Every Thursday throughout the summer, Knight Sports Now has been taking a look at UCF Football’s best game in each of their years competing at the FBS level as part of a Throwback Thursday series. As we hit the final stretch, we’ll be turning back the clock every day leading up to the 2018 season. Today, we continue with 2015.
UCF Football’s Best Game of 2015: 44-3 loss to South Florida… seriously
The 2015 season was an absolute disaster for UCF. The Knights lost games early to FIU and Furman and never recovered, going 0-12. After an 0-8 start, longtime coach George O’Leary resigned. Interim coach Danny Barrett didn’t really have much to work with over the final four games.
UCF clearly didn’t have a “best game of the season,” so the season finale gets that distinct honor simply because it meant, at long last, the misery was over.
Unfortunately for UCF fans, the season finale was on Thanksgiving against War on I-4 rival South Florida. Everyone knew a blowout was coming, but at least there was turkey, stuffing and pie to be consumed.
The Knights actually struck first, with Matthew Wright connecting on a 28-yard field goal. But from then on, it was all Bulls. They scored 44 unanswered to put UCF down one last time in 2015. Quinton Flowers completed 14 of his 21 passes for 176 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 87 yards and two scores. Marlon Mack ran for 102 yards on 18 carries.
For the Knights, Justin Holman completed just 10 of his 26 passes for 116 yards and was intercepted twice. Taj McGowan was held to 42 rushing yards on 13 touches.
The rest is history. UCF hired Scott Frost less than one week later. He rejuvenated the program after that winless 2015 season, helping them to a bowl berth in 2016 and a perfect 13-0 record with a share of the national championship in 2017. With Josh Heupel now on board and a stacked roster for 2018, the 2015 season is a distant memory.
For previous Throwback Thursdays from Knight Sports Now, click here.
