rank 15th nationally. UCF has achieved 141 by rushing, 85 from passing and 14 from penalties by the opponent. In contrast, the Black and Gold’s defense has allowed 200 first downs.
BIG-PLAY ABILITY
UCF’s offense ranks third in the conference and 23rd nationally in passing yards per completion at 13.45.
COORDINATORS MAKING AN IMPACT
In the last two games since offensive coordinator Tim Harris Jr. has called the offense and defensive coordinator Addison Williams has taken over the defense, UCF has compiled 1,010 yards offensively and the defense has allowed just 521 yards.
UCF’s defense forced four punts, three 3-and-outs and did not allow Arizona State to convert either of their fourth-down attempts.
ADAMS, HARVEY EARN SENIOR BOWL INVITES
UCF’s RJ Harvey and BJ Adams have accepted invitations to compete in the Reese’s Senior Bowl, which will be held in Mobile, Alabama, on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025 at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the South Alabama campus.
The postseason college football all-star game showcases the best NFL draft prospects among players who have completed their college eligibility.