ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — UCF didn’t expect its transition to the Big 12 to be easy.
The Knights won six games in their inaugural season in the conference, appeared in a bowl game for an eighth consecutive season and were a lot more competitive than a 3-6 record in league play might suggest. While that may not sound too bad, it wasn’t nearly good enough for coach Gus Malzahn and his players.
UCF hopes to take steps to improve on that, starting with its season-opener Thursday night against New Hampshire at FBC Mortgage Stadium.
What You Need To Know
- UCF opens its 2024 college football season at home Thursday night
- The Knights will be hosting the Football Championship Series team New Hampshire
- Coach Gus Malzahn and his players are looking to improve their play in their second Big 12 season
- Malzahn says he wants the Knights to be more hard-nosed and to make fewer mistakes
UCF’s first losing season (6-7) since 2016 ended with a loss to Georgia Tech in the Gasparilla Bowl. A year marked by highs such as a double-digit rout of Oklahoma State when the Cowboys were ranked in the Top 25 was also marred by mistake-filled narrow conference losses to Baylor, Oklahoma and Texas Tech by a combined four points.
“Our team, I really feel like they have a chip on their shoulder,” Malzahn said. “If that didn’t leave a sour taste in our mouth, we’ve got something wrong with us.”
The veteran, who reached the national championship during a successful eight-season run as head coach and won a national championship as a coordinator in the Southeastern Conference at Auburn, is confident UCF has everything it takes to be better moving forward in the Big 12.
“It starts with the head coach and getting back to me and the team taking on my personality,” Malzahn said.
“I said before, we want a disciplined team. We weren’t really a hard-nosed, physical-edge team like I’ve had in the past. Really, we’re developing that. It’s a process. It can’t be one or two, it’s got to be who we are as a group.”
The quarterback
Arkansas transfer KJ Jefferson has settled in as UCF’s starting quarterback after throwing for 7,911 yards and 67 touchdowns for the Razorbacks. He’s also rushed for 1,876 yards and 21 touchdowns during his college career.
His new teammates are impressed with him on and off the field.
“You know how some quarterbacks might be Hollywood. He’s just a great person to be around,” receiver Kobe Hudson said. “I’ve only known KJ for six months, and I feel like he has been my quarterback forever.”
The roster
Thanks to the transfer portal and a solid recruiting class, Malzahn said the overall level of talent on the roster is about as good as he’s had in four seasons at UCF. Among the top holdovers is running back RJ Harvey, who led UCF in rushing with 1,416 yards and 16 touchdowns last season.
“Roster-wise, as far as talent and experience, it’s probably right up there if not better than what we’ve had since we’ve been here. But that’s only part of the equation because everybody else has new players, too,” Malzahn said.
“All I know is we’re going to earn everything we get. My job is to make us as mentally and physically tough and as disciplined and together as I possibly can, and we’ll let the chips fall where they fall.”
The schedule
The Knights open the season at home against New Hampshire on Thursday. They begin the conference play at TCU on Sept. 14 and also face Iowa State, West Virginia and Arizona State on the road. The conference home opener is Sept. 28 against Colorado. Other Big 12 home opponents include Arizona and Utah. The Knights also hit the road Oct. 5 for a highly anticipated nonconference matchup against Florida.
What's at stake Thursday night?
UCF is eager to jump back into the season. Preseason prognosticators pick the Knights to finish eighth among 16 teams in the conference standings this season; however, coach Gus Malzahn and his players said they believe they’ll be much better and possibly compete for the championship. Getting off on the right foot against New Hampshire while integrating several new transfers and additions to the lineup is the goal in the season opener.
Key matchup
UCF’s secondary vs. New Hampshire’s passing attack. UCF has undergone a lot of change. Of the Knights’ projected starters in the secondary, only Brandon Adams (six starts) and Quadric Bullard (13 starts) were regulars last year. New Hampshire has a new quarterback after 3,400-yard passer Max Brosmer transferred to Minnesota. But the Wildcats still have one of their top receivers in Logan Tomlinson.
Players to watch
New Hampshire: Defensive end Josiah Silver, who had five sacks, eight quarterback hits and 9-1/2 tackles for loss for the Wildcats’ last season. He anchors a defensive line that yielded 143.4 yards per game on the ground in 2023.
UCF: Jefferson was one of the most sought-after players in the transfer portal. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound quarterback comes to an offense that has a wide array of playmakers at his disposal, especially at running back.
Facts and figures
UCF is the only team in the nation with two 1,000-yard rushers returning from last season, including R.J. Harvey (1,416 yards, 16 touchdowns). The Knights also welcome Toledo transfer Peny Boone after he rushed for 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns last year. ... Yale transfer Wande Owens was named to the Reese’s Senior Bowl Watchlist, marking the second straight year New Hampshire has a player listed. Owens led Yale with 63 tackles last season. . . . UCF announced sophom*ore defensive tackle John Walker suffered a lower-body injury early in training camp and will be out for an extended period of time. Malzahn said the team hopes he will return before the end of the season. Walker was expected to be in the Knights’ defensive line rotation. Additionally, tight end Jordan Davis tore his Achilles' tendon and will miss the season.
