ORLANDO, Fla. — Saturday marks the final War on I-4 college football game between UCF and USF for at least the foreseeable future, and there’s a lot at stake.

The Knights’ 14-17 loss to Navy last week eliminated the possibility of UCF hosting the American Athletic Conference Championship Game, but they still have a chance to play in the game with a victory against the Bulls at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

UCF holds a head-to-head tiebreaker advantage over Tulane and Cincinnati in the event of a two-way tie for second place in the league standings. The winner of that game will host the championship game. The Knights must beat USF to ensure they reach the title game. A loss would put Houston in the mix and make it more complicated.

“Last game of the year, and it’s a very, very important game to us,” UCF coach Gus Malzahn said.

In addition to the chance to end UCF’s hopes for an AAC title, the Bulls (1-10, 0-7 in the AAC) can tie the series at 7-7 with a victory against the Knights (8-3, 5-2) before UCF leaves the conference to join the Big 12 next season.

"We have a chance to win a trophy,'' USF interim head coach Daniel Da Prato said. "None of our kids have had a chance to hold that trophy. So, let's go get it, and let's keep it here a while. And we have a chance to keep them from playing for a championship."

The Bulls, playing for Da Prato after Jeff Scott was fired earlier this season, are excited about the matchup.

“It’s Hate Week,” USF linebacker Dwayne Boyles said. “There’s a lot of hate and a lot of intensity on both sides, and that makes it a great game.”

The program is also offering incentives for USF fans to come to the game, which also tends to draw a lot of Knights fans to Tampa. It’s the last regular-season game for both teams, and USF is promoting Fan Appreciation Week for its fans - $55,000 in prizes, including an Apple Watch, a 65-inch TV and Taylor Swift tickets.

Despite their deflating loss to Navy last week, Knights coach Gus Malzahn said his players are fully focused on the Bulls.

“Our guys are looking forward to playing these guys,” he said.

Senior offensive lineman Sam Jackson agrees. “It’s a real special game for all of us, especially those of us who have been here a long time.”

Malzahn said the Bulls have the Knights’ full attention.

“They’ve been scoring a lot of points,” Malzahn said. “They’re very creative on offense. Defensively, they had some injuries. That’s definitely hurt them. They’ve been in games against some really quality opponents, and they just haven’t been able to get over the hump. If you remember last year, they were in a similar situation, and they gave us their best….

“We need to play good, quality football.”

Last year, UCF held off USF 17-14, even though the Bulls had only won two games all season — and that was a home game for UCF.

“We’re not overlooking them, especially after what happened last year.”

To win this week, the Knights will have to get their offense going again after only scoring 14 points last week. Regular starting quarterback John Rhys Plumlee struggled to get the team in the end zone, and after an initial spark at the start of the second half, backup Mikey Keene could not sustain it.

The Knights lead the AAC in rushing at 249.5 yards per game, rank seventh nationally, and have gained over 200 on the ground in eight of 11 games, but they managed just 84 rushing yards last week. The passing game could not make up the difference, and Navy dominated the time of possession.

Meanwhile, the Bulls fell to Tulsa 48-42, but they put up a lot of points.

USF started a new quarterback, Byrum Brown, and he accounted for 316 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Brian Battie topped the 1,000-yard rushing mark last week and is on a streak of four consecutive 100-yard games. On the season, USF averages 27 points per game.

“They have a lot of skill,” UCF defensive end Josh Celiscar said.

The health of UCF’s Plumlee could be a factor. He has thrown for 2,122 yards and 12 touchdowns this season and rushed for 715 yards and nine TDs.

Malzahn said Plumlee will start Saturday if he is healthy.

Knights senior running back Isaiah Bowser leads the AAC with 13 TDs rushing.