After a full decade as a member of the American Athletic Conference, UCF debuts as a member of the Big 12 Conference when the Knights host Kent State at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 31 at FBC Mortgage Stadium in the 2023 season opener.

KNIGHT NOTES
• UCF on Sept. 10, 2021, initially accepted the invitation from the Big 12 to join the league. On June 9, 2022, the university announced that the 2022-23 athletics season would be its last of 10 years as a member of the AAC in advance of beginning play in the Big 12 in 2023-24.

• Knights’ athletic teams begin Big 12 competition in fall sports on Sept. 14, 2023, at home in women’s soccer versus West Virginia; Sept. 21-22, 2023, in volleyball at Cincinnati, and Sept. 23, 2023, in football at Kansas State.

• UCF’s first season of football was in 1979 and the Knights have moved from Division III, Division II, the FCS level, the FBS level that included time in the MAC, Conference USA, the AAC, and now the Big 12 Conference.

• The Knights’ entrance into the Big 12 comes after previous conference relationships with the Sunshine State Conference (1975-84), New South Women’s Athletic Conference (1986-90 for women’s sports only), American South Conference (1990-91), Sun Belt Conference (1991-92), Atlantic Sun Conference (1992-2005), Mid-American Conference (2002-04 for football only), Conference USA (2005-12) and most recently the American Athletic Conference (2013-14 through 2022-23). The Knights began football competition in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision in 1996.

• UCF football has won at least nine games in five of the last six seasons (59 combined wins in those six seasons, including a 25-game win streak in 2017-18) and qualified for bowl games in seven straight years, highlighted by three New Year’s Six bowls in the last nine years.

• The Knights return 11 players who received either 1st-team, 2nd-team or 3rd-team all-conference recognition on at least one all-league team in 2022. That list includes QB John Rhys Plumlee, RB RJ Harvey, WR Javon Baker, WR Xavier Townsend, OG Lokahi Pauole, OT Tylan Grable, DL Ricky Barber, DE Tre’mon Morris-Brash, LB Jason Johnson, DB Corey Thornton and PK Colton Boomer.

KEEP AN EYE ON...
Seven UCF student-athletes have appeared on a preseason watch list in advance of the start of the 2023 season. Below is a comprehensive list:

- QB John Rhys Plumlee (Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Manning Award)
- RB RJ Harvey (Doak Walker Award)
- WR Corey Gammage (Biletnikoff Award)
- OL Lokahi Pauole (Outland Trophy, Polynesian Player of the Year Award)
- LB Jason Johnson (Bednarik Award, Butkus Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy)
- P Mitch McCarthy (Ray Guy Award)
- K Colton Boomer (Lou Groza Award)

NEW COORDINATORS, NEW COACHES
UCF enters the 2023 season with new coordinators on both sides of the football, as Addison Williams was promoted to defensive coordinator in December 2022 and former Knights standout and assistant coach Darin Hinshaw was tabbed offensive coordinator in January 2023.

Williams, in his third season with UCF, has helped the Knights turn what once was a youthful secondary into one of the most improved and productive units on the roster. 

Veteran Knight cornerbacks Corey Thornton (26 career starts) and Brandon Adams played a noteworthy role in UCF standing third in the American Athletic Conference in team pass efficiency defense in 2022. That duo also helped UCF rank fifth nationally in red-zone defense.

A native of Punta Gorda, Florida, Hinshaw has served as an offensive coordinator in four different conferences during his 23-year coaching tenure. His offenses have set numerous school records, helped win conference championships, earned 10-win seasons and garnered several all-conference and All-America honors.

Hinshaw’s offenses have finished among the nation’s top 10 in passing, rushing and total offense.

Additionally, Ernie Sims was hired as linebackers coach in December 2022 and Kam Martin was tabbed running backs coach in March 2023. 

LEADING THE CHARGE
Quarterback John Rhys Plumlee, offensive lineman Lokahi Pauole, tight end Alec Holler, defensive lineman Josh Celiscar, linebacker Jason Johnson and defensive tackle Ricky Barber have been selected captains of the 2023 UCF football quad by vote of their teammates. Celiscar was also a captain during the 2022 season as well.

HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE
UCF’s all-time record of 78-24 (.767) ranks in the top 15 in the nation for best win percentage in a current home stadium.

Since 2017, the Knights are 35-4 in home games at FBC Mortgage Stadium.

The Knights finished last season with a 5-2 home record and were undefeated at home in 2021, marking the seventh time in UCF’s FBS era, the ninth overall, and the fourth time in the last five years. Only 22 teams in the nation completed the 2021 regular season undefeated at home.

FAMILIAR FACES
Junior Marcellus Marshall will notice several familiar faces in Thursday’s game, as the offensive lineman spent the past two seasons as a member of the Kent State football program. 

Hailing from Morgantown, West Virginia, Marshall was a First Team All-Mid-American Conference selection at offensive tackle in 2022 when he started all 12 games.

RETURNING EXPERIENCE
Following consecutive nine-win seasons and bowl appearances, Gus Malzahn will have a veteran collection of returnees (52 lettermen) to work with for 2023:     
-- Starting quarterback, John Rhys Plumlee, who threw for 2,586 yards and 14 TDs (218 of 346, .630) in 2022 
-- Top rusher Plumlee, who ran for 861 yards and 11 TDs, and three of the Knights’ top four ground-gainers overall, including running backs RJ Harvey (796 yards, 5 TDs) and Johnny Richardson (370 yards)
-- Six of the top seven receivers from a year ago, paced by Javon Baker (56 catches for team-high 796 yards, 5 TDs) and Kobe Hudson (39 for 641, 7 TDs—all his production in final 10 games)
-- Four of the Knights’ top five tacklers from 2022, led by linebacker Jason Johnson (126 tackles) whose 9.0 tackles per game ranked third in the AAC

Starters returning on offense (6) are quarterback Plumlee (23 career starts—13 at UCF), wide receivers Baker (13 career starts) and Hudson (15 career starts—10 at UCF), offensive linemen Lokahi Pauole (34 career starts) and Tylan Grable (25 career starts—14 at UCF) and tight end Alec Holler (20 career starts; 22 catches for 276 yards, 1 TD in 2022).

Regulars back on defense (6) are end Josh Celiscar (54 tackles in 2022, 8.5 TFL, 26 career starts), outside linebacker Tre’mon Morris-Brash (52 tackles, team-high 13 TFL, team-high 6 sacks, 17 career starts), tackle Ricky Barber (49 tackles, 9 TFL, 12 QBH, 36 career starts—24 at UCF), Johnson (43 career starts—14 at UCF), plus cornerback Corey Thornton (50 tackles, team-high 7 PBU, 27 career starts) and safety Quadric Bullard (27 tackles, 20 career starts). Celiscar was the Knights’ lone junior team captain in 2022.

Among specialists returning are placekicker Colton Boomer (14 of 15 on field goals) and punter Mitch McCarthy (43.3-yard average on 38 punts).

TRANSFERS READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT
UCF added 19 transfers to the program during the offseason and it is a very talented group that is ready to make an impact. The Knights’ opening week depth chart features eight transfers that are slated to start on offense, including four that joined the program this offseason.

Defensively, five transfers are slated to start with one joining the program this offseason. In total, 15 transfers appear on the opening week depth chart on offense and 11 on defense.

BACK-TO-BACK THURSDAYS
UCF is one of six schools to open the 2022 and 2023 seasons on a Thursday. The Knights join Arizona State, Minnesota, Missouri, UAB and Wake Forest as the nation’s teams to begin the season on Thursdays the last two years.