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.

UCF (4-7, 2-6 Big 12) snapped its eight-year bowl streak, extending back to the beginning of Scott Frost's regime. The Knights, who will wrap the season up Friday night at home against Utah, will finish with a losing record for the first time since going winless back in 2015.

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.