The 2022 UCF Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida (UCF) during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Knights were led by second-year head coach Gus Malzahn and played their home games at the newly named FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, Florida. They competed as members of the American Athletic Conference.

In September 2021, UCF and fellow AAC members Cincinnati and Houston accepted bids to join the Big 12. The schools were contractually required to remain with the AAC until 2024, however, indications were that all parties involved preferred to leave in 2023. In June 2022 they reached a deal to depart the conference in 2023, thus the 2022 season became the program's last season as a member of the AAC. UCF finished their tenure in AAC (2013–2022) with a record 59 intra-conference game victories, including two wins in the AAC Championship Game.

The Knights finished the regular season with a record of 9–3 (6–2 in AAC) to finish second in the conference. Following their victory on October 29 against then-No. 20 Cincinnati, the Knights became bowl-eligible for the seventh consecutive season, and were ranked for the first time since 2020. Two weeks later, they defeated then-No. 17 Tulane. After a last-second victory against rival South Florida, UCF secured a berth in the AAC Championship Game, a rematch at Tulane. The Knights lost to the Green Wave 45–28, and failed to win what would have been their fifth AAC championship in what was also their final conference game in the AAC. The Knights were invited to the Military Bowl to face Duke, their seventh straight bowl appearance, and 12th in the last 14 seasons.

Schedule The Knights were scheduled to play seven home games (South Carolina State, Louisville, Georgia Tech, SMU, Temple, Cincinnati, Navy) and five away games (FAU, ECU, Memphis, Tulane, South Florida) in 2022. The official schedule was released February 17. The rivalry game, played Thanksgiving weekend, at South Florida was played on Saturday November 26, the first time since 2016 that the rivalry game was held on Saturday instead of Black Friday. The Knights advanced to the AAC Championship Game, which was scheduled for and held Saturday December 3.

Rankings

Preseason

On May 31, 2022, FBC Mortgage entered a ten-year, $19.5 million deal with UCF for the naming rights of UCF's football stadium beginning July 1, 2022. UCF's home stadium, which opened in 2007, was previously known as the Bounce House, Spectrum Stadium, and Bright House Networks Stadium.

Dillon Gabriel, who started at quarterback for the Knights in 2019–2020, and led UCF to a win in the 2019 Gasparilla Bowl, suffered a season-ending broken clavicle at Louisville in the third week of 2021. Gabriel would not play another down for the Knights, and by season's end, elected to enter the NCAA transfer portal, eventually opting to play at Oklahoma.

Ole Miss quarterback John Rhys Plumlee announced his transfer to UCF on January 9, 2022. Plumlee and returning starter Mikey Keene were expected to compete for the quarterback position.

Players that entered the NCAA transfer portal, and UCF's 2022 recruits are as follows:

Spring game

The 2022 UCF Spring exhibition game was held Saturday April 16 at the Bounce House. The team was split into two squads for gameplay, the Black squad and the Gold squad. Sophomore quarterback Mikey Keene threw three touchdown passes, and transfer quarterback John Rhys Plumlee threw four. The two combined for 471 passing yards, with wide receiver Jaylon Robinson making three catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns. Johnny Richardson led the rushing with 108 yards on nine carries. On the defensive side, Jaiden Francois highlighted with an 80-yard interception return. The Gold squad defeated the Black squad 38–14.

Date Time Spring Game Site Result April 16 12:00pm Gold vs. Black Bounce House • Orlando, FL 38–14

Award watch lists A total of 19 players were named to the preseason All-AAC mention, and six players were named to the Senior Bowl watchlist.

Doak Walker Award Isaiah Bowser RB Sr. Johnny Richardson RB Jr. Fred Biletnikoff Award Ryan O'Keefe WR Sr. Rimington Trophy Matt Lee C Jr. John Mackey Award Kemore Gamble TE Sr. Jim Thorpe Award Davonte Brown CB Jr. Bronko Nagurski Trophy Divaad Wilson S Sr. Wuerffel Trophy Isaiah Bowser RB Sr. Outland Trophy Lokahi Pauole OG Sr. Ray Guy Award Andrew Osteen P Sr. Paul Hornung Award Ryan O'Keefe WR Sr. Patrick Mannelly Award Alex Ward LS Sr. Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Ryan O'Keefe WR Sr. Polynesian Football Player of the Year Award Lokahi Pauole OG Sr. Paul "Bear" Bryant Award Gus Malzahn HC — Broyles Award Travis Williams DC —Listed in the order that they were released

AAC preseason media poll The American Athletic Conference preseason media poll was released at AAC Media Day on July 28, 2022. Houston (the conference runner-up in 2021) edged defending conference champion Cincinnati by one vote, while UCF ranked third, garnering 7 first-place votes.

Training camp Fall training camp began on August 1. Team scrimmages were held August 7 and August 13. Isaiah Bowser, Josh Celiscar, Sam Jackson, Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, and receiver Ryan O'Keefe were voted team captains. Amari Johnson (foot) and Dallaz Corbitt (hand) suffered unspecified injuries.

On August 21, 2022, head coach Gus Malzahn named John Rhys Plumlee the starting quarterback for week 1.

Game summaries South Carolina State

Quarterback John Rhys Plumlee made his first start for the Knights, leading them to a 56–10 victory over South Carolina State (FCS) on opening night. Plumlee threw for 308 yards and four touchdown passes, and rushed for 86 yards and another touchdown. The Knights jumped out to a 28–0 lead, and won their season opener for the seventh straight year. Light rain and lighting in the area threatened to delay the game, but the kickoff was only pushed back by about five minutes.

The Knights took the opening kickoff and drove 70 yards in 9 plays. Plumee's 28-yard scramble set up a 12-yard touchdown pass to Javon Baker, giving UCF an early 7–0 lead. The Bulldogs converted a fake punt on 4th & 2, keeping their opening drive alive. Facing a 4th & 19 at their own 30, the Bulldogs appeared to be setting up another fake punt, but Tyler Smith kicked the ball after he was well beyond the line of scrimmage. The resulting penalty turned the ball over on downs. In one play, Plumlee found Kenmore Gamble for a diving 30-yard touchdown catch in the right side of the endzone. On the next drive, Corey Fields' pass was tipped and intercepted by Divaad Wilson, setting up UCF's third scoring drive. Plumlee connected with Ryan O'Keefe for a 45-yard gain, then faced a 4th & 5 at the Bulldogs 31 yard line, which they converted. On 1st & 10 at the 17 yard line, Plumlee rolled out to his left on a quarterback keeper, shook four defenders, and ran the ball in for his first rushing touchdown with the Knights.

Isaiah Bowser's 1-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter made the score 28–0. With 5:11 left in the first half, the Knights drove to the Bulldogs 12 yard line. Plumlee was sacked and fumbled. Defensive lineman Jeblonski Green Jr. scooped up the fumble at the 18 yard line, and appeared to be running the ball back the other way for a Bulldogs touchdown. A sprinting Ryan O'Keefe, however, chased Green down and tackled him two yards short of the endzone. Despite a 1st & Goal at the 2 yard line, the Bulldogs went three-and-out and settled for a field goal. The Knights led 28–3 at halftime.

The Knights offense went a little cold in the third quarter, and the special teams unit gave up a blocked punt that led to a Bulldogs touchdown. Johnny Richardson's 18-yard catch and run touchdown reignited the UCF offense, and they stretched out to a 35–10 lead. Isaiah Bowser's second rushing touchdown put the Knights up 42–10.

The fourth quarter saw Plumlee throw his fourth touchdown pass, this time to a wide open Zach Marsh-Wojan in the back corner of the endzone. With 12:18 left in the game, Quadric Bullard blocked Dyson Robert's punt near the 10 yard line, and recovered the ball in the endzone for another touchdown, and a 56–10 lead. The Bulldogs capped off their fourth quarter with a nearly 11-minute drive, but came up with no points. UCF started 1–0 overall (0–0 in the AAC) on the season, and won their 8th consecutive home game at FBC Mortgage Stadium.

Louisville

UCF took a 14–7 lead into halftime, but were shutout in the second half as Louisville defeated the Knights 20–14 on Friday night. Quarterback John Rhys Plumlee was held to only 16 completions for 131 yards and no touchdowns. The Knights were penalized 11 times for 111 yards, and two long touchdown passes were negated due to penalties.

Both teams scored touchdowns on their opening drive. Running back Isaiah Bowser long took a direct snap "wildcat" for a 2-yard touchdown early in the first quarter. The Knights then took a 14–7 lead after Bowser's second "wildcat" touchdown run. The Knights defense held the Cardinals scoreless in the second quarter. Louisville missed a field goal, fumbled away the ball, had two three-and-outs, and turned the ball over on downs. Daniel Obarski missed a field goal attempt just before halftime, and the Knights clung to a 7-point lead.

The Knights received the ball to start the third quarter, but punted on five straight drives. Late in the third quarter, Malik Cunningham's 43-yard quarterback run put the Cardinals ahead 20–14.

Late in the fourth quarter, the Knights defense stopped the Cardinals on a 4th & 4 near midfield. John Rhys Plumlee drove the Knights to the 5 yard line with 2:52 left in regulation. On 4th & Goal at the 5, Plumlee rolled out to his right, looking for Jaylon Griffin in the back of the endzone. Griffin and defender Jarvis Brownlee Jr. went up for the ball, and Brownlee came down with the interception.

UCF fell to 1–1 on the season, and snapped an eight-game winning streak at FBC Mortgage Stadium.

At Florida Atlantic

UCF overcame two first half red zone fumbles, and pulled away for a 40–14 win at FAU. Quarterback John Rhys Plumlee threw for 339 yards and one touchdown pass, and rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns – including a leaping run where he hurdled over defenders at the goal line. The Knights improved to 2–1 on the season.

The Owls received the opening kickoff, and drove 87 yards in 6 plays for the game's first touchdown. UCF answered with a 10-play, 59-yard drive to the FAU 23. But Johnny Richardson fumbled away the ball at the 9 yard line and drive came up empty. UCF forced a punt, and got the ball back at midfield. Plumlee's 7-yard quarterback keeper was just inside the pylon, and he got to the end zone untouched. The score was tied score at 7–7.

FAU took a 14–7 lead with 8 seconds left in the first quarter. The Owls drove 88 yards in 12 plays, and capped off the drive with a 4-yard pitch pass from N'Kosi Perry to LaJohntay Wester. UCF added a field goal, and the score was 14–10 in favor of the Owls.

With 9:41 left in the half, facing a 3rd & 2 at their own 12 yard line, Plumlee found a wide open Alec Holler for 64 yards down the Owls 24 yard line. Three plays later, facing a 2nd & Goal at the 5, Plumlee rolled out to his right, then sprinted towards the endzone. He hurdled two defenders, then was upended in mid-air. He flipped over and landed in the endzone for the spectacular go-ahead touchdown.

Trailing 16–14, the Owls again drove rather effortlessly into the red zone. However, N'Kosi Perry fumbled away the ball at the UCF 17, snuffing out the drive. The Knights then had an opportunity for another quick score before halftime. FAU was flagged 15 yards for a personal foul, then Johnny Richardson's 50-yard run advanced them to the FAU 10. Richardson, however, lost a fumble at the 5 yard line, and the drive came up empty. UCF led 16–14 at halftime.