USF Bulls at No. 15 UCF Knights

When: 3:30 p.m. Friday

Where: Spectrum Stadium, Orlando (4465 Knights Victory Way)

TV: ABC

Coaches: USF: Charlie Strong, 1st season (9-1, 62-38 overall); UCF: Scott Frost, 2nd season (10-0, 16-7 overall)  

About the matchup: 

There is no denying this is the biggest matchup of the season for UCF. It’s a rivalry game that has never held as much meaning as it does this time around with both programs reaching new heights and being nationally ranked in AP and Coaches Polls.

Early on fans knew this would become a special meeting and despite a Bulls blemish against Houston the two teams secured a prime national TV time slot for Black Friday on ABC—UCF’s first appearance on Network TV this season. It’s now what they do when the world is watching that will determine how the rest of the college world perceives the American Conference.

For UCF there is an added chip on their shoulder to prove the College Football Playoff committee wrong, after keeping them at 15 this week and moving a three loss Mississippi State team in front of them.

In case you have been living in a bubble the Knights are still (six straight weeks, now) leading the nation in scoring and coming off a Temple game that the defense forced five takeaways. It seems as if UCF is hitting its stride, but with its 10th game in a row and a short week to prepare for USF a different task is in front of them.

“They are a unique team and I think they are well coached,” Frost said after practice on Wednesday. “They’ve gotten a lot better on defense from a year ago and offensively they have a lot of weapons, [and] we do too and we got all those things and it’s going to be a good matchup.”   

USF’s road to this #WarOnI4 matchup has been tainted slightly by a week eight loss to Houston and tight contests along the way.  The Bulls climbed as high as 13th in the Coaches Poll before that loss and this talented team has yet to be included in any of the four College Football Playoff rankings.  Charlie Strong, who took over for Willie Taggart, has prided his team on defense.

The unit currently  leading the nation in tackles for a loss (9.1 tpg), 7th in sacks (3.30 spg) and in the last four contests (Tulsa, UConn, Houston and Tulane) averaging 10.75 TFL and four sacks. This defense will be applying the pressure to McKenzie Milton and the front line that has only allowed 14 sacks this season in hopes of slowing down the Knights scoring power.

After leading USF to an 11-2 finish last season, dual threat QB Quinton Flowers has backed up the Bulls success for year two. The senior leading USF’s rushing game (870-yards, 9 TDs) and passing game (2,097-yards, 17 TDs)—this team will go as he goes on Friday.

For both of these teams, there is no added incentive necessary. Between the rivalry, bid to the American Conference Championship and a prized News Year’s Day bowl game within reach you could say this game was made for TV. And I know UCF hasn’t forgotten that the Bulls ran up the score last year in a 48-31 victory at Raymond James Stadium—the bulletin board material is out of control.

Three and out:

1. USF leads the all-time series between the two programs, 6-2. If the Knights win it will be the first win over USF since November 28, 2014.

2. If UCF wins, the team will complete its first ever-undefeated regular season and will advance to the American Conference Championship.

3.  Before Friday’s contest 20 seniors will walk out to the field with their families to be recognized for their time at UCF, including 2016 American Conference Defensive POY Shaquem Griffin.