Gus Malzahn: UCF football knows Swamp will be loud vs Florida Gators
UCF’s Gus Malzahn visited the Swamp while coaching the Auburn Tigers in 2019. The Florida Gators won that game 24-13.
GAINESVILLE — UCF makes its first trip to the Swamp in 18 years, looking to shake off a dismal home loss to Colorado and further crank up the heat on Florida Gators coach Billy Napier’s seat.
The Knights (3-1, 1-1 Big 12) committed four turnovers in their 48-21 defeat to Deion Sanders’ Buffaloes last Saturday. RJ Harvey was held to a season-low 77 rushing yards on 16 carries, and KJ Jefferson, who guided Arkansas to a November 2023 victory in Gainesville, had 284 passing yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
UCF will be without starting slot receiver Xavier Townsend, who announced plans to redshirt for the remainder of the season and enter the transfer portal. Backup safeties Bryon Threats and William Wells are expected to do the same, but Sheldon Arnold should return to the starting lineup after being limited to just three defensive snaps vs. Colorado.
Florida (2-2, 1-1 SEC) aims to build on its 45-28 road win over Mississippi State from two weekends ago. Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway combined to complete 26 of 28 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns, and the Gators added 226 yards on the ground.
The Gators lost both of their previous home bouts against Power Four programs, Miami and Texas A&M, by a combined score of 74-37. Napier, in his third season, has posted a 13-16 coaching record at Florida.
UCF vs UF score updates
UCF football highlights vs Florida
Freshman DJ Lagway fired a 37-yard strike to Chimere Dike on his first pass of the night, and Ja’Kobi Jackson banged in a 1-yard touchdown run to put Florida up 14-3 with 12:50 left in the second quarter.
It took the Gators just three snaps to make UCF pay for its failure to convert on 4th-and-1 from its own 43-yard line.
Gators quarterbacks are 9 of 10 for 91 yards in the game.
Gus Malzahn decided to roll the dice on 4th-and-1 from UCF’s 43-yard line, but KJ Jefferson was stopped short on a quarterback draw.
DJ Lagway has checked in at quarterback for the first time tonight for the Gators.
UCF forced a three-and-out on its second defensive series, and trails Florida 7-3 at the end of the first quarter.
Braeden Marshall forced Graham Mertz into a throw well short of the sticks with an effective third-down slot blitz. Florida has an 81-70 edge in total yards, and scored on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Mertz to Elijhah Badger.
RJ Harvey has 15 rushing yards on four carries. Randy Pittman Jr. has the Knights’ lone catch, a 30-yard tight end screen.
Grant Reddick split the uprights from 28 yards for his first UCF field goal, pulling the Knights within 7-3 with 2:32 left in the first quarter.
Randy Pittman ignited the 12-play, 65-yard drive with a 30-yard screen on the Knights’ first play from scrimmage. Peny Boone and RJ Harvey combined for six carries and 27 yards.
Florida methodically marched 75 yards in 15 plays for the opening touchdown, a 13-yard playaction pass from Graham Mertz to Elijhah Badger. Mertz’s TD pass was his 30th as a Gator, and it gives the hosts a 7-0 lead over UCF with 7:02 left in the first quarter.
The Gators went 4 of 4 on third down, with Mertz completing 7 of 8 passes for 55 yards. Badger, Montrell Johnson Jr. and Tank Hawkins recorded two receptions apiece.
Five UCF football players have opted to redshirt this week with intentions to enter the transfer portal this week, a university spokesman confirmed.
Wide receiver Xavier Townsend, offensive lineman Wes Dorsey, defensive end Kaven Call and safeties Bryon Threats and William Wells did not make the trip to Gainesville.
Townsend is the biggest loss of the bunch, recording 10 catches for 69 yards with one touchdown and 12 rushing attempts for 88 yards. He was also the Knights’ primary kickoff and punt returner.
Additionally, kicker Colton Boomer has been ruled out due to injury. Grant Reddick, wearing No. 33, will make his first start.
UCF vs Florida time today
- Date: Saturday, October 5
- Time: 7:45 p.m. ET
- Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (Gainesville, Florida)
Watch UCF vs Florida live on Fubo (free trial)
What channel is UCF vs UF game on today?
UCF vs. Florida will broadcast nationally on SEC Network in Week 6 of the 2024 college football season. Taylor Zarzour and Matt Stinchcomb will call the game from the booth at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, with Tori Petry reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include ESPN+ and Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
The 2024 Knights are led by quarterback KJ Jefferson, an Arkansas transfer who was named preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. UCF boasts two also preseason All-Big 12 selections: receiver Kobe Hudson (first team) and defensive lineman Lee Hunter (second team).
The 2024 Gators are led by quarterback Graham Mertz, entering his second season in Florida after transferring from Wisconsin. Florida has four preseason All-SEC players: running back Montrell Johnson Jr. (second team), defensive back Jason Marshall Jr. (second team), punter Jeremy Crawshaw (second team) and kicker Trey Smack (third team).
UCF vs. Florida history
- Series record: Florida leads, 2-1
- UCF’s last win: December 23, 2021 (29-17) in Gasparilla Bowl
- Florida’s last win: September 9, 2006 (42-0)
UCF vs. UF predictions
Chris Boyle, Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida 26, UCF 23
“UCF needs to grab control early if it wants to exit the Swamp with bragging rights, having led its last two games for all of 36 seconds. Expect better statistical showings from RJ Harvey and KJ Jefferson, who won in Gainesville last year at Arkansas, against a Gators defense ranked 109th nationally against the run. Ultimately, the outcome should go down to the wire — perhaps even the last possession.”
Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun: Florida 41, UCF 38
“Between Florida’s suspect run defense and UCF’s suspect pass defense, stops will be hard to come by. Mertz will lead the Gators on a scoring drive on their last possession, setting up Smack for a game-winning field goal.”
Neil Blackmon, Saturday Down South: UCF 38, Florida 35
“In a game that might be a microcosm of the Napier era at Florida, the Gators will score plenty — but Florida’s run defense will surrender 350+ yards to the Knights as Jefferson wins in The Swamp for a second consecutive season.”
UCF vs. Florida betting odds
Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Friday:
- Spread: UCF (-1½)
- Over/under: 61½ points
- Money line: UCF -120, Florida +100
UCF vs UF injury updates
UCF tight end Jordan Davis has been ruled out for the season with a torn Achilles tendon. Wide receiver Xavier Thompson and defensive back Byron Threats announced this week they were redshirting the rest of the season.
Florida receiver Eugene Wilson III might return after missing the past two games with a knee injury.
UCF vs. UF weather updates
Weather.com predicts 76 degrees at kickoff with cloudy skies in Gainesville. Winds are expected to blow out of the northeast at 5-10 mph. There is a 15-20% chance of rain.
- August 29: vs. New Hampshire (W 57-3)
- September 7: vs. Sam Houston (W 45-14)
- September 14: at TCU (W 35-34)
- September 21: Open
- September 28: vs. Colorado (L 48-21)
- October 5: at Florida, 7:45 p.m.
- October 12: vs. Cincinnati, 3:30 p.m.
- October 19: at Iowa State
- October 26: vs. BYU
- November 2: vs. Arizona
- November 9: at Arizona State
- November 16: Open
- November 23: at West Virginia
- November 29: vs. Utah, 8 p.m.
- Record: 3-1
- August 31: vs. Miami (L 41-17)
- September 7: vs. Samford (W 45-7)
- September 14: vs. Texas A&M (L 33-20)
- September 21: at Mississippi State (W 45-28)
- September 28: Open
- October 5: vs. UCF, 7:45 p.m.
- October 12: at Tennessee, 7 p.m.
- October 19: vs. Kentucky
- October 26: Open
- November 2: vs. Georgia, 3:30 p.m. in Jacksonville
- November 9: at Texas, noon
- November 16: vs. LSU
- November 23: vs. Ole Miss, noon
- November 30:at Florida State
- Record: 2-2
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