Data Skrive

One of the best runners in college football will be featured when RJ Harvey and the UCF Knights (4-6) take on the West Virginia Mountaineers (5-5) on Saturday, November 23, 2024.

Go to ESPNU to watch the Knights battle the Mountaineers.

Keep up with college football all season on FOX Sports.

Learn more about the UCF Knights and the West Virginia Mountaineers.

How to Watch UCF vs. West Virginia

• When: Saturday, November 23, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia
• Live Box Score: FOX Sports

Read More About This Game

• UCF vs. West Virginia Predictions

UCF’s 2024 Schedule

UCF 2024 Stats & Insights

• UCF owns the 57th-ranked defense this season (355.4 yards allowed per game), and has been better on offense, ranking eighth-best with a tally of 464.6 yards per game.
• UCF is averaging 201.8 passing yards per game offensively this year (93rd in the FBS), and is giving up 239.5 passing yards per game (96th) on the other side of the ball.
• The Knights rank 32nd in scoring offense (33.0 points per game) and 80th in scoring defense (26.4 points allowed per game) this season.
• The Knights rank 28th in run defense this year (115.9 rushing yards allowed per game), but they’ve been shining on offense, ranking second-best in the FBS with 262.8 rushing yards per game.
• Despite sporting a bottom-25 defense on third down that ranks 22nd-worst in the FBS (44.4% third-down conversion rate), UCF has had more success offensively, ranking 42nd in the FBS by posting a 43.3% third-down conversion rate.
• With 11 forced turnovers (96th in the FBS) against 15 turnovers committed (80th in the FBS), the Knights (-4) have the 95th-ranked turnover margin in college football.

UCF 2024 Key Players

West Virginia’s 2024 Schedule

West Virginia 2024 Stats & Insights

• West Virginia ranks 53rd with 400.8 total yards per game on offense, and it ranks 99th with 400.8 total yards allowed per contest on the defensive side of the ball.
• West Virginia ranks 91st in passing yards per game (202.3), but it has been worse on the other side of the ball, ranking eighth-worst in the FBS with 269.6 passing yards allowed per contest.
• The Mountaineers rank 53rd in the FBS with 29.6 points per game on offense, and they rank 102nd with 30.0 points given up per contest on the defensive side of the ball.
• The Mountaineers’ run offense has been leading the way for the team, as they rank 24th-best in the FBS with 198.5 rushing yards per contest. In terms of defense, they are giving up 131.2 rushing yards per game, which ranks 49th.
• West Virginia ranks 69th in third-down conversion rate (40.2%) on offense, but it has been less productive on the other side of the ball, ranking eighth-worst in the FBS with a 47.2% third-down percentage allowed.
• The Mountaineers sport a -5 turnover margin this season, which ranks 100th in the FBS.

West Virginia 2024 Key Players

FOX Sports created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Want great stories delivered right to your inbox?

Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.

FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience

Advertisement

West Virginia Mountaineers

UCF Knights

College Football

If West Virginia is going to have success on the defensive side of the ball against UCF it starts with keeping their ground game under control.

And the centerpiece of that is senior running back RJ Harvey.

The Knights are second nationally and top all Power Four programs at 262 yards per game with Harvey playing a major role in that. The Orlando native has rushed for 1,328 yards and 19 touchdowns while averaging almost 7 yards per carry on the season.

It’s no secret that keeping him in check will be critical.

“His ability to break tackles and once he does get past the defensive line and linebackers he gets going really fast,” defensive lineman TJ Jackson said.

Jackson compares Harvey to a bigger Devin Neal from Kansas in large part because of his ability to go from a jump cut to full speed. The running back is one of the most improved players in the country and is playing at an elite level according to head coach Neal Brown.

“Really tough to tackle, can make people miss. Has a great feel for their zone schemes,” Brown said.

UCF will utilize the same inside zone rushing scheme that Baylor was able to rush for 183 yards and it’s going to require some discipline out of the unit. The defense must attack the ball with leverage.

“You got to keep great edges on the defense. You have to keep technique all 11 guys across the board. If you’re the backside guy pursuing the ball then you have to keep technique and keep your shoulders square,” coordinator Jeff Koonz said. “He’s a threat to go anywhere, at any time. He understands blocking, he understands their scheme. It’s a great challenge for us.”

Where Harvey has created the most issues is when he is able to get the safeties and linebackers bottled up and then jump cuts to the outside and outruns the defense for big chunks of yards.

“The key is to contain him and not let him get on the perimeter for explosives,” Brown said.

The West Virginia high school playoffs begin tonight with a full slate of games on the table.

Check out who High School On SI predicts will win their first round matchups on Friday, and who will secure a spot in the second round of the WVSSAC postseason.  

First-round matchups

(1) Martinsburg vs. (16) Parkersburg

7:00 p.m. Friday

PREDICTION: Martinsburg

(9) Parkersburg South vs. (8) Washington

1:30 p.m. Saturday

PREDICTION: Parkersburg South

(4) Wheeling Park vs. (13) Musselman

7:00 p.m. Friday

PREDICTION: Wheeling Park

(5) Huntington vs. (12) University

1:30 p.m. Saturday

PREDICTION: Huntington

(2) Spring Mills vs. (15) Hedgesville

7:00 p.m. Friday

PREDICTION: Spring Mills

(7) Morgantown vs. (10) Woodrow Wilson

7:00 p.m. Friday

PREDICTION: Morgantown

(3) Jefferson vs. (14) Cabell Midland

1:30 p.m. Saturday

PREDICTION: Jefferson

(6) Hurricane vs. (11) George Washington

7:00 p.m. Friday

PREDICTION: Hurricane

2024 WVSSAC Class AAAA high school football bracket

First-round matchups

(1) Princeton vs. (16) Hampshire

4:00 p.m. Saturday

PREDICTION: Princeton

(8) North Marion vs. (9) Ripley

7:00 p.m. Friday

PREDICTION: North Marion

(4) Hoover vs. (13) Elkins

1:30 p.m. Saturday

PREDICTION: Hoover

(5) Oak Hill vs. (12) Lewis County

7:00 p.m. Friday

PREDICTION: Oak Hill

(2) Fairmont Senior vs. (15) Point Pleasant

7:00 p.m. Friday

PREDICTION: Fairmont Senior

(7) Spring Valley vs. (10) East Fairmont

7:00 p.m. Friday

PREDICTION: Spring Valley

(3) Bridgeport vs. (14) Byrd

7:00 p.m. Friday

PREDICTION: Bridgeport

(6) Nitro vs. (11) Shady Spring

1:30 p.m. Saturday

PREDICTION: Nitro

2024 WVSSAC Class AAA high school football bracket

First-round matchups

(1) Frankfort vs. (16) Westside

1:30 p.m. Saturday

PREDICTION: Frankfort

(9) Bluefield vs. (8) South Harrison

7:00 p.m. Friday

PREDICTION: Bluefield

(4) Williamstown vs. (13) Moorefield

7:00 p.m. Friday

PREDICTION: Williamstown

(5) Wheeling Central Catholic vs. (12) Nicholas County

7:00 p.m. Friday

PREDICTION: Wheeling Central Catholic

(2) Roane County vs. (15) Chapmanville Regional

1:30 p.m. Saturday

PREDICTION: Roane County

(7) Wayne vs. (10) Scott

1:30 p.m. Saturday

PREDICTION: Scott

(3) Independence vs. (14) James Monroe

7:00 p.m. Friday

PREDICTION: Independence

(6) Philip Barbour vs. (11) Clay County

4:00 p.m. Saturday

PREDICTION: Phillip Barbour

2024 WVSSAC Class AA high school football bracket

First-round matchups

(1) Tug Valley vs. (16) Tolsia

1:30 p.m. Saturday

PREDICTION: Tug Valley

(8) Petersburg vs. (9) River View

1:30 p.m. Saturday

PREDICTION: Petersburg

(4) Cameron vs. (13) Valley

7:00 p.m. Friday

PREDICTION: Cameron

(5) Doddridge County vs. (12) Wirt County

1:30 p.m. Saturday

PREDICTION: Doddridge County

(2) Tucker County vs. (15) East Hardy

7:00 p.m. Friday

PREDICTION: Tucker County

(7) Pendleton County vs. (10) Meadow Bridge

7:00 p.m. Friday

PREDICTION: Pendleton County

(3) Wahama vs. (14) Madonna

1:30 p.m. Saturday

PREDICTION: Wahama

(6) Sherman vs. (11) Tyler

7:00 p.m. Friday

PREDICTION: Sherman

2024 WVSSAC Class A high school football bracket

Follow High School On SI throughout the 2024 high school football season for Live Updates, the most up to date Schedules & Scores and complete coverage from the preseason through the state championships!

Be sure to Bookmark High School on SI for all of the latest high school football news.

To get live updates on your phone – as well as follow your favorite teams and top games – you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App| Download Android App

— Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivesports