It's Official: UCF is a Power 5 Program and It's Time to Rejoice
UCF is Finally Part of the Big Boys Club and What a Journey it Has Been
July 1, 2023.
A day that will forever be remembered in UCF Athletics history.
It is the day that UCF officially became a member of the Big 12 Conference. The day they officially became a Power 5 program.
Becoming a Power 5 program is something UCF has longed for; it’s what the program has strived for; it’s a reward for all the hard work, investment and dedication the program has being doing for the past 30 years.
This has been a long time coming and it’s been one hell of a journey.
Humble Beginnings
It all started in 1979, UCF’s inaugural season for football. The Knights were a Division 3 school then.
By 1982, UCF made its first jump, moving to Division II football.
By 1990, UCF made another jump, finally making it to Division I, as a Division I-AA team.
By 1996, UCF became an independent program but as a member of Division 1-A Football.
Then in 2002, UCF got its first big break, playing its much-anticipated first season as a football-only member of the Mid-American Conference. They spent 3 years in the MAC, before accepting an invitation to join Conference USA.
George O’Leary Era
Everything changed in 2004 when UCF caught another break.
Former Georgia Tech coach George O’Leary was fresh off being caught for lying on his resume, temporarily ending his college coaching career and forcing him to take a job in the NFL as a defensive coordinator for the Vikings.
But in 2004, he was named UCF’s head football coach.
And that’s when UCF turned from small time program to the “sleeping giant” in college football.
From 2004 to 2015, O’Leary navigated UCF through several key milestones and ultimately laid the foundation for the Knights to get to where they are today.
Under O’Leary, UCF was certainly up and down, but he elevated the program to new heights:
UCF’s first conference championship (C-USA)
UCF’s first 10-win season
UCF’s first national top 25 ranking
UCF’s first bowl game appearance
UCF’s first bowl game victory
UCF’s 1st BCS Bowl victory
These accomplishments ultimately set the foundation for UCF’s future success and strengthened their brand in order to get the Power 5 invite.
While O’Leary’s tenure would end on a sour note, with the longtime coach being unceremoniously fired after an 0-8 start in 2015, there is no doubt that GOL was instrumental in building the UCF Football program and he arguably is the most important figure in program history.
American Athletic Conference Era
UCF’s next big jump came when they received an invite to the Big East in 2013, which would have put them in a BCS Conference.
Unfortunately, the conference folded before UCF could join, which led to the formation of a new conference, the American Athletic Conference.
In it’s inaugural year, the AAC was a BCS Conference, giving the Knights one year to capitalize on a BCS Bowl.
And that’s exactly what they did.
The Knights stormed through their conference slate, going undefeated in league play, while going 12-1 overall, which allowed them to get their first ever big bowl game invite, a Fiesta Bowl matchup vs. Baylor.
As we all know, the Knights defeated Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl, which at the time was UCF’s best season in school history and the first of several major accomplishments that put them on the map nationally.
From there, you know how the story goes.
UCF would rebound from its notorious winless 2015 season and go on a historic 25-game winning streak in 2017-18, including an undefeated season, a Peach Bowl victory over Auburn and a national title claim.
Since 2017, UCF has gone 59-17, bolstered their resume with 2 New Year’s 6 Bowl Appearances, 2 conference championships, major wins over Auburn and other P5 Schools, multiple top 25 rankings, and ultimately become a well known program on the national scale in college football.
The Power 5
Everything stated above led UCF to this moment where we sit today.
They are officially a Power 5 program. They will have the exposure, TV contracts, revenue and most importantly, the access, to compete at the highest level of college football.
All of the crap UCF dealt with in 2017-18 when the Playoff Committee refused to let them play in the playoffs despite an unblemished record, all of the national title jokes, all of the opposing fan base hatred, all the media overlooking them was worth it and led them to this moment.
Now, UCF can officially play for the sport’s top prize and is finally on equal footing with the top programs. UCF has always done more with less and all that hard work and success paid off.
What It Means to Me
Like you guys know, I’ve been a fan of UCF Football since I first stepped foot onto campus in 2007. My first ever UCF Football experience was the team’s first game at their on-campus stadium against Texas.
That game was a raucous sold out crowd that nearly saw UCF pull of a historic upset against then #5 Texas.
Since that day, I’ve become a diehard fan and will be a lifelong fan. UCF Football has become such a major part of my life. It truly is a passion for me.
It caused me to start my Instagram page that you guys all follow as well as my UCF podcast, this blog, a Twitter and Bunches account all with the purpose of discussing our beloved Knights.
So to see where we started back in 2007 to where we are now 16 years later, is absolutely amazing and can’t be described in words.
I always say this, but it’s just so cool how all of us fans have been and get to continue witness UCF’s rise to prominence in real time. We are witnessing them make history.
Think about all the firsts we got to see. We witnessed UCF’s first ever bowl win, first ever top 25 ranking, first conference championship, first major bowl victory, first undefeated season, first top 10 ranking, and its jump to the Power 5.
How many other fans can say they saw that in their lifetime?
Now, we get to watch as our Knights march into their first season of the Big 12, filled with new excitement, new hope and a new journey. One that can lead to more firsts, like a playoff appearance and national championship.
As I reflect on UCF’s journey over the years, it fills me with emotion and joy that a school I love and care about so much, my alma mater, has made to the pinnacle of the greatest sport on earth.
Now, it’s time to continue making history and we will get to witness it first hand in real time!
Go Knights Charge ON!
best college team in Florida, excited to see the Bounce House rockin all season!