Evolution of UCF’s home football fields
Citrus Bowl (Currently Camping World Stadium)112-59-1 (65%)
In 1979, UCF kicked off its football program with a 7-6 win over Fort Benning, marking the start of a 28-year partnership with the Florida Citrus Bowl. That season, the Knights finished 6-2 as an NCAA Division III independent, including 4-0 at home.
Key moments during that stretch
1987: UCF hosted Troy State in the NCAA Division II Playoff semifinals with the Knights losing 31-10. It was the first postseason appearance for the program and it came in its fifth season since moving up to DII.
1995: Daunte Culpepper made his college debut, throwing for 254 yards and 3 touchdowns in leading UCF over No. 5 Eastern Kentucky, 40-32, in the season opener.
1996: UCF opens its first season in the Football Bowl Subdivision with a 39-33 home win over William & Mary. The Knights finish 5-6 with all of their wins coming at home.
1999: For the first time in program history, UCF hosted a top-25 team from the FBS when No. 22 Purdue traveled to Orlando to open the season. Quarterback Drew Brees led the Boilermakers to a 47-13 win over the Knights in front of 40,112.
2005: UCF captured the program’s first divisional crown, earning a chance to host the Conference USA Championship Game against Tulsa on Dec. 3. FBC Mortgage Stadium 77-26 (75%)
After nearly three decades of hosting games at the Citrus Bowl, UCF debuted Bright House Networks Stadium on Sept. 15, 2007. The Knights’ opened the venue against No. 6 Texas on national television with the Longhorns pulling out a 35-32 win in front of 45,622. Some key moments during that stretch 2007: UCF earned its first home win against Memphis on Sept. 22, a week after the Texas loss. The Knights would win six home games, including defeating Tulsa for the program’s first Conference USA title on Dec. 1.
2010: UCF claimed its second CUSA championship when the Knights hosted SMU in the title game on Dec. 4.
2013: UCF went undefeated in its first season in the American Athletic Conference, including a 5-1 record at the Bounce House. The Knights would cap a record-setting season with a conference title and a win over No. 6 Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl.
2014: The Knights claimed their second straight AAC title after going 6-0 at home.
2017: Mike Hughes’ 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the final minute helped lift UCF over rival USF, 49-42 in front of 47,129. Two weeks later, the Knights would outlast visiting Memphis in overtime, 62-55, to claim the AAC championship. 2018: UCF would extend its home winning streak to 15 straight with its 56-41 win over Memphis to claim its second straight AAC title.