1987 UCF Knights football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1987 UCF Knights football Independent 9–4 Gene McDowell 3rd Mike Kruczek 3rd Bruce Bennett 2nd Florida Citrus Bowl NCAA Division II Semifinal L Lost 10–31 vs. Troy State 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.http://ucfathletics.cstv.com/genrel/071007aab.html https://archive.today/20130120043726/http://ucfathletics.cstv.com/genrel/071007aab.html dead 2013-01-20 University of Central Florida Athletics Association UCF Develops Winning Ways: Part 4 of 8 – The History of UCF Football 2007-07-10 2011-12-24 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.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110646750/ UCF pressured to prove it's a hot ticket The Orlando Sentinel 33 Gary Silvers Newspapers.com November 28, 1987 October 3, 2022 Schedule thumb|The Florida Citrus Bowl, the Knights' home field 1987 NCAA Division II NCAA Division II Football Committee Eastern September 5 w 10 Bethune–Cookman Florida Citrus Bowl Orlando, FL 17–9 9,768 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-central-florida-tops-bet/154888843/ St. Petersburg Times Central Florida tops Bethune September 6, 1987 September 8, 2024 Newspapers.com September 19 w 5 1987 Elon Fightin' Christians Elon Florida Citrus Bowl Orlando, FL 34–10 11,752 September 26 l 2 Eastern Kentucky Florida Citrus Bowl Orlando, FL 16–23 15,197 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-e-kentucky-runs-past-c/143970731/ The Miami Herald E. Kentucky runs past C. Florida September 27, 1987 March 23, 2024 Newspapers.com October 3 l y 8 Georgia Southern 13 (I-AA) Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 32–34 15,540 https://www.newspapers.com/article/florida-today-ucf-throws-away-chance-at/160530639/ Florida Today UCF throws away chance at victory October 4, 1987 December 8, 2024 Newspapers.com October 10 w 1987 Savannah State Tigers Savannah State Florida Citrus Bowl Orlando, FL 36–26 10,743 October 17 w 17 1987 West Georgia Braves West Georgia Florida Citrus Bowl Orlando, FL 52–14 10,029 October 24 w 13 1987 Northwest Missouri State Bearcats Northwest Missouri State Florida Citrus Bowl Orlando, FL 45–3 15,208 October 31 w 11 Grand Valley State Florida Citrus Bowl Orlando, FL 67–3 7,552 November 7 w 7 Liberty Florida Citrus Bowl Orlando, FL 42–21 11,081 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-ucf-still-on-track/144523289/ The Orlando Sentinel UCF still on track for playoff bid November 8, 1987 March 31, 2024 Newspapers.com November 14 l y 5 Florida A&M Bragg Memorial Stadium Tallahassee, FL 14–19 4,803 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-famu-spoils-ucfs-h/160490604/ FAMU spoils UCF's hopes for playoff bid The Orlando Sentinel November 15, 1987 December 7, 2024 Newspapers.com November 21 w 11 1987 Morningside Mustangs Morningside Florida Citrus Bowl Orlando, FL 24–7 10,112 November 28 w 11 1987 IUP Crimson Hawks IUP 6 Florida Citrus Bowl Orlando, FL NCAA Division II First Round 12–10 15,043 December 5 l 11 Troy State 4 Florida Citrus Bowl Orlando, FL NCAA Division II Semifinal 10–31 14,327 https://www.newspapers.com/article/florida-today-turk-ford-duel-one-more-t/177182579/ Florida Today Turk, Ford duel one more time December 6, 1987 July 21, 2025 Newspapers.com Final 1987 Division II Cumulative Football Statistics Report (UCF) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/128/stats/12717 National Collegiate Athletic Association June 12, 2023 References UCF Category:UCF Knights football seasons UCF Knights football