2020 Recap: Last year was definitely a rebuild for them. Though they didn’t win as we’ve seen in previous years, they still put together one of the best offenses in college football. The UCF Knights finished second in the nation in yards and eighth in points. They averaged 568 yards per game and 42 points per contest. Again, what rebuild? Dillion Gabriel returns for his second year as the starting quarterback. He threw 32 touchdown passes to only four interceptions. The defense was a big problem for them last year. They struggled to get off the field and allowed over 500 yards a game along with 33 points. There needs to be improvements across the board.
Notable Departures: DT Kenny Turnier, DE Randy Charlton, S Richie Grant.
2021 Prediction: This is the only team I see challenging Cincinnati in the conference. While the Bearcats will receive a lot of buzz, the UCF Knights will be right there. Josh Heupel left for Tennessee. The Knights hired former Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn as their new head coach. What’s to expect from them post Heupel? Watch for the running game to become more of a point of emphasis. The offense will be fine. It’s the defense that needs tightening up. Big Kat Bryant transferred to UCF to play for Malzahn. He played for him at Auburn. The biggest game on the schedule for UCF this year: An October trip to Cincinnati.
