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]

Schedule

The Florida Citrus Bowl, the Knights' home field
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendance
September 5Bethune–CookmanNo. 10
W 17–99,768
September 19ElonNo. 5
  • Florida Citrus Bowl
  • Orlando, FL
W 34–1011,752
September 26Eastern KentuckyNo. 2
  • Florida Citrus Bowl
  • Orlando, FL
L 16–2315,197
October 3at No. 13 (I-AA) Georgia SouthernNo. 8
L 32–3415,540
October 10Savannah State
  • Florida Citrus Bowl
  • Orlando, FL
W 36–2610,743
October 17West GeorgiaNo. 17
  • Florida Citrus Bowl
  • Orlando, FL
W 52–1410,029
October 24Northwest Missouri StateNo. 13
  • Florida Citrus Bowl
  • Orlando, FL
W 45–315,208
October 31Grand Valley StateNo. 11
  • Florida Citrus Bowl
  • Orlando, FL
W 67–37,552
November 7LibertyNo. 7
  • Florida Citrus Bowl
  • Orlando, FL
W 42–2111,081
November 14at Florida A&MNo. 5
L 14–194,803
November 21MorningsideNo. 11
  • Florida Citrus Bowl
  • Orlando, FL
W 24–710,112
November 28No. 6 IUPNo. 11
W 12–1015,043
December 5No. 4 Troy StateNo. 11
  • Florida Citrus Bowl
  • Orlando, FL (NCAA Division II Semifinal)
L 10–3114,327

[3]

References

  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
  3. ^ "Final 1987 Division II Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
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