1987 UCF Knights football team

1987 UCF Knights football
ConferenceIndependent
Record9–4
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorMike Kruczek (3rd season)
Defensive coordinatorBruce Bennett (2nd season)
Home stadiumFlorida Citrus Bowl
Seasons
← 1986
1988 →
1987 NCAA Division II independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 16 New Haven     8 2 0
Saint Mary's     8 3 0
No. 11 UCF ^     9 4 0
Springfield     5 3 1
Central Connecticut     4 4 1
American International     3 5 2
Liberty     3 7 0
Kentucky State     2 8 1
Michigan Tech     2 7 0
Southern Connecticut State     1 9 0
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from NCAA Division II Football Committee poll

The 1987 UCF Knights football season was the ninth for the team. It was the third season for Gene McDowell as the head coach of the Knights. After posting an 8–3 regular season record in 1987, the Knights earned their first trip to the Division II playoffs, where they earned a 1–1 record, falling in the Semifinals.[1]

The Knights competed as an NCAA Division II Independent. The team played their home games at the Citrus Bowl in Downtown Orlando. The Knights finished undefeated (7–0) against Division II opponents during the regular season. Their only losses during the regular season came to Division I-AA opponents, two of which were I-AA playoff teams. The Knights strength of schedule (the toughest in Division II), helped qualify them for the playoff bracket.[2]

  1. ^ "UCF Develops Winning Ways: Part 4 of 8 – The History of UCF Football". University of Central Florida Athletics Association. July 10, 2007. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
  2. ^ Silvers, Gary (November 28, 1987). "UCF pressured to prove it's a hot ticket". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 33. Retrieved October 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon