Discussions about scheduling a game between the Knights and Bulls began shortly after South Florida fielded its first NCAA Division I-AA team in 1997.

[1] Meanwhile, South Florida officials worried that their young program stood to take in less revenue from a home-and-away series against UCF than it would with an additional home game on the schedule.

South Florida declined to schedule further games in the series, indicating it wished to pursue more competitive and high-profile opponents.

The two schools discussed scheduling more games over the next several years, including a failed proposal by South Florida to play at the Citrus Bowl in 2011.

Bowl and city officials decided against pitting the two nearby schools, as they preferred at least one distant team so that more out of town fans would book hotel rooms in the area.

UCF was admitted to join USF in the Big East Conference in 2011 and was set to begin playing there in the 2013–2014 school year.

Beginning with the 2016 edition, the athletic departments of both universities announced the official recognition of the "War on I-4" rivalry trophy and all-sports series.

For sports like golf and cross country which do not directly compete against each other, the six points are awarded to the higher finisher at the American Athletic Conference championship.

Bold dates indicate conference gamesItalic dates indicate games that count toward the trophy series A crowd of 45,139, second largest at the time in South Florida's eight year football history, watched the Bulls build a 21–0 halftime lead on the strength of a relentless running attack that finished with 326 yards.

One play after Hall nearly scored on a 17-yard run, Pat Julmiste added South Florida's last TD on 1 yard quarterback sneak late in the third quarter.

Grothe also ran for 73 yards, second most by a freshman quarterback in South Florida history behind only his own record of 82 from earlier that season.

Running back Storm Johnson fumbled the ball on UCF's first two drives, including a drop at the Bulls 10 yard line.

Trailing with under five minutes left in regulation, UCF quarterback Blake Bortles found wide receiver Breshad Perriman for a 52-yard go ahead touchdown reception.

The Knights held the Bulls offense to a three and out on the next series, which was followed by an 8 play, 73 yard scoring drive by UCF capped off by a 21-yard run from Rannell Hall.

Scoring 44 unanswered points and gaining 455 offensive yards, South Florida handed UCF their twelfth loss of the season, guaranteeing their second winless campaign since 2004.

USF, on the other hand, completed one of the biggest single season turnarounds in college football history to finish 8–4 after a 1–3 start.

[32][33][34]The Knights defeated the Bulls 38–10, however, the game was marred by the devastating, season ending injury to starting quarterback McKenzie Milton.

Early in the second quarter, facing a 3rd & 7 at the USF 30, McKenzie Milton scrambled to the right and was upended after a diving tackle by Mazzi Wilkins.

Milton suffered a "traumatic" knee injury,[37] and was carted off the field and brought to Tampa General Hospital for surgery.

As Killins was being tackled, he grabbed the facemask of USF defensive back Nick Roberts, triggering a big scuffle.

[41]The 5–3 Knights came into Tampa as 25.5 point favorites against the 1–7 Bulls, who were missing nine players including starting quarterback Noah Johnson, running back Johnny Ford, and cornerback K.J.

After each team traded punts, USF running back Kelley Joiner fumbled near midfield which led to another UCF touchdown.

The Bulls scored a touchdown of their own on their next drive, then the Knights made a field goal with nine seconds left in the first half to take a 31–14 lead into the locker room.

The teams traded garbage time touchdowns before UCF took over with 14 seconds left, and Gabriel took a knee to run out the clock.

[42]The Knights received the opening kickoff and made it all the way down to the USF 18, but UCF kicker Daniel Obarski missed the 35-yard field goal.

The Knight defense stood firm and forced a quick punt from the Bulls, and their offense led by backup quarterback Mikey Keene scored a touchdown on the next drive.

The Bulls scored a touchdown of their own on the next drive after a 5-yard run by true freshman quarterback Timmy McClain just as time expired in the first quarter.

The teams traded 3 and outs again, and UCF's Titus Mokiao-Atimalala returned USF's punt all the way down to the Bulls 27 yard line with just over a minute left in the half.

During a drive which included a 35-yard pass to Xavier Weaver and a 14-yard McClain run on 3rd and long, the Bulls made it down to the UCF 3 yard line with 27 seconds left.

On that drive, there was a fight on the sidelines after Brown was hit late by UCF's Koby Perry after running out of bounds, and the referees gave every player on both teams an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.