Game Day: Florida vs UCF (Saturday, 7:45 pm)

Saturday, October 5

Gainesville, Fla.

7:45 PM

Florida Gators

UCF

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Game Day: Florida vs UCF (Saturday, 7:45 pm)

Saturday, October 5, 2024 | Football, Chris Harry

By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — They've had two weeks to process (and also bask) in their first victory over a high-major opponent this season. Billy Napier and his Florida Gators, though, know they didn't conquer an empire by going on the road and handling Mississippi State, maybe the worst team in the Southeastern Conference, with relative ease in a 45-28 victory. But UF found some rhythm on offense, got some stops on defense and took the first real feel-good moment of the 2024 season into a bye week.

Now, the Gators are back home to deal with a completely different challenge; one much different than what powerful, likely CFP-bound Miami dealt them in lopsided fashion or what league foe Texas A&M did in having its way with the home team at Spurrier/Florida Field last month.

This time, UF (2-2) gets UCF (3-1), the angry, feisty and envious stepbrother from down the road in Orlando.

[Read senior writer Scott Carter's comprehensive "Opening Kickoff" setup here]

It's been a long time since the Knights came to "The Swamp." Their first visit was a quarter-century ago. The program was just three years into its Division I foray, but got a chance to take on the Gators under Steve Spurrier. Doug Johnson threw four touchdown passes in the first 18 minutes, the Gators rolled up 501 yards and went on to a 58-27 victory. For the Knights, the result was only slight better than the 42-0 beatdown taken at the hands of Chris Leak, Tim Tebow and a UF team en route to the 2006 national championship seven years later.

Undeterred, UCF continued on its quest of wanting what Florida had and in shrewdly built its program from the ground up has experienced some exhilarating moments the last two decades, including the construction of a raucous on-campus stadium, a stirring undefeated season (and No. 4 final ranking) in 2017 and entry into the Big 12 Conference in 2023.

Oh, and there was also that 29-17 thumping of the Gators in the Gasparilla Bowl on Dec. 23, 2021 (a month after the firing of UF coach Dan Mullen), marking the only other meeting between the two, but also showing just how much the Knights have closed the gap (if not overtaken it) between the two programs.

UCF was the better team and rightfully celebrated as such when the Knights handed the Gators a 29-17 defeat in the Gasparilla Bowl at Tampa on Dec. 23, 2021, the last meeting between the two programs.

And now comes this game, the first of a two-for-one contract that will send the Gators to UCF's Bounce House in 2030 and the Knights back here in 2033. With that next date six years away, it's not difficult to understand how desperately the Knights wish to make a statement Saturday night. And, frankly, they would certainly appear equipped to do so, given what the two teams have put on tape to date.

But where UF has had two weeks to build on success, UCF has had just one to try and regroup from a mistake-filled mess in losing 48-21 at home to Deion Sanders and his Colorado social-media circus squad.

Buffaloes quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Shedeur Sanders passed for 290 yards and three touchdowns, while the CU defense forced four turnovers, including a pair of interceptions of KJ Jefferson (60.5 percent, 847 yards, 7 TD, 3 INT). It wasn't like the Knights were completely lanced, either. They out-gained the Buffs in total yards 461-418, but killed themselves with the turnovers.

UCF, coached by Gus Malzahn, will come in with the No. 4 offense in the nation, averaging 543.3 yards per game and led by the No. 2 rushing offense at a staggering 326.0 yards per game. It's worth noting the Knights' ground numbers have progressively decreased over their four games, commensurate to the defenses they have faced.

vs FCS-classified New Hampshire: 454 yards (8.4 per carry) and five touchdowns
vs Sam Houston State: 384 yards (6.7) and six TD
at Texas Christian: 289 yards (5.4) and two TD
Colorado: 177 (4.0) and one TD

The Gators, though, could serve as a get-well-on-the-ground card. The UF defense is allowing 188.75 yards per game rushing, which is 110th nationally, as well as 113th overall in surrendering 425.5 yards per game. And some (or all) Florida fans may recall what Jefferson did to the Gators — in "The Swamp," no less — as quarterback for Arkansas last season. Reminder: 347 yards of total offense and three TDs in a stunning 39-36 overtime upset.

The Florida quarterback that day, Graham Mertz, will be the same. He also was pretty good last time in completing 19 of his 21 attempts (90.5 percent) for 201 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in the road win at Starkville. The sixth-year grad has a firm hold on the QB spot, having completed 75.0 percent of his throws for 487 yards, four TD and two picks for an uneven UF offense that rates 50th in the country (30th passing, 83rd rushing). Freshman DJ Lagway is expected to get a couple series under center again.

The tenor is expected to be hostile, with the visitors coming with a chip on their shoulder the size of Cinderella's castle.

Coverage starts at 7:45 p.m. on SEC Network, with the crew of Taylor Zarzour on play-by-play, Matt Stinchcomb providing analysis and Tori Petry on the sidelines. The Gators Sports Network from Learfield broadcast will air with pregame coverage beginning at 3:45 p.m. and eventually give way to Sean Kelley, Shane Matthews and Tate Casey from the field on the call. For GSN stations, click here.

The game will be re-aired Wednesday at 9 p.m. and again Friday at 2 a.m., both on the SEC Network.

Finally, follow senior writer Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) for commentary and analysis throughout the game. FloridaGators.com will have complete post-game coverage from the game late Saturday night and follow-up content Sunday, also.