Heading into this game, both teams knew the impact it could have on their university and The War On I-4 series.

It was the explosive Knights offense drilling 21 points into USF the first quarter. It was the one-man-team Quinton Flowers overpowering UCF to lead 36-28 in the fourth quarter. And a scoring volley with a screen pass to Ottis Anderson, 82-yard touchdown pass from Flowers to a wide open receiver, and explosive 95-yard kickoff return from Mike Hughes to win the game – all in 53 seconds.

At stake for the Knights was an undefeated regular season, an AAC Division title, next week’s conference championship, a potential New Year’s Six Bowl, and The War On I-4 trophy. UCF is the only team in history to go from a winless season to an undefeated season in just two years.

Friday night’s outcome means the Bulls still haven’t claimed any significant tangible achievements. No conference championship, no division championship, no undefeated season.

An electric Spectrum Stadium sellout crowd accounted for the fifth biggest crowd in UCF football history and, from the ground, it was clear to see that none of those fans left as the final points were scored with a minute to go in the fourth.

Knights fans will be riding high on this win for years to come as ABC nationally broadcasted “the best game in college football this year.”

Game story:

Undefeated UCF Survives 605 Yard Performance from Quinton Flowers to Win Battle in War on I4, 49-42