Gus Malzahn, 59, has a 28-23 record in four seasons as UCF head coach, including a 5-12 mark in conference play since the Knights joined the Big 12.

The move was meant to be symbolic, but in a way, it was almost defiant. As UCF exited the locker room for the start of Saturday’s game against West Virginia, players and coaches locked arms as they slowly marched out of the tunnel onto the field at Milan Puskar Stadium.

Under overcast skies, on a 45-degree day in West Virginia, UCF officially found itself left out in the cold for bowl season. CJ Donaldson scored two touchdowns and accounted for 96 of the Mountaineers ' 200 rushing yards,