GAINESVILLE — When Florida hosts UCF on Saturday night, in-state bragging rights and midseason momentum on the line and the future of Gators coach Billy Napier in the balance.
The schools’ long-awaited fourth meeting pits UF (2-2) struggling to re-establish SEC relevancy and UCF (3-1) aiming to ascend the Big 12 pecking order, an effort undercut by the Knights recent 48-21 loss to Colorado.
“They are going to come out with a lot of juice,” Florida senior cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. said. “We just have to come out, start fast, take away whatever they’re trying to game plan on us.”
Each team features a 23-year-old quarterback, UF’s Graham Mertz and UCF’s KJ Jefferson, coaches who like to establish the run, Napier and Gus Malzahn, and defenses with issues.
A sold-out Swamp will greet the Knights during their first trip to Gainesville since a 42-0 loss to the Gators’ 2006 national championship team. The teams did square off during the 2021 Gasparilla Bowl, a 29-17 UCF victory to culminate Malzahn’s 9-4 debut season against Florida which was in a coaching transition after Dan Mullen was fired a month earlier.
Napier faces a similar fate barring a seismic turn of events. Malzahn, who signed a contract extension last fall, could use a win himself.
“We are capable of being a good team,” he said. “It’s just one game and we have learned from it. I expect our leadership to step up, do that and be better moving forward.”
Coaches: Malzahn 27-17 (104-55 overall); Napier 13-16 (53-28 overall)
Quick slant:Napier is 10-6 in the Swamp, one more loss than Steve Spurrier (68-5) and Urban Meyer (35-5). The schools are scheduled to play again Sept. 14, 2030 in Orlando and Sept. 3, 2033 in Gainesville. The last time Malzahn was at the Swamp was on Oct. 5, 2019, when he was the head coach at Auburn. The Tigers lost 24-13 as Florida picked off Bo Nix three times and La’Mical Perine rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown.
About UCF: The Knights are looking to bounce back behind one of the nation’s top run games. The Knights entered the Colorado game averaging 375 rushing yards but managed just 177, including a season-low 77 by star tailback RJ Harvey. With tailback Myles Montgomery (141 yards, 2 TDs) out for the foreseeable future with a lower leg injury, UCF will lean on Peny Boone (166) and Johnny Richardson (77) to ease Harvey’s workload. Receiver Kobe Hudson is on track for a 1,000-yard receiving season after leading the team with 349 yards and 2 touchdowns. The group, however, lost Xavier Townsend, who opted Thursday to redshirt and enter the transfer portal. Linebacker Deshawn Pace has been one of the bright spots on defense, leading the team with 22 tackles and 2 and interceptions. Former Miami edge rusher Nyjalik Kelly has 2 of the team’s 3 total sacks. Pro Football Focus rated cornerback Bryon Threats as UCF’s top player in coverage for a pass defense ranked 121st of 134 teams nationally, allowing an average of 303.7 yards. Threats, however, also will take a redshirt and transfer when the portal reopens Dec. 9. He’d left Cincinnati for UCF this past offseason.
About UF: The Gators aim to build on a 503-yard performance at Mississippi State, showcasing the two-quarterback rotation of Mertz and freshman DJ Lagway and depth at the skill positions. Mertz and Lagway were a combined 26 of 28 for 277 yards passing. Mertz accounted for 4 touchdowns. Four tailbacks combined for 226 rushing yards while leading receiver Elijhah Badger led a contingent of pass-catchers with at least 35 yards. The defensive struggles continued, however, with the Bulldogs passing and rushing for 240 yards each. Linebacker play remained strong with Pup Howard and Shemar James combining for 12 stops and true freshman Aaron Chiles recorded his first sack. Meanwhile, Jack Pyburn made 6 tackles to establish a much-needed presence on the edge after his remarkable recovery from a torn ACL last November. Oregon transfer safety Trikweze Bridges, a rare bright spot on the back end, had a career-high 10 tackles.
3 things to watch
Pass rush: UF’s pass rush has managed just 4 sacks during three FBS games, fewer than all but Mississippi State in the SEC. Incredibly, UCF has struggled to get to the quarterback even more, registering a Big 12-worst 3 sacks against power conference competition. Whoever can apply some pressure should have an advantage.
Turnovers: The Knights committed 4 against Colorado, including 2 by Jefferson, to give them a minus-2 turnover margin, tied for 94th nationally. The Gators sit at minus-4, or tied for 114th, and have just 3 takeaways despite the emphasis placed on generating them after UF managed just 7 in 2023.
Red zone: UCF has converted just 64% inside FBS opponents’ 20-yard line (9 of 14). The Knights were 2 of 5 against Colorado, with three scoring chances turning into turnovers (2 interceptions, fumble). Florida is 9 of 9 in the red zone with 9 touchdowns against Miami, Texas A&M and Mississippi State.
Up next …
Florida vs. UCF
When: 7:45, Saturday, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
TV: SEC Network; Radio: AM 540/FM 93.1 WFLF, Sirius/XM 132 or 192
Weather: 74 degrees, 42% rain chance
Favorite: UCF by 2.5 points
Online: orlandosentinel.com/gators; @edgarthompson on X; orlandosentinel.com/knights; @osmattmurschel on X.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
