How UCF flipped the War on I-4, season tickets price hike and four in a row ππππ
On the eve of one of the last War on I-4 games in Orlando for a while, let's look back at how UCF was able to flip the heated rivalry with South Florida in their favor.
A Happy Thanksgiving π¦ to you, my friend! Iβm so thankful for you and your support of this newsletter over the last few months. Hope the holiday is filled with lots of food, family and football, and a win over those awful Bulls, of course π
Also, salute to Cincinnati for becoming the first Group of 5 team to earn a spot in the Top 4 of the College Football Playoff rankings. Weβll see if the committee lets them stay there.
Todayβs read is 4 minutes β²οΈ
Trending in the Kingdom: Reversing the War on I-4
UCF has put some distance between themselves and their bitter rivals from Tampa over the years, and Iβm not just talking about on the field. The jump to the Big 12 will drift these two programs - separated by 98 miles - even further apart, once the Knights depart the AAC.
The Knightsβ path to pulling even in the βWar on I-4β has been a long, winding road and thereβs been a few key, defining moments that swung the series in their favor.
Hereβs the scoop: Friday will be the 13th meeting of the βWar on I-4β, with each team having won six contents each, but it hasnβt always been an even series.
USF won the first four meetings, from 2005-08, by an average of 20.7 points, helped out by that 64-12 win in 2007.
Ex-USF coach Jim Leavitt decided to kick the rivalry series to the curb as the Bulls fled Conference USA for the Big East, leaving UCF behind.
The two didnβt meet again until 2013, when UCF got their first win over the Bulls, 23-20.
Since then, the Knights have won six of the last eight meetings, including four in a row, by an average of 18.5 points.
Happy #USFHateWeek π€π»ππ» : Since the rebirth of the rivalry in 2013β¦
UCF has gone on to win at least a share of the conference championship four times (2013-14 and 2017-18) and made back-to-back New Yearβs 6 Bowl appearances, with a pair of Top 11 finishes.
USF has won just one West division championship (2016) during the same stretch and has never won a conference title in school history.
βSince Iβve been hired, I know how important [this game] is to our fanbase,β UCF head coach Gus Malzahn said. βI've been blessed to be a part of some rivalry games. This is a big one too. I'm looking forward to it. I like coaching in rivalry games."
The pinnacle moment of this rivalry came on November 24, 2017, with 1:40 left in a 42-42 tie ball game.
βDo you believe it?!β π£: In just thirteen seconds, UCF cornerback Mike Hughes returned a kickoff 95 yards to forever alter UCFβs trajectory and the βWar on I-4β rivalry. That thrilling score saved UCFβs undefeated season and snapped a two-game losing streak to the Bulls in the series.
Now, who knows where this rivalry will go over the next few seasons. As much as these programs dislike each other, this game is good for both. It matters, and now itβs in jeopardy.
With UCF moving to the Big 12 as early as 2023, USF would essentially need to be added as a non-conference opponent, but there has to be an opening on the slate to make that happen.
UCF AD Terry Mohajir still needs to schedule three non-conference games in 2027 and 2028, two in 2023 and one each in 2024 and 2025.
The issue is, USF doesnβt have any free slots open until the 2028 season.
βWe havenβt had time to digest that knowing when theyβre going, but I think UCFβs [schedule] is pretty full and I know ours is full through 2028 on the football side,β USF AD Michael Kelly said, βso weβll have to take a look at that, but I havenβt dived into that yet.β
βWe canβt get them to cancel games, but weβll definitely want to play them,β Mohajir said. βThatβs not an issue, but I canβt get them to cancel games.β
Outta here ππ»: USF fired defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer ahead of Fridayβs game. The Bulls have given up at least 45 points in each of their last three games. Special teams coordinator Daniel Da Prato and linebackers coach Ernie Sims will serve as co-interim defensive coordinators for the Black Friday contest.
Deeper DiveΒ π€Ώ:
USFβs Jeff Scott welcomes UCFβs Gus Malzahn to War on I-4 rivalry (Orlando Sentinel)
UCF-USF future series likely put on hold as Knights head to Big 12 Conference (Orlando Sentinel)
Gus Malzahn Press Conference - South Florida Week (UCFSports.com)
The Big 12 price hike π°π
Call it the Big 12 tax π°. UCFβs season ticket prices for 2022 are going up, with the school saying they need to be on par with their future conference mates, but 97% of the stadiumΒ has only aΒ $7 or less increase per gameΒ in 2022.
Fill me in: UCF Athletics has begun season ticket renewals for the 2022 football season, and with it comes a spike in season ticket prices as the school prepares to βalign itself with our soon-to-be Big 12 peers.β
Over the next two years, most sections will see a 10-20% price increase, per the school, as UCF transitions to the Big 12 Conference.
Some of the lower-priced seating will see a slightly higher percentage increase, which is in line with other Big 12 schools, by having the lowest-priced season tickets set at $150.Β
As it stands right now, UCFβs 2021 season ticket prices would be the cheapest in the Big 12.
Another reason for the increase? Thereβs a season-ticket waitlist with more than 1,500 hoping to secure seats.
βWith the current demand for season tickets and excitement for upcoming seasons, we have begun evaluating our position among current Big 12 programs,β the school said. βThe current revenueΒ totalΒ UCFΒ receives from ticket sales and annual giving ranks at the bottom of our new league. To be competitive in recruiting student-athletes, coaches and improving the fan experience and amenities in our new league we need to close that gap.Β It will require additional resources to continue to compete for championships with our Big 12 peers.β
UCFs season ticket renewal deadline is Jan. 11. The school also offered an interest-free payment plan.
Swapped out π: UCF also confirmed a non-conference road game against FIU has been nixed in favor of a home game with South Carolina State, a team from the FCS. Dropping the game against the Panthers has been rumored for a while.
Hereβs the upcoming schedule for the 2022 season, which UCF is touting as βone of the strongest in school history.β
Home: Louisville, Georgia Tech, South Carolina State, Cincinnati, SMU, Navy and Temple.
Away: FAU, ECU, Memphis, Tulane and South Florida.
The dynasty continues ππππ
Not 1, not 2, not 3β¦but four American Conference championships in a row for Todd Dagenaisβ UCF Volleyball squad, who also guaranteed themselves an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament.
Tell me more: This is one of the most dominant runs in program history, with the Knights clinching their fourth-straight regular-season conference championship and fifth overall.
UCF is 25-6 this season and 18-1 in conference play, having won 14 matches in a row, including six-straight sweeps.
Overall, the Knights are 58-3 in conference play since the start of the 2018 season, losing to Cincinnati twice in that 2019 season.
Theyβre also 93-20 in regular-season play since the start of 2018.
Give me a Knugget π΄: With a win over Houston on Friday, UCF would break its record for most AAC wins in a single season. They went 18-0 in 2018 and 18-2 in 2014 in conference play.
βWe are fighting for seeding, we are fighting for playoff positioning, we are fighting for a lot, so we have to play well next week,β Dagenais said. βWhile we may no longer have the goal of a championship at the top of the list, the goal now is to perform to give us the best pathway going forward. The excitement is knowing our season is extending."
What to watch for πΊ: UCF will make its 10th NCAA tournament appearance next week. The Knights will find out their official seeding during the NCAA Championship Selection Show, on Sunday, November 28.