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Is This The Final Battle in the War on I-4?

This weekend’s series in Baseball and Softball are the final scheduled conference games between UCF and USF

By Eric Lopez
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The AAC East title is up for grabs this Friday in what is the biggest War on I-4 ever.
The AAC East title is up for grabs this Friday in what is the biggest War on I-4 ever.

This weekend marks the last scheduled games between the UCF Knights and South Florida Bulls as co-members of The American. UCF Baseball will be in Tampa while Softball hosts the Bulls in a series that has significant NCAA Tournament ramifications.

Now, these teams could play again in the conference tournaments in May, but as far as the regular season is concerned, this weekend is it. The question now is which sports will continue the War on I-4 when UCF moves to the Big 12, and which will not? While some may think all sports should play, I personally do not agree with that — In fact, I make the case why they should not, and you can vote on each sport to see if we disagree.

Let’s break down each team sport and the chances that the rivalry will continue or not. Remember that Golf, Cross Country and Track are individual sports so we don’t count them here.

Volleyball

USF at UCF Volleyball 2022
Noah Goldberg

UCF has not lost to USF in volleyball since joining The American! As a result, the Knights have been hurt more than helped, as USF’s struggles have led to bad RPI matches for UCF. Honestly, UCF has better rivalries with Miami and Florida State.

Eric’s verdict: NO

Poll

Should UCF continue to play USF in Volleyball?

This poll is closed

  • 31%
    Yes
    (21 votes)
  • 68%
    No
    (45 votes)
66 votes total Vote Now

Men’s Soccer

USF at UCF Soccer 2021
Noah Goldberg

This series should continue as a non-conference match-up when the Knights move to the Sun Belt (remember, the Big 12 doesn’t sponsor Men’s Soccer). The series benefits both sides from an RPI standpoint, as both programs are currently quite solid. Both schools also have good soccer fan bases.

Eric’s verdict: YES

Poll

Should UCF continue to play USF in Men’s Soccer?

This poll is closed

  • 81%
    Yes
    (53 votes)
  • 18%
    No
    (12 votes)
65 votes total Vote Now

Women’s Soccer

This has been the second-best rivalry out of all sports since 2013. Both programs have won conference championships at the other’s expense. The two schools have combined for seven conference titles in ten seasons. This is a no-brainer.

Eric’s verdict: YES

Poll

Should UCF continue to play USF in Women’s Soccer?

This poll is closed

  • 82%
    Yes
    (53 votes)
  • 17%
    No
    (11 votes)
64 votes total Vote Now

Men’s Tennis

Men’s Tennis has benefitted from being in the same conference and the arrival of Head Coach John Roddick. Both programs are a good bet to be in the Top 75 in the rankings every year.

Eric’s verdict: YES

Poll

Should UCF continue to play USF in Men’s Tennis?

This poll is closed

  • 77%
    Yes
    (47 votes)
  • 22%
    No
    (14 votes)
61 votes total Vote Now

Women’s Tennis

Like the men, the women have played for high stakes, like in 2019 when UCF defeated USF to win the AAC Championship. Both should continue the series that has grown thanks at least in part to being in the AAC together.

Eric’s verdict: YES

Poll

Should UCF continue to play USF in Women’s Tennis?

This poll is closed

  • 79%
    Yes
    (47 votes)
  • 20%
    No
    (12 votes)
59 votes total Vote Now

Men’s Basketball

USF at UCF Basketball
Noah Goldberg

Does anyone here remember a single memorable game between these two programs?

Me neither.

UCF has not benefited from playing South Florida home-and-home as conference mates. Both sides should not lose sleep if this game is not played. It doesn’t even draw casual fans’ interest.

Eric’s verdict: NO

Poll

Should UCF continue to play USF in Men’s Basketball?

This poll is closed

  • 46%
    Yes
    (30 votes)
  • 53%
    No
    (34 votes)
64 votes total Vote Now

Women’s Basketball

USF at UCF 2022
Noah Goldberg

They say styles make fights. The only time this was a rivalry in Women’s Basketball was when Coach Abe’s style contrasted with USF’s Jose Fernandez and both programs were at top of the conference. Abe vs. Jose made this a rivalry.

To me, this rivalry left along with Abe for Athens, Georgia. Otherwise, South Florida has dominated this series. UCF will be adjusting to the Big 12 and that won’t be easy. That’s where the focus should be.

Eric’s verdict: NO

Poll

Should UCF continue to play USF in Women’s Basketball?

This poll is closed

  • 40%
    Yes
    (26 votes)
  • 59%
    No
    (38 votes)
64 votes total Vote Now

Football

Mike Hughes USF War on I-4
UCFs Mike Hughes races to the end zone on his game-winning 95-yard kickoff return against USF. Photo: Derek Warden
Photo: Derek Warden

This is one that people are split on.

In contrast to at least one of my colleagues, I personally don’t care if this game is ever played again. UCF will have nine Big 12 conference games every year, so that leaves only three non-conference games to schedule.

UCF does not benefit from having a home-and-home series with South Florida. Other than 2017, the game has not had any major TV viewership locally or nationally, nor a game where both teams played with a championship on the line. Post-Big 12, playing South Florida does not gain UCF anything from a reputation standpoint. It only hurts.

USF has to focus on building a competitive football program. UCF fans will not stop going to football games on Thanksgiving because USF is not on the schedule. Both programs benefit from the split.

Eric’s verdict: NO

Poll

Should UCF continue to play USF in Football?

This poll is closed

  • 41%
    Yes
    (30 votes)
  • 58%
    No
    (42 votes)
72 votes total Vote Now

Baseball

UCF Baseball 2018
UCF Beat USF on final day of 2017 regular season to win AAC regular season championship (Photo: Brian Murphy)
Photo: Brian Murphy

This rivalry has quietly picked up in recent years. UCF beat USF in two of three on the final weekend of 2017 to win the AAC regular season title. USF beat UCF in the 2021 AAC Tournament Championship Game to get to the NCAA Tournament.

UCF Baseball and Soccer have benefitted the most from being conference rivals. I am in favor of growing this rivalry.

Eric’s verdict: YES

Poll

Should UCF continue to play USF in Baseball?

This poll is closed

  • 80%
    Yes
    (48 votes)
  • 20%
    No
    (12 votes)
60 votes total Vote Now

Softball

This rivalry is the most accomplished of all sports. Softball is the only sport where UCF and USF have played each other in both the NCAA Tournament (4 times) and in a Conference Championship game (2022). 6 of the 8 AAC seasons, UCF and USF have won either the AAC regular season and or Tournament championship.

What makes this rivalry unique is the consistent success both programs have had over the years in making the NCAA Tournament. It is likely these two teams will see each other in the NCAA Tournament more times than not going forward. So I think both teams will continue to play in some capacity.

Eric’s verdict: YES

Poll

Should UCF continue to play USF in Softball?

This poll is closed

  • 82%
    Yes
    (46 votes)
  • 17%
    No
    (10 votes)
56 votes total Vote Now

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