ORLANDO -- UCF scored 26 unanswered points in the first half to pull away from FIU and defeat the Panthers 61-17 in the season-opening game for both teams at Spectrum Stadium in Orlando.
With FIU trailing 14-10 in the second quarter, UCF tallied three touchdowns, a safety and a field goal to take a 40-10 lead into halftime.
The Knights opened the scoring on the first drive of the game. Quarterback McKenzie Milton hit Jordan Akins on a 22-yard touchdown pass. UCF went for two and got it when punter Mac Loudermilk connected with Jordan Franks on the point-after pass.