War on I-4

War on I-4

Sport	Multiple
Teams	South Florida Bulls UCF Knights

The South Florida–UCF rivalry, officially known as the War on I–4, is a college rivalry between the University of Central Florida Knights and University of South Florida Bulls. The rivalry is best known for its college football matchup, and originated in a series of football games played from 2005–08. In 2013, when UCF joined the American Athletic Conference, the schools began competing annually in all sports, with the yearly football game played on Thanksgiving weekend. In 2016, the schools officially adopted the "War on I-4" as an official competition series. Each year, the team with the most wins across all sports receives an I–4 road sign trophy; the winner of the football game also receives a similar trophy.

Names

Starting when the schools first met on the gridiron in 2005, some writers dubbed the rivalry the "War on I–4". When the series resumed in 2013, administrators from both schools named it the "I–4 Corridor Clash". Both names refer to Interstate 4, an interstate highway that runs through both Orlando and Tampa in Central Florida. In 2016, when the schools announced the official competition, they formally adopted the "War on I-4" name.

Series history

Early plans

Discussions about scheduling a game between the Knights and Bulls began shortly after South Florida fielded its first NCAA Division I-AA team in 1997. Supporters suggested such a rivalry could help generate interest and revenue for both burgeoning teams. The prospect became more serious when the Bulls entered Division I-A in 2001 and was very popular among fans, but as it would be a non-conference series, difficulties arose. UCF had overbooked its future schedules and would have to break commitments. Meanwhile, South Florida officials worried that their young program stood to take in less revenue from a home-and-away series against UCF than it would with an additional home game on the schedule. Serious planning for a series did not commence until 2003.

First games (2005–2008)

By 2003, serious discussions resumed as both schools had joined conferences – South Florida joined Conference USA (C-USA) in 2001, while UCF joined the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in 2002. That year, the schools' athletics directors met and agreed to schedule games for the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Subsequently, South Florida joined the Big East, an Automatic Qualifying conference, in 2005, while UCF joined C-USA the same year. The Bulls won both games, which both drew crowds over 45,000. The series was extended for 2007 and 2008 as part of an agreement with C-USA that the Bulls play a member of the conference annually for five years. South Florida won these games as well, including a 64–12 blowout in 2007. South Florida declined to schedule further games in the series, indicating it wished to pursue more competitive and high profile opponents and teams from outside Florida.

The two schools discussed scheduling more games over the next several years, including a failed proposal by South Florida to play at the Citrus Bowl in 2011.

Renewed series (2013–present)

Conference realignment shed new light on the rivalry in 2011, when UCF was admitted to the Big East Conference (later realigned as the American Athletic Conference). For the first time, both schools were part of the same conference, and the rivalry resumed as a regular conference match beginning with the 2013 season. The games have been scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend. In 2013, UCF pulled off a late 23–20 win against the Bulls in Orlando to earn its first victory against South Florida. In May 2014, The American announced that as of the 2015 season, both schools will be a member of the East Division.

Official War on I-4 rivalry

On September 21, 2016, both schools announced the official recognition of the “War On I-4” rivalry series. The schools compete each school year in 14 sports for bragging rights, with each sports team's record counting equally toward a final tally for each program. The winner each year will take possession of a large trophy shaped like the iconic I-4 road sign, which will be displayed on their campus for the following year. The winner of the annual Thanksgiving weekend, football clash will also receive a similarly shaped “War On I-4” trophy.

The same night as the rivalry series was announced, the schools' volleyball teams went head to head, with UCF sweeping USF 3-0, giving UCF the first 3 points of the rivalry series.

Point system

Beginning on September 21, 2016, when the rivalry series was officially established, USF and UCF score their head-to-head competitions in 14 sports programs represented at both universities. Nine programs (football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, men’s tennis and women’s tennis) compete head-to-head during the regular season. The five programs that don’t compete directly against each other (cross country, golf, and track and field) determine their winner based on the best overall conference post-season performance of the teams. The performances of both athletic programs in the annual NCAA Graduation Success Rate will be used as a tiebreaker, if necessary. Points will be awarded per victory in sports with multiple meetings in a given season.

Football

Game results

Since 2005, the Bulls and Knights have played seven times. South Florida leads the series 5–2. The game has been played in two cities and three stadiums: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, and the Citrus Bowl and Bright House Networks Stadium in Orlando, Florida. South Florida leads the series in Tampa (2–1) and in Orlando (3–1).

South Florida victories

UCF victories

No.	Date	Location	Winner	Score	Attendance
1	September 17, 2005	Tampa, FL	South Florida	31–14	45,139
2	September 16, 2006	Orlando, FL	South Florida	24–17	46,708
3	October 6, 2007	Tampa, FL	South Florida	64–12	65,948
4	September 6, 2008	Orlando, FL	South Florida	31–24OT	46,805
5	November 29, 2013	Orlando, FL	UCF	23–20	45,952
6	November 28, 2014	Tampa, FL	UCF	16–0	36,963
7	November 26, 2015	Orlando, FL	South Florida	44–3	25,967
Series: South Florida leads 5–2

Game notes

2005

1 2 3 4 Total Golden Knights 0 0 7 7 14 • Bulls 7 14 7 3 31 Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL Game start: 7:00 p.m. Game attendance: 45,139 Television network: FSN

A crowd of 45,139, second-largest (until that time) in South Florida's relatively brief football history, watched the Bulls build a 21–0 halftime lead on the strength of a relentless running attack that finished with 326 yards. Andre Hall ran for 155 yards and scored two touchdowns Saturday night to help South Florida beat UCF 31–14.

UCF was held to 45 yards rushing and was shut out until Joe Burnett returned a third-quarter punt 60 yards to the South Florida 4, setting up Steven Moffett's touchdown run on the next play. Moffett also threw a 9-yard TD pass to Brandon Marshall late in the fourth quarter.

One play after Hall nearly scored on a 17-yard run, Pat Julmiste added South Florida's last TD on 1-yard quarterback sneak late in the third quarter. Kyle Bronson added a fourth-quarter field goal to make it 31–7.

2006

1 2 3 4 Total • Bulls 7 0 3 14 24 Golden Knights 0 10 0 7 17 Location: Orlando Citrus Bowl, Orlando, FL Game start: 2:30 p.m. Game attendance: 46,708 Television network: CBSSN

South Florida freshman quarterback Matt Grothe threw for 302 yards and ran for another 73, eclipsing Marquel Blackwell's 239-yard game against New Haven in 1999. Blackwell also had a 238-yard game that same year against Liberty. Meanwhile, Grothe now has the top three rushing games by a freshman quarterback in South Florida history, including his 73 yards. He had 82 rushing yards against Florida International and 58 in the season opener against McNeese State. Blackwell had held the record with 57 yards against Southwest Texas State in 1999.

2007

1 2 3 4 Total Knights 7 3 0 2 12 • #5 Bulls 12 17 14 21 64 Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL Game start: 12:00 p.m. Game attendance: 65,948 Television network: ESPNU

The Bulls defeated the cross-state Knights 64–12 in front of a home crowd announced at 65,948. The Bulls held the Knights to just 145 total yards and Kevin Smith, who came in as the nation's leading rusher at 172 yards per game, to just 55 yards in one half of play, the only time during the season that a defense held Smith to under 100 yards. South Florida gained 543 total yards—over three times as much as UCF—while holding the ball three fewer minutes than the Knights. UCF scored their only offensive points—a Kyle Israel rush for a touchdown, and a field goal—in the first half. UCF and South Florida would also exchange safeties.

2008

1 2 3 4 OT Total • #17 Bulls 10 0 14 0 7 31 Knights 7 3 0 14 0 24 Location: Bright House Networks Stadium, Orlando, FL Game start: 7:00 p.m. Game attendance: 46,805 Television network: ESPN2

In what was the final meeting of the War on I-4 for many years, the visiting Bulls downed the Knights 31–24 in a closely contested overtime battle. With UCF trailing 24-7 late in the 4th quarter, quarterback Michael Greco threw two touchdown passes in less than a minute, including passes of 13 yards to Corey Rabazinski and 31 yards to Rocky Ross, to tie the game at 24 with 1:40 remaining in regulation. South Florida won the game when they stopped UCF on a 4th and short in overtime.

2013

1 2 3 4 Total Bulls 3 3 7 7 20 • #17 Knights 3 10 3 7 23 Location: Bright House Networks Stadium, Orlando, FL Game start: 8:00 p.m. Game attendance: 45,952 Television network: ESPN

UCF debuted their black helmets for the first and only time for this matchup (worn with gold jerseys and black pants). Despite turning the ball over five times, the Knights found a way to earn their first victory in the I-4 Corridor Clash against South Florida. Running back Storm Johnson fumbled the ball on UCF's first two drives, including a drop at the Bulls 10 yard line. Trailing with under five minutes left in regulation, QB Blake Bortles found WR Breshad Perriman for a 52–yard go-ahead touchdown reception. With 1:20 left in the fourth quarter and charging down the field, South Florida quarterback Mike White was intercepted by CB Jordan Ozerities, and he returned the ball 52 yards to the Bulls 37 yard line. The Knights ran out the clock for the victory.

2014

1 2 3 4 Total • Knights 0 14 2 0 16 Bulls 0 0 0 0 0 Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL Game start: 12:00 p.m. Game attendance: 36,963 Television network: ESPN2

After a scoreless first quarter, Justin Holman led the Knights on a 17-play, 80 yard scoring drive to open the second quarter. The Knights held the Bulls offense to a three-and-out on the next series, which was followed by an 8-play, 73 yard scoring drive by UCF capped off by a 21-yard run from Rannell Hall. UCF held South Florida to 200 yards of total offense, 5 yards rushing, and forced three turnovers on downs. The Bulls missed a field goal and were not able to convert on three UCF turnovers.

2015

1 2 3 4 Total • Bulls 7 17 14 6 44 Knights 3 0 0 0 3 Location: Bright House Networks Stadium, Orlando, FL Game start: 7:30 p.m. Game attendance: 25,967 Television network: ESPN

After scoring a field goal on their first drive, the Knights were shut out by the Bulls defense. The Bulls held UCF to 203 yards of total offense and caught two interceptions. Scoring 44 unanswered points and gaining 455 offensive yards, South Florida handed UCF their twelfth loss of the season, guaranteeing their second winless campaign since 2004. For the first time since 1995, UCF wore black jerseys and black pants. USF, on the other hand, completed one of the biggest single-season turnarounds in college football history to finish 8-4 after a 1-3 start.