CollegeFootballDigestfrom CooperSearch

1997 UCF

5–⁠6, coached by Gene McDowell.

Schedule and results

UCF in 1997, game by game: lost at Ole Miss 23–24; lost at South Carolina 31–33; lost at No. 6 Nebraska 24–38; won vs. Idaho 41–10; lost at No. 8 Auburn 14–41; won at Kent State 59–43; won vs. Samford 52–7; lost at Mississippi State 28–35; lost at UL Monroe 41–45; won vs. Eastern Michigan 27–10; won vs. Toledo 34–17+45−27Lost 23–24 at Ole Miss-1Ole MissLost 31–33 at South Carolina-2South CarolinaLost 24–38 at No. 6 Nebraska-14No. 6 NebraskaWon 41–10 vs. Idaho+31IdahoLost 14–41 at No. 8 Auburn-27No. 8 AuburnWon 59–43 at Kent State+16Kent StateWon 52–7 vs. Samford+45SamfordLost 28–35 at Mississippi State-7Mississippi Sta…Lost 41–45 at UL Monroe-4UL MonroeWon 27–10 vs. Eastern Michigan+17Eastern MichiganWon 34–17 vs. Toledo+17Toledo
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below.
DateOpponentResultElo
Aug 30atOle MissL 23–⁠2437%
Sep 6atSouth CarolinaL 31–⁠3329%
Sep 13at6NebraskaL 24–⁠3810%
Sep 20vsIdahoW 41–⁠1051%
Sep 27at8AuburnL 14–⁠4119%
Oct 4atKent StateW 59–⁠4365%
Oct 11vsSamfordW 52–⁠782%
Oct 25atMississippi StateL 28–⁠3538%
Nov 1atUL MonroeL 41–⁠4556%
Nov 15vsEastern MichiganW 27–⁠1062%
Nov 22vsToledoW 34–⁠1739%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Beat Toledo 34–⁠17; unranked in the final AP poll.

In program history: The 19th-best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 40 on file).

Record
5–⁠6
Conference
—
AP final
Unranked
Points
374–⁠303
Coach
Gene McDowell
Elo
1486 +63 this season
SP+ rating
10.5 No. 37 of 112; offense No. 12, defense No. 74
SRS
5.7 No. 39 of 112 in Division I-A
Recruiting class
—
Offensive coordinator
Mike Kruczek
Defensive coordinator
Brian VanGorder