UCF KNIGHTS – AP Ranking, #19
THE OUTLOOK:
For as much change as UCF has endured over their
two-year run of undefeated regular seasons, with just
a single loss overall, more changes are ahead for the
Knights as they enter 2019. Quarterback Darriel Mack Jr.
appeared to be the front runner to fill the void left from
McKenzie Milton’s gruesome leg injury; however, a broken
ankle of his own has once again turned the position into
a giant question mark as the season draws closer. The
quarterback job now figures to be a three-man race
between senior Notre Dame transfer Brandon Wimbush,
redshirt freshman and Jones High School graduate,
Quadry Jones, and freshman, Dillon Gabriel.
Whoever wins the starting quarterback job will certainly
reap the benefits of the Knights returning many of their
top play makers from the last few seasons. Running
backs Adrian Killins Jr. and Greg McCrae, who combined
for nearly 1,900 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns last
season, look to carry the #UCFast tradition through a
schedule that once again appears manageable. Junior
wide receivers Gabriel Davis and Tre Nixon will once
again be the main targets in the passing game, regardless
of who is throwing it their direction.
If the run of perfect regular season records were to be
jeopardized by any area on the field, it will be along the
defensive line. Head coach Josh Heupel exhausted much
of his recruiting efforts focusing on that area, where
attrition was the main contributor to the problem. Heupel
added three transfers and five incoming freshmen to
replace the depletion.
THE SCHEDULE:
Thu, August 29, Florida A&M
Sat, September 7, at Florida Atlantic
Sat, September 14, Stanford
Sat, September 21, at Pittsburgh
Sat, September 28, UCONN
Fri, October 4, at Cincinnati
Sat, October 19, East Carolina
Sat, October 26, at Temple
Sat, November 2, Houston
Sat, November 8, at Tulsa
Sat, November 23, at Tulane
Fri, November 29, South Florida
THE PREDICTION:
9 wins, 3 losses — Undefeated regular seasons are
extremely difficult in college football. Much less, three
consecutive. The odds of the Knights achieving that
feat are almost incalculable, although the schedule
once again makes it seem plausible. Stanford should
provide the season’s first true test and even if the
Knights are able to outduel the Pac-12 power, answering
the bell the following week at Pittsburgh could become
that much more difficult. Remaining the highest-ranked
non-power five team will certainly be the expectation,
but achieving that goal will prove to be much harder
than the prior two seasons.
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