[1] Based on the current selection criteria, the game featured the two teams with the best winning percentage in AAC intra-conference play.
UCF defeated two-time defending American Athletic Conference champions Cincinnati on October 29, then beat Tulane 38–31 on November 12.
[4] UCF would clinch a spot in the championship game outright with a win over South Florida and a Houston loss to Tulsa.
In the case that both South Florida and Houston had won, the higher-ranked team in an average of major selector computer rankings (Anderson & Hester, Billingsley Report, Colley Matrix, Wolfe) between Cincinnati and Houston would have claimed the berth.
[7] Ultimately, UCF secured its place in the title game with a 46–39 win at South Florida, coupled with a 37–30 Houston loss to Tulsa.
This was also UCF's final intra-conference game as a member of The American, as the Knights are set to join the Big 12 Conference in 2023.
The Tulane Green Wave overpowered the UCF Knights, putting up 648 total yards of offense.
Big plays on offense gassed the UCF defense, and despite a late Knights rally, Tulane seemingly had an answer for every score.
Quarterback Michael Pratt and running back Tyjae Spears put up big numbers, respectively.
Back-up quarterback Mikey Keene elected not to dress for the game, in order to preserve his redshirt.
Lawrence Keys III burned the defense on a 43-yard catch and run touchdown, and made the score 17–7 with 5 minutes left.
With 18 seconds left in the half, Pratt was hit as he threw, and put up a wobbly pass which was intercepted by Davonte Brown, snuffing out a Tulane scoring opportunity.
Plumlee took a shotgun snap, then lateralled to R.J. Harvey, who threw deep down field to a wide-open Hudson.