A long-awaited celebration ensued in the Liberty Bowl on Saturday night, a night that was 30 years in the making. Since UCF joined the FBS in 1996, Memphis was 0-13 against the Knights. The Tigers hadn’t triumphed over their AAC rival since 1990, but when UCF kicker Daniel Obarski’s field goal soared left of the uprights with 19 seconds left, Memphis players reveled in a win the program had chased for decades.
Memphis overcame a 21-point deficit at the Liberty Bowl to upend UCF, 50-49. In an offensive masterpiece which featured 99 points and 1,501 total yards of offense, the Tigers’ victory was ultimately decided by the opposing special teams unit, which missed a 40-yard field goal in crunch time.