UCF wasn’t interested in a rivalry with UConn when the Huskies attempted to create an annual “Civil Conflict” showdown from 2015 to ’21. But the Knights might have to fight for their right to refer to themselves as “Space U.”
For the past seven years, UCF has played a “Space Game” to celebrate the school’s proximity to the Space Coast and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral. And for the last six years, the Knights have worn special uniforms for the game. UCF won this year’s Space Game, defeating Oklahoma State 45–3.
Space Jerseys through the years 💫🌌 pic.twitter.com/9S6NR37fKh
— UCF Football (@UCF_Football) November 7, 2023
However, Houston coach Dana Holgorsen thinks the title of “Space U” should belong to his school. The university shares a city with the NASA Johnson Space Center, much closer to those facilities than UCF’s Orlando campus is to Cape Canaveral.
The subject came up during Holgorsen’s weekly coaches show because the Cougars are facing Oklahoma State in Week 12 and play UCF the following week.
“Central Florida’s got those [uniforms]. I don’t know what the heck they are, but they are some blue unis,” Holgorsen said to host Jeremy Branham, via GulfLife.com. “Some Space City thing. I thought we were Space City.”
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) November 15, 2023
“The launch pad is like 45 minutes away,” Holgorsen said. “It’s not close. They don’t say, ‘Orlando, we got a problem.’”
Holgorsen has a point. Houston’s nickname is “Space City,” while Orlando doesn’t have any space-related title. But UCF claimed “Space U” and the “Space Game” first. And if anyone at Houston cared about it, there’s been no public statement on the matter until the Cougars’ coach brought it up.
Maria Lysaker/USA TODAY Sports
Could this be the makings of a Big 12 rivalry? It sure sounds like Holgorsen wants one.
Houston would have to defeat UCF in Orlando on Nov. 25 to stake any kind of claim. Now that the issue has been raised, Holgorsen and UCF coach Gus Malzahn have just over a week to generate some hype. Maybe the Knights will even be interested in a trophy for this clash.
