COLLEGE FOOTBALL: UCF Knights to Host Arizona Wildcats in Annual ‘Space Game’ on Saturday
By UCF Knights // November 1, 2024
kickoff set for 3:30 p.m.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – UCF and Arizona will meet for the first time in the history of the programs on Saturday afternoon at FBC Mortgage Stadium in UCF’s annual Space Game. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on FS1 with Dan Hellie and Robert Smith on the call.
The UCF Space Game has been played annually since the 2017 season and the Knights are 7-0 all-time in space games with an average margin of victory of 28.8 points.
The game recognizes the University of Central Florida’s roots, founded as Florida Technological University in 1963 with the mission of providing personnel to support the growing U.S. space program at the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
As the academic scope expanded beyond its original focus on engineering and technology, the school was renamed the University of Central Florida in 1978.
During the Space Game each season, UCF utilizes its throwback mascot, the Citronaut, which appeared on the 1969 student handbook.
Saturday’s matchup will feature two different types of offenses, as UCF leads the league and ranks third nationally with 267.9 rushing yards per game, while the Wildcats are sixth in the conference and No. 40 in the nation averaging 260.3 passing yards per game.
The Citronauts have now rushed for 2,143 yards with 21 touchdowns on the ground through eight games this season. UCF’s rushing yards average is nearly 30 more than the next-closest Power Four Conference team (Tennessee 241.6).
UCF leads the nation in explosive running plays, as the Knights have recorded 68 rushing plays of at least 10 yards. That mark is five more than the next-closest team, as Army and Kansas State are tied for second with 63.
Additionally, the Black and Gold are tied for the league lead and rank eighth nationally in most offensive plays of 20 or more yards with 50.
Running back RJ Harvey leads the nation with 31 rushing plays of at least 10 yards. His 13 rushing touchdowns are the most in the conference and fifth nationally.
Harvey enters this weekend’s game with 1,017 rushing yards, the third most among FBS running backs and the most in the Big 12. He now owns 3,232 career yards on the ground to rank seventh among active FBS running backs with each running back ahead of him owning at least 40 more carries.
The Orlando native has 496 career rushing attempts and would become just the fifth player in program history with 500 or more carries. Additionally, Harvey is 127 yards shy of tying Alex Haynes for the second most career rushing yards by a UCF player.
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