UCF vs. USF Baseball: A History of Rivalry and Memorable Moments

The rivalry between the UCF Knights and the USF Bulls, often dubbed the "War on I-4," extends beyond the football field. While the annual football game held on Thanksgiving weekend is a highlight, the baseball series between these two universities generates its own share of passionate competition and unforgettable moments. This article explores the rich history of UCF baseball, its significant games, and the evolution of the rivalry with USF.

UCF Baseball: From Division I Beginnings to Big 12 Era

The UCF Knights baseball program has a storied history, marked by significant milestones and memorable games. The 2025 season marks the 40th anniversary of the UCF Knights’ Baseball team’s elevation to Division 1. The 2025 season also marks the 52nd year of the program’s existence.

Early Division I Successes (1985-1990)

UCF's transition to Division I began in 1985, and the team quickly made its mark.

February 8, 1985: UCF's first Division I baseball game against Florida.
March 8, 1985: The Knights secured their first win over Florida State.
March 26, 1985: UCF recorded its first Division I win against the Florida Gators.
May 11, 1985: In Game 1 of a doubleheader, UCF beat a Miami (FL) team that went on to win the NCAA Tournament in its first game against the Hurricanes as a Division 1 Team.
March 9, 1989: UCF beats the #20 team in the nation in its first televised game.
May 25, 1989: UCF's first NCAA Tournament Game and Win against Georgia Tech.
May 26, 1989: Head Coach Jay Bergman wins an NCAA Tournament Game at the stadium and against the team he once coached against Florida.

These early victories laid the foundation for a competitive program.

Conference Affiliations and Tournament Titles (1990-2005)

The 1990s and early 2000s saw UCF navigate various conference affiliations and achieve significant success in conference tournaments.

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July 1, 1990: UCF joins the American South Conference, the Baseball team's first Division 1 conference.
March 18, 1991: UCF's first Division 1 conference win against Arkansas State.
July 1, 1991: UCF joins the Sun Belt Conference due to a merger between it and the American South Conference
July 1, 1992: UCF joins the Trans America Athletic Conference (TAAC), which would be renamed to the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) in 2001.
May 16, 1993: First TAAC Conference Tournament Title
May 28, 1993: UCF wins an NCAA Regional Rivalry Matchup against South Florida.
May 13, 1995: Second TAAC Conference Tournament Title.
May 18, 1996: Third TAAC Conference Tournament Title.
May 17, 1997: Fourth TAAC Conference Tournament Title.
May 19, 2001: Fifth ASUN Tournament Title.
May 25, 2002: Sixth ASUN Tournament Title.
July 1, 2005: UCF joins Conference USA.

These conference titles demonstrated UCF's growing strength and consistency.

Memorable Games and Coaching Milestones (2000-2016)

The early 2000s were marked by upsets over ranked opponents, coaching milestones, and NCAA tournament appearances.

March 3, 2000: UCF defeats #11 LSU.
May 27, 2000: UCF reaches the Tallahassee Regional Final by beating its host, #7 Florida State.
February 3, 2001: UCF's First Game in John Euliano Park (then called Jay Bergman Field).
Feb. 23-25, 2001: UCF sweeps the #11 team in the nation Alabama.
May 5-6, 2001: UCF sweeps the #8 Team in the nation Stetson.
May 25, 2001: UCF comes from behind to win in extra innings to keep itself alive in the NCAA Tournament against Princeton.
May 26, 2001: UCF beats the regional host to advance to the Regional Final against #13 South Carolina.
May 3, 2002: Head Coach Jay Bergman wins his 1,000th overall game of his career against Florida Atlantic.
Jun. 5, 2004: UCF beats the #24 team in the nation in an elimination game to reach Regional Final against Oklahoma St..
Jun. 6, 2004: After losing to the Seminoles earlier in the regional, the Knights come out on top against the #16 Seminoles to force a second game in the Tallahassee Regional Final against Florida State.
Apr. 27, 2007: Matt Horwath hits for UCF's first Cycle to win a close ballgame against Tulane.
Feb. 25, 2008: UCF goes on a five-run rally in the last inning to upset the #5 team in the nation Missouri.
Jun. 12, 2008: UCF Hires Terry Rooney as new head coach.
Apr. 20, 2011: UCF earns statement win against the #5 team in the nation Florida, helping propel it to its first NCAA Tournament appearance under Terry Rooney.
May 17, 2012: UCF gets win in final regular season series against #4 team in the nation Rice.
Jun. 1, 2012: UCF comes back from 2 hr. and 40 minute rain delay to hold off Missouri State.
Jun. 2, 2012: The Knights survive Stony Brook to advance to the Regional Final.
Jul. 1, 2014: UCF joins the American Athletic Conference.
Mar. 3, 2015: John Euliano Park sets an attendance record with 4,319 people bearing witness to the Knights beating a #2-ranked Florida squad.
Jul. 11, 2016: UCF Hires Greg Lovelady as new head coach.

These moments highlight the program's ability to compete at a high level and create memorable experiences for players and fans.

Recent Success and Big 12 Entry (2017-Present)

Under new leadership, UCF continued to build on its success, culminating in a move to the Big 12 Conference.

Mar. 1, 2017: UCF defeats #2 team in the nation Florida.
Apr. 13, 2017: UCF comes back from 7-1 defecit against East Carolina on the road in the first game of a sweep.
May 20, 2017: UCF wins AAC regular season title in a rubber match with a ranked South Florida squad.
Mar. 6-7, 2018: UCF sweeps in a midweek series against the #1 team in the nation Florida.
Feb. 21-23, 2020: The Knights make a statement by sweeping the #8 team in the nation on the road in Weekend #2 of the season Auburn.
Feb. 28, 2021: UCF took the rubber match to win a road series against the #1 Team in the nation Ole Miss.
Mar. 5, 2022: UCF wins a 12-inning pitcher's duel against the #2 team in the nation Ole Miss.
Feb. 24-26, 2023: UCF sweeps a historic college baseball power and cements a new program tradition against Clemson.
Jun. 12, 2023: UCF Hires Rich Wallace as new head coach.
Jul. 1, 2023: UCF Joins the Big 12 Conference.
Mar. 6, 2024: Rich Wallace earns his first statement win as the Knights' head coach with a win on the road against a Top 5-ranked Florida team.
Mar. 15, 2024: UCF's First Big 12 Conference Play Win against Oklahoma State.
May 21, 2024: Catcher Danny Neri, who came into this game with 4 home runs the entire season, hits a Big 12 Tournament record 3 home runs to help the Knights win the game and keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive against Cincinnati.

The move to the Big 12 represents a new chapter for the program, with increased competition and national visibility.

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The War on I-4: Baseball Edition

The "War on I-4" is a multi-sport rivalry between UCF and USF, fueled by the schools' proximity and shared conference affiliations. The baseball series is one of the most hotly contested aspects of this rivalry.

Series History and Key Statistics

All-Time Series: As of September 4, 2025, South Florida holds the all-time series lead for baseball (86-85), but UCF disputes the all time records in baseball, claiming the Bulls' records in these sports are 83-84.
NCAA Tournament Meetings: The two teams have played four times in the NCAA tournament, splitting the games 2-2.

The series is known for its intensity and close games, reflecting the competitive spirit between the two programs. All-Time Series History vs. Friday’s series opener against South Florida will mark the 169th all-time meeting between the Knights and Bull. The series is currently deadlocked at 84-84 all-time.

The "War on I-4" Trophy

From 2013 to 2023, when both schools were part of the American Athletic Conference, the schools began competing annually in all sports both schools sponsored. In 2016, the schools officially adopted the "War on I-4" as an official competition series. Each year, the team with the most wins across all sports receives a gold trophy styled after an Interstate 4 (I-4) road sign with the logos of each school. It is currently unknown if the trophy is still being awarded due to UCF's move to the Big 12 in 2023.

Recent Matchups and Trends

Under Coach Wallace: Under head coach Rich Wallace, the Black and Gold have had success against in-state opponents. Those wins include two victories to earn a series win over USF, a 13-3 win over No. 6 Florida, and a 14-4 victory over Miami. This marked the second year in a row that the Knights under head coach Rich Wallace have knocked off the Gators, as well as the sixth consecutive victory over the Gators.
2024-2025 Season: During 2024-25, the two schools only scheduled regular season games in five sports, resulting in 30 points up for grabs, with 16 needed to win. In Baseball, South Florida won the first game via mercy rule to narrow the UCF lead to 12-11 before UCF returned the favor with two mercy rule wins of their own to clinch the point series.

Looking Ahead

As UCF continues its journey in the Big 12 Conference, the rivalry with USF will undoubtedly evolve. While conference affiliations may change, the geographic proximity and competitive spirit between the two schools ensure that the "War on I-4" will remain a significant part of both programs' identities. The baseball series, in particular, will continue to provide thrilling matchups and unforgettable moments for players and fans alike.

The weekend series will run Friday to Sunday at John Euliano Park. All three games will air live on ESPN+ as well as on the radio on FM 96.9 The Game and the iHeartRadio app. Friday’s series opener will be "Out West Knight", where we will give a nod to our opponent out west, having some country fun out at the ballpark. With music, concessions and on-field games. Sunday’s series finale will be one of two Bark at the Park games on the season. Pups take over John Euliano Park with dog‑friendly activities, giveaways, raffles, and pup cups.

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