PREVIEW: UCF Knights Gear Up For Saturday’s Big Matchup Against Pitt Panthers
By UCF Knights // September 28, 2018
Kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. on ESPNU
ABOVE VIDEO: UCF head coach Josh Heupel speaks to the media following Thursday’s practice.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA (UCF Knights) – Coming off a 20-point victory over in-state foe FAU last week, the No. 13/14 UCF football team will play the second of four straight games at Spectrum Stadium on Saturday afternoon with a non-conference Power 6 clash against Pitt.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on ESPNU.
Marc Daniels, Gary Parris and Jerry O’Neill will have the call on FM96.9/AM740 The Game and on the iHeart Radio app, starting with the Florida Hospital Tailgate Show at 12:30 p.m.
Here are five things to know heading into Week 5:
1. CAPACITY CROWD = ARRIVE EARLY
Saturday’s crowd will officially be at capacity. Last year, a sellout crowd of 47,129 was on hand to watch ESPN’s No. 3 ranked game of 2017, as then-No. 15 UCF edged South Florida 49-42 in the War On I-4, capped off by a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Mike Hughes. Saturday will be the fifth straight game with more than 40,000 fans at Spectrum Stadium and the second straight game with a crowd at capacity. Don’t miss out on any of the fun. Beat the long lines and traffic by getting to Spectrum Stadium early.
2. FACING NON-CONFERENCE POWER 6
The Knights are looking for their third straight win against a non-conference Power 6 opponent. Last season, UCF picked up a 38-10 victory on the road at Maryland in September with 250 yards on the ground to the Terrapins’ 42. The Knights wrapped up the only undefeated season in the country with a 34-27 win over No. 7/8 Auburn in the 2018 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Quarterback McKenzie Milton capped off an impressive sophomore season as the offensive MVP.
3. PHIL VASSAR LIVE
Phil Vassar headlines this week’s UCF Tailgate Concert Series presented by Pacifico. One of a handful of musicians to have multiple hits as a songwriter and as an artist, he has 10 No. 1s, 15 Top-10s, and 26 TOP-40s. His top songs include “Just Another Day in Paradise”, “Carlene”, “Six Pack Summer”, “American Child” and many more. American Soul is Vassar’s ninth album. The concert will start at the IOA Plaza at 1:30 p.m. Vassar will also sing the National Anthem prior to kickoff.
4. PLENTY OF FUN TO GO AROUND
The Tailgate Concert Series presented by Pacifico is far from the only thing happening pregame at IOA Plaza. UCF Jazz will open the festitivites with an 11:30 a.m. performance. Instaramps Skateboard will have three 30-minute shows at 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30. The U.S. Army will have its “Escape Game” truck and inflatables with fun for all ages. Chick-fil-A cows will be roaming the area handing out coupons and other related items. All of that leads up to the concert’s start at 1:30 p.m.
5. FINDERS KEEPERS
The Panthers have created their fair share of turnovers with seven through the first four games of the year to rank in the top-40 nationally and fourth in the ACC. The Knights have taken care of the football in their three games. Aside from a few miscues against S.C. State, UCF has not turned the ball over in two of its three outings. On the other side of the ball, the Knights’ defense has been a terror for opposing offenses to go up against, forcing nine takeways to rank seventh in the country.
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