The War On I-4 Between UCF, USF About To Pause

Inside UCF’s postgame media room following the Knights’ win over SMU on October 5, the detachable highway sign portion of the War on I-4 trophy was spotted just off the stage from which coach Gus Malzahn and players spoke.

It was as though the highway sign was used as a prop in a play, and then cast aside before the cleanup crew came by to put it in its proper place.

The trophy goes the winner of UCF and USF, separated by about 100 miles. The teams will meet Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, and the hardware will presumably arrive intact.

The Knights, though, will be playing for much more than a trophy. They will be playing for a spot in the American Athletic Conference championship game. Last week’s loss to Navy meant the Knights, No. 22 in the CFP, need to win in order to play at the winner of Friday’s game between Cincinnati and Tulane. A loss would send them home until their bowl game.

As for the War on I-4 trophy, which includes a 160-pound base? Well, all signs are pointing to the Big 12 for the Knights.

Because UCF (as well Cincinnati and Houston) is leaving the American after this season, the series between the schools will come to halt, at least for a period of time. Any future meetings will likely not take place before 2028 as the Bulls’ non-conference schedules have been determined through 2027.

When it comes to series history, well, there is not much of one between the schools. In fact, the trophy itself has been presented only since 2016. Saturday night will be the 10^th consecutive year UCF and USF will have met, each of those meetings as members of the American, which was established in 2013. It will be the 14^th meeting overall with the Knights holding a 7-6 edge, thanks to winning the last five encounters.

There have been a few entertaining games, for sure. At the top of the list was the 2017 thrill-a-minute affair in Orlando when the No. 13 Knights, who enjoyed a 13-0 season, got past the No. 22 Bulls, 49-42. The teams combined for 1,186 yards, though it was a 95-yard kick return by Mike Hughes with 1:28 remaining that was the difference.

There was no such electricity in 2018 when the energy was snuffed out of Raymond James Stadium. Green and gold and black and gold came together as one after UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton suffered a horrific leg injury. Through his will and determination, Milton returned to the gridiron with Florida State last season. He is currently a member of UCF’s radio broadcast crew.

Last year’s game in Orlando was a nail-biter that came down to the final play. The Knights held on, 17-13, against a two-win USF team. Hence, even though the Bulls are 1-10 this season and have only one win in their last 33 games against FBS opponents – you read that correctly – nobody on the eastern side of the about-to-go-on-hiatus series is taking anything for granted.

“We’re not overlooking them, especially with what happened last year and they were in a similar situation,” said Malzahn, in his second season at UCF. “We’re going to get their best. We’re going to give our best. We’ll put the ball down and see what happens.”

The outcome will be decided by many players on both sides of the divide who know each other pretty well.

“The majority of both rosters are comprised of Florida kids,” said USF interim coach Daniel Da Prato. “A lot of these kids played with each other, played against each other and have known each other the majority of their life.”

Anthony Montalvo is one of them. The Tampa native made his way along I-4 and arrived at UCF in 2017 when the Knights won their first of two straight conference titles. He and his fellow seniors want to go out with another title. Hence, business needs to be taken care of.

“We have to win,” he said following the Navy loss. “I talk to all of the seniors who won a conference championship. In 2017, coming in, we had that conference championship, and we want to end the same way. We have to have a sense of urgency now.”

North Carolina native Byrum Brown is an exception when it comes to the mix of Florida natives who played with and against one another as youths. USF’s true freshman quarterback, who made his first career start at Tulsa last Friday night and completed his first 21 passes, got a feel for the rivalry when former UCF offensive lineman and Clearwater native Mike Lofton transferred to USF and was introduced to the team last winter.

“When he first got here, coach introduced him and said he is from the ‘team up the street,’” said Brown, referring to former coach Jeff Scott. “So, I knew it had to be a big rivalry if he wouldn’t mention the name.”

The Knights have 25 seniors who were recognized before the Navy game. They have at least one game remaining after Saturday, and possibly two. Not so for the Bulls’ 17 seniors, whose collegiate careers will end. Linebacker Dwayne Boyles will play his school-record 54^th and final game.

“Just trying to lead my guys to a win, to bring home the I-4 Trophy,” he said, when asked about his college career coming to a close. “Once the game ends Saturday, it will definitely hit me.”

And I-4 will be the road less traveled.