2014 record 9–4 (7–1 The American) | ||
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Defensive coordinator Tyson Summers (1st year) | ||
The 2014 UCF Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Knights were members of the American Athletic Conference (The American), and played their home games at Bright House Networks Stadium on UCF's main campus in Orlando, Florida. The Knights were led by head coach George O'Leary, who was in his eleventh season with the team.
Contents
- Schedule
- Conference awards
- All American Teams
- All Conference Teams
- American offensive player of the week
- American defensive player of the week
- American special teams player of the week
- School records
- Offseason
- NFL Draft
- References
The 2014 season was UCF's second as a member of The American. UCF set a program mark with its first undefeated home record since moving into Bright House Networks Stadium in 2007. On November 1, Connecticut snapped UCF's 11-game undefeated conference winning streak. The Knights were 8–0 in American Athletic Conference play in 2013, and won their first three conference games in 2014 to sit at 11–0 up to that point.
After a last-second loss to Penn State in the Croke Park Classic on opening day, the Knights lost to Missouri, eventual winners of the Southeastern Conference's Eastern Division. The Knights won nine of their next ten games, and became bowl eligible in mid-November. UCF clinched a share of the conference title on December 4 by virtue of a 51-yard Hail Mary touchdown as time expired at East Carolina. Over two years, UCF is 15-1 in American Conference play. The Knights finished the regular season unranked, but received votes in both the AP and Coaches polls. They finished their season against NC State in the St. Petersburg Bowl, where they lost 34–27.
Schedule
The 2014 schedule was officially released by The American on February 12, 2014. The 2014 schedule was developed as a "bridge" schedule, until a permanent system was developed by the conference to address expanded membership and the creation of divisions by 2015. UCF faced eight conference opponents: Connecticut, East Carolina, Houston, SMU, South Florida, Temple, Tulane, and Tulsa.
The Knights played four non-conference games: Penn State (Big Ten), Missouri (SEC), Bethune-Cookman (FCS), and BYU (IND). UCF had three bye weeks in the 2014 season: their first during week two, before facing Missouri, the second during week five, before facing Houston, and the third during week nine, before facing Tulsa. UCF's opener in Dublin, Ireland marked the first time that the team played outside the United States.
Conference awards
All-American Teams
Each year several publications release lists of their ideal "team". The athletes on these lists are referred to as All-Americans. The NCAA recognizes five All-American lists. They are the Associated Press (AP), American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Sporting News (TSN), and the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WCFF).
All-Conference Teams
American offensive player of the week
American defensive player of the week
American special teams player of the week
School records
Offseason
On January 11, 2015, wide receiver Breshad Perriman announced he would enter the NFL Draft after his junior year. He would be followed by Jacoby Glenn on January 13.
NFL Draft
Two former players were selected in the 2015 NFL Draft:
This was the first time in program history that a Knight was picked in the first round in two consecutive years.
Additionally, one player signed as an undrafted free agent: