UCF Knights now in control of its own New Year’s Six destiny

With South Florida’s loss on Saturday, the UCF Knights are now the Group of Five team everyone has their eyes on

Carrying all the preseason hype in the world, when it came to Group of Five teams that had the best chance to secure the New Year’s Six berth that goes to the highest-rated team at the end of the season, the focus was on Charlie Strong and the South Florida Bulls. However, as the season has gone along, the UCF Knights have done everything imaginable to show people they’re, in fact, the best Group of Five team in the game today.

After what took place Saturday, there’s no question that head coach Scott Frost’s Knights are the cream of the crop when it comes to the smaller programs this season.

South Florida was ranked one spot higher in the AP rankings headed into this week, but that won’t be the case when the new rankings are released on Sunday. That’s because the Bulls suffered their first loss of the season, 28-24, to a Houston team that has been impressing many in recent weeks with their play on the field. With South Florida on the losing end for the first time this year, UCF had the opportunity to remind everyone they’re the superior squad, and they did just that. The Knights went out in Week 9 and put on quite the show, drubbing Austin Peay to the tune of 73-33. Seventy-three points were put on the board by Frost’s potent offensive attack.

Now, there’s no question as to which is the best Group of Five team in the country right now, and with that, the Knights are now firmly in control of their New Year’s Six fate as the lone undefeated Group of Five member. And with quarterback McKenzie Milton and this offense playing as well as they are week in and week out — sixth in the country in total offense coming into Saturday — there’s really no signs of this team slowing down anytime soon.

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The New Year’s Six Group of Five bid is directly in the sights of Frost and company now, and all they need to do is keep obliterating opponents the rest of the way as they have been to this point.

Although, they’d better beware, because on Nov. 24 they have to face a South Florida team that now would love for nothing more than to play spoiler and get themselves back in the conversation as the season comes to a close.