UCF announces 2014 football schedule

ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) — The reigning 2013 American Athletic Conference champion UCF Knights have announced their 2014 schedule, which kicks off with the Croke Park Classic against Penn State Aug. 30 in Dublin, Ireland.

Two of the biggest weekends on the UCF campus are already set, as Family Weekend will take place Sept. 20 against Bethune-Cookman, and the annual Homecoming game is slated for Oct. 25 vs. Temple.

UCF will have six games at Bright House Networks Stadium, starting up with the clash against 2013 MEAC champion Bethune-Cookman. The two schools met every season from 1981-95, with the Knights taking on the Wildcats more than any other opponent in school history (15 times).

The Knights also host BYU in an ESPN Thursday night tussle Oct. 9. The Cougars went 8-5 last year and advanced to the Fight Hunger Bowl. It will be the second straight season the Black and Gold will welcome ESPN to town for a nationally-televised Thursday matchup (UCF defeated Rutgers, 41-17, a year ago).

On the road in non-conference play, UCF travels to Missouri, which closed out 2013 with a 12-2 record and ranked No. 5 in the country following a 41-31 win over Oklahoma State in the AT&T Cotton Bowl.

Former Conference USA members East Carolina, Tulane and Tulsa will join The American, and the Knights will battle all three in 2014. Meanwhile, the I-4 rivalry once again will be held Thanksgiving weekend as UCF and USF will get together in Tampa Friday, Nov. 28.

For the second consecutive year, UCF will not play Cincinnati in conference play, and also will not take on Memphis.

So far, UCF is slated to have six games air on national television, with more announcements to take place during the year. The Knights’ had 11 contests last season, as well as 12 games in 2012, air on national TV.

2014 UCF Football Schedule

Saturday, Aug. 30 – vs. Penn State – Dublin, Ireland (ESPN2) – 8:30 a.m. ET

Saturday, Sept. 6 - BYE

Saturday, Sept. 13 – at Missouri

Saturday, Sept. 20 – Bethune-Cookman – Family Weekend

Saturday, Sept. 27 - BYE

Thursday, Oct. 2 – at Houston* (ESPN)

Thursday, Oct. 9 – BYU (ESPN)

Saturday, Oct. 18 – Tulane*

Saturday, Oct. 25 – Temple* - Homecoming

Saturday, Nov. 1 – at UConn*

Saturday, Nov. 8 - BYE

Friday, Nov. 14 – Tulsa* (ESPN2)

Saturday, Nov. 22 – SMU*

Friday, Nov. 28 – at USF* (National Network TBD)

Thursday, Dec. 4 – at East Carolina* (ESPN)

*American Athletic Conference game

Dates and times subject to change

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