Here鈥檚 a look at 10 of the year鈥檚 top stories for the nation鈥檚 second-largest university:

Downtown campus

President John C. Hitt announced in September that UCF and Valencia College will build a joint downtown campus for 10,000 to 13,000 students. The university is seeking state funding and working with the City of Orlando and other partners to develop the campus on 68 acres adjacent to Interstate 4 and the Parramore Community. No decisions have been made about which programs would move downtown to complement the community and provide opportunities for students. One new academic program to be developed will be for students with disabilities to allow them to attend classes and participate fully in college life. /news/game-changer-ucf-pursue-expansion-downtown-orlando/

A new arm

A group of students led by engineering doctoral student Albert Manero used their free time to design and build an arm for Alex Pring, 6, of Groveland, who was born with one arm. The team uploaded the design, which cost under $350 to make on a 3-D printer, to the Internet so anyone can download the blueprints and help others. /news/fulfilling-6-year-olds-dream-ucf-students-design-build-arm/

Cyber defense

UCF鈥檚 Cyber Defense Team won the Raytheon National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition in April. The challenge, sponsored in part by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, included teams from the Air Force Academy, 海角直播 of California and Rochester Institute of Technology. The national champs met Vice President Joe Biden at the White House as part of their victory trip. /news/cyber-defense-team-takes-first-nation-victory-photo-displayed-times-square/

Top inventor

Optics researcher S.T. Wu was inaugurated into the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame for his work advancing liquid-crystal displays. He holds more than 80 patents on devices used in computer monitors, smart phones and TV screens. The hall鈥檚 six inaugural inductees included Thomas Edison, air conditioning pioneer John Gorrie and Gatorade inventor Robert Cade. /news/ucf-inventor-lcd-technologies-named-new-florida-inventors-hall-fame/

New hires

UCF has started a hiring drive to add 200 faculty members by the end of next year. One hundred of the hires will fill new positions; the others will fill vacancies. The hires are being made in every college, with emphasis in STEM and programs that are in high student demand. /news/presidents-faculty-welcome-salary-increases-new-hires/

Top-notch students

More National Merit Scholars chose to attend UCF than another other Florida university this year. The university鈥檚 overall enrollment of National Merit Scholars is 275 鈥� 28 more than last year. Incoming freshmen also set UCF records, with average SAT scores of 1256 and an average GPA of 3.91. /news/ucf-students-start-new-year/

Winning student-athletes

Not only did the Knights football team win the 2014 Fiesta Bowl and back-to-back American Athletic Conference championships, the team鈥檚 graduation rate ranks No. 3 among public universities in the nation. In all sports, UCF鈥檚 student-athlete graduation rate is the nation鈥檚 best among public schools. /news/ncaa-graduation-rate-ucf-1-among-public-institutions/

Low-income and first-generation students

UCF this year helped create the national 海角直播 Innovation Alliance, a coalition to help low-income and first generation students attain an affordable college degree. Ten other universities joined the partnership, including Arizona State, Ohio State and Michigan State. The alliance received a $5.7 million grant from the Ford, Gates, Kresge, Lumina, Markle and USA Funds foundations. /news/ucf-ohio-state-texas-among-11-schools-developing-national-playbook-higher-ed/

Metropolitan consortium

UCF, 海角直播 of South Florida, and Florida International 海角直播 鈥� which together serve 63 percent of the state鈥檚 population 鈥� formed the Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Research Universities to leverage resources. The group鈥檚 goal is to work together to improve graduation rates and increase the number of graduates employed in the state. /news/state-rewards-ucf-usf-fiu-collaboration-8-5-million-grants/

Smart sensors

UCF joined with Osceola County, Florida High Tech Corridor Council, Orlando Economic Development Commission, and the State of Florida to develop a smart sensor research and manufacturing center. Analysts predict the industry could top $1 trillion in the near future for the products that help computers run faster, improve air-travel safety, detect cancer sooner and provide other benefits. The center is expected to be open in 2017. /news/new-smart-sensors-research-partnership-aims-boost-florida-growing-industry/

Those with a UCF ID will receive free entrance to explore the 50-acre garden, a cultural venue that promotes the awareness and understanding of plants and the environment. The garden’s largest collection–聽 camellias– is currently in full bloom.

Harry P. Leu Gardens is located at 1920 North Forest Avenue in Orlando and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, call 407-246-2620 or visit .

Now, you can help our team with one more thrilling finish – a UCFiesta!

With our invitation to the Jan. 1 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz., the Knights have made college football history: at only 50 years old, we are the youngest university to ever play in a BCS bowl game.

Some have suggested that the BCS is too big for us, our team is out matched and our fans won’t travel. To them, I say, “You don’t know UCF.”

To you, I say, “Show the country what UCF is about!”

We need you to “Charge On” to Arizona and support the Knights in the final game of this historic season. The nation will be watching how the team performs on the field against Baylor and how our fans support the Knights in the stands.

The Fiesta Bowl will join the collection of “I was there moments” for fans, from our first game on a rain-soaked field in 1979 to memorable victories against Alabama, Georgia, Penn State and Louisville.

Tickets, travel information and the top five reasons “U Can Fiesta” are at . And stay tuned for upcoming information about Fiesta Bowl events, alumni gatherings and more.

I often say that at UCF, we dream big. But I’m not sure many of us would have dreamed this big – making our first-ever trip to a BCS bowl in this, our 50th anniversary year.

Jan. 1, 2014 is the start of our next 50 years. Join me in Arizona as we begin this new era by cheering on our remarkable team in the Fiesta Bowl.

Go Knights!

John C. Hitt

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Ticket Information
Tickets are already on sale for fans looking to sit in great UCF sections at the 海角直播 of Phoenix Stadium.

Order online: https://oss.ticketmaster.com/aps/ucf/EN/buy/quickbuy/132.

Call the UCF Ticket Office at 407-UCF-1000 starting Sunday from 8:30-10 p.m.

Visit UCF鈥檚 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Ticket Central Page: http://www.ucfknights.com/tickets/fiesta-bowl.html.

Five Reasons to Order Bowl Tickets Directly from UCF Athletics

Bowl ticket revenue goes to UCF Athletics. Purchasing bowl tickets from UCF directly supports student-athlete resources that create more memorable moments like a Tostitos Fiesta Bowl berth.

With many secondary market sellers and scalpers, buying bowl tickets directly from UCF Athletics guarantees a secure, authentic bowl ticket.

Purchase your Tostitos Fiesta Bowl tickets directly from UCF Athletics and receive an exclusive 2014 UCF Football Tostitos Fiesta Bowl poster. 2013 or 2014 season ticket holders and Golden Knights Club (GKC) donors also receive a 2013 UCF football commemorative season ticket sheet of each game (note: one gift each per account; season ticket sheet will be included with bowl tickets, poster offer can be redeemed with a voucher at the official UCF Athletics headquarters at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess hotel or UCF Alumni official tailgate party on gameday).

Sit with the Black and Gold in UCF鈥檚 official seating sections.

Build UCF鈥檚 brand with a large, unified following in front of a primetime national television audience.

Sunday鈥檚 announcement came exactly 10 years to the day from UCF hiring George O鈥橪eary as its head coach.

UCF President John C. Hitt said he is proud that UCF ranks among the nation鈥檚 best both on the field and in the classroom.

鈥淓arning a bid to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl is an outstanding way to conclude UCF鈥檚 50th anniversary year,鈥� Hitt said. 鈥淐ongratulations to George and our 鈥楥ardiac Knights鈥� for their thrilling victories all season.

鈥淚 can鈥檛 wait to see our fans make the trip to Arizona to cheer on the Knights to conclude such a historic year.鈥�

Coach O鈥橪eary and the Knights claimed the outright American Athletic Conference title, going undefeated in conference play for the first time in school history at 8-0. They already have matched the program record with 11 wins, and are ranked No. 15 in both the Associated Press Top 25 and the USA Today Coaches Poll, the highest marks since the program鈥檚 inception in 1979.

This will be UCF鈥檚 first BCS bowl and its sixth bowl game in the last nine seasons, with its first appearance coming in the 2005 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. The Knights along with Baylor, Auburn and Michigan State were four programs who went unranked in the preseason poll but went on to reach a BCS bowl game this year.

UCF鈥檚 All-Time Bowl Appearances

2005 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl 鈥� Nevada 49, UCF 48 (OT)

2007 AutoZone Liberty Bowl 鈥� Mississippi State 10, UCF 3

2009 St. Petersburg Bowl 鈥� Rutgers 45, UCF 24

2010 AutoZone Liberty Bowl 鈥� UCF 10, Georgia 6

2012 Beef 鈥極鈥� Brady鈥檚 Bowl 鈥� UCF 38, Ball State 17

UCF will enter the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on a school-record eight-game winning streak. The Black and Gold has key victories over then-No. 8/6 Louisville and Penn State en route to an 11-1 record, while it holds a 6-0 mark away from Orlando. Its only loss was a 28-25 decision to then-No. 12/13 South Carolina Sept. 28.

The Knights have never faced No. 6/5 Baylor on the gridiron, and are 17-9 all-time against teams from the Lone Star State. The Bears also are 11-1 this year with their lone loss coming at Oklahoma State, and they are coming off a 30-10 win over Texas Dec. 7 which sealed their Big 12 title as they went 8-1 in the league.

Junior signal-caller Bryce Petty ranks as one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, throwing for 30 touchdowns and just two interceptions, all while racking up 3,844 yards. He leads an offense that is first in the FBS with 624.5 total yards per game and 53.3 points per game.

On the other side of the ball, the Bears are 17th in total defense and 19th in scoring defense. Five different players have at least 10.0 tackles for loss and 11 players have notched one interception or more.

In the final BCS standings, UCF stood at No. 15, its highest in the history of the BCS.

The announcement was made on SiriusXM Radio’s “College Sports Today,” hosted by Mark Packer and Eddie George.

The Football Writers Association of America has named a national team of the week since 2002, and it is the ninth season that the award has been sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Members of the FWAA All-America Committee decide the weekly honor.

2013 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Teams of the Week

For week:

1. North Dakota State
2. BYU
3. UCLA
4. Stanford
5. Georgia
6. Florida State
7. Texas
8. UCF

Earning its first win over a top-10 team, UCF traveled to Kentucky Oct. 18 and knocked off No. 8/6 Louisville in dramatic fashion, 38-35. That pushed the Knights’ record to 5-1 this year and 2-0 in the American Athletic Conference, while they also improved to 4-0 on the road in 2013. The 38 points were the most by a UCF team against a ranked opponent, and their 446 yards of total offense were the second most vs. a ranked team.

Against the Cardinals, the Knights fell behind in the third quarter, 28-7, before marching their way to 24-unanswered points. That was highlighted by three touchdowns in a span of 4:20 in the third quarter alone. Eventually with UCF trailing, 35-31, with 3:00 to go, the offense put together an 11-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a 2-yard touchdown pass from Blake Bortles to Jeff Godfrey with 23 seconds remaining.

When the clock struck 0:00, UCF tied its school record for the largest come-from-behind win in program history.

With the victory, UCF entered the top 25 for the first time since 2010, being ranked No. 21 in the AP Poll and No. 25 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. It also sat No. 23 in the first BCS standings released Oct. 20.

The Knights will be back at home for the first time since Sept. 28 when they host UConn in the first American Athletic Conference game at Bright House Networks Stadium. Kickoff is set for Saturday at noon.