Thursday, Sept. 3 • 6 p.m. • CBSSN
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL
at
UCF
Bright House Networks Stadium (43,323/Grass)
Orlando, Fla.
Television- CBS Sports Network
Live Stats
Dave Ryan, Corey Chavous and Lauren Gardner
UCF Radio - WYGM-AM 740 (flagship)
THE GAME
Thursday’s game will be the fourth meeting between UCF and Florida International … The Knights hold a 2-1 series lead after a 38-0 win in Miami in 2013 … UCF got three touchdown runs from RB Storm Johnson, while QB Blake Bortles had rushing and passing TDs … UCF looks for its eighth straight win in a home-opener.
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL
0-0
Head Coach
Ron Turner (Pacific ’77)
5-19, third season at Florida International
47-80, 12th season as collegiate head coach
NOTES
Florida International returns 49 letterwinners and 17 starters from last year’s team, which finished 4-8 overall and 3-5 in Conference USA … Four of the eight losses were by a combined 12 points, including two in which FIU had the lead or was tied in the final two minutes … The Panthers look to reach the postseason for the first time since 2011 … Florida International opens the 2015 season with four road games in its first five contests … The only home game in September is a Sept. 19 matchup against North Carolina Central … Six of the first nine games will be on the road for the Panthers … QB Alex McGlough returns after he threw for 1,680 yards and 14 touchdowns with 10 interceptions last season … RB Anthon Samuel and RB Alex Gardner both finished with exactly 582 rushing yards a year ago … Samuel led the team with five rushing touchdowns … WR Jonnu Smith is the top deep threat after he registered 61 receptions for 710 yards and eight TDs in 2014 … The defense is led by DE Mike Wakefield, who had eight sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss last season … CB Richard Leonard had five interceptions.
UCF
0-0
Head Coach
George O’Leary (New Hampshire ’69)
81-60, 12th season at UCF
133-93, 20th season as collegiate head coach
NOTES
UCF went 9-4 overall and was 7-1 in the American Athletic Conference last season as the Knights registered their third straight winning season … UCF improved to 15-1 all-time in American Athletic Conference play … The Knights are a combined 31-9 in the last three seasons and 47-19 in the last five years … UCF had nine players named to The American’s all-conference teams last season, but only two of those players are back on the roster for 2015 … RB William Stanback was a first-team selection after he rushed for 697 yards and 10 touchdowns in an injury-shortened season … DE Thomas Niles was a second-team pick after he had 7.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss last year … QB Justin Holman took over as the starter last season and completed 223 of 392 passes for 2,952 yards and 23 touchdowns with 14 interceptions … The Knights lost their top four receivers from last year, leaving WR Jordan Akins (12 rec., 135 yards) as the top returner … The defense will be without the top five leading tacklers from last year as well as CB Jacoby Glenn, who was The American’s Defensive Player of the Year … Three of the four returning starters on defense are on the defensive line.