The War on I-4 (college football)

The War on I-4 was the name given to the annual intercollegiate American football game between the University of South Florida Bulls and the University of Central Florida Knights that started in 2005. The name is derived from the fact that both universities are located near I-4 and are separated by less than 80 miles. All four of the games were won by USF. The future of the game is in doubt because USF has not expressed interest in renewing the game after the deal expires after the 2008 game.

Previous results

"USF victories are shaded green. UCF victories shaded in gold."

2005

Andre Hall ran for 155 yards and scored two touchdowns Saturday night to help South Florida beat Central Florida 31-14.

A crowd of 45,139, second-largest (until that time) in South Florida's relatively brief football history, watched the Bulls build a 21-0 halftime lead on the strength of a relentless running attack that finished with 326 yards.

UCF was held to 45 yards rushing and was shut out until Joe Burnett returned a third-quarter punt 60 yards to the South Florida 4, setting up Steven Moffett's touchdown run on the next play.

Moffett also threw a 9-yard TD pass to Brandon Marshall late in the fourth quarter.

One play after Hall nearly scored on a 17-yard run, Pat Julmiste added South Florida's last TD on 1-yard quarterback sneak late in the third quarter. Kyle Bronson added a fourth-quarter field goal to make it 31-7.

2006

In what may be the final meeting of the War on I-4, the Knights gave their greatest performance against the South Florida Bulls. After being humiliated by USF the year before (losing 64-12), the Knights wanted to end the four-year series with their first and only victory against the Bulls. And in the final seconds, the Knights came very close.

One unique aspect of this game is the number of penalties that were called against UCF. While there was a fair share of personal fouls called, there were many penalties thought to be bad calls by UCF coach George O'Leary. He expressed his disgust with the Big East officiating crew by asking the Big East to review the tapes of the officiating. In total, the Knights received 12 penalties that resulted in a loss of 148 yards. The Bulls received 7 penalties for a loss of 58 yards.

In the last 2 minutes of the fourth quarter, UCF's offense rallied to score 2 touchdowns and tie the game at 24. The Bulls then attempted to win the game with a long field goal (about 42 yards). However, the ball missed the uprights and the game was sent into overtime for the first time in the history of the series.

In overtime, USF got possession of the ball first and scored a touchdown. To continue the game, UCF would need to score another touchdown. After three plays, UCF needed only one yard to get a first down at the 15 yard line, but a false start penalty would increase the necessary to distance to 6 yards on a fourth down. In a dramatic finish (to the game and the series), the USF defense kept the Knights offense from gaining the necessary 6 yards by stopping the ball carrier mere inches from the first down marker.