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College football 2018: Biggest X-factor on every Top 25 team

By Derek Grochowski

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Miles Sanders (24) of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs for a gain in the game between the Washington Huskies and the Penn State Nittany Lions on December 30, 2017 at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, AZ. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Miles Sanders (24) of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs for a gain in the game between the Washington Huskies and the Penn State Nittany Lions on December 30, 2017 at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, AZ. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 01: McKenzie Milton #10 of the UCF Knights looks to pass in the second half against the Auburn Tigers during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 01: McKenzie Milton #10 of the UCF Knights looks to pass in the second half against the Auburn Tigers during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

21. McKenzie Milton, UCF Knights

The people’s champs of the 2017 season were the UCF Knights. They were the only undefeated college football team in the top flight. They had big wins over Memphis, South Florida and a major bowl game win against Auburn, who beat the actual national champions Alabama.

No offense to the AAC but it is not exactly a Power Five conference in college football. There are no blockbuster games on their regular season schedule this year but Pitt and UNC will show them what lower level teams in Power Five conferences play like. The Knights have a good chance at going undefeated again. If that does happen how will the playoff committee keep a team with back to back undefeated seasons out?

In his sophomore season, McKenzie Milton introduced himself to the entire nation in a big way. He threw for almost 40 touchdowns and only nine interceptions. It was an incredible season regardless of the talent he played against. Now this team won’t be looked at as a Cinderella story, they no longer will surprise anyone. Milton will be their x-factor heading into the 2018 season. He was dominant in 2017 and will need to be once again in 2018.

Was 2017 a one hit wonder type of year? Or can Milton build on it and put together a campaign that propels him to the top of the Heisman Trophy conversation. His freshman year he played in 10 games but only had 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Last year he exploded with astronomical numbers.

If you are a UCF fan you are hoping for progression in his game and that he gets even better. But you also have to be ready for a regression towards that freshman season. The Knights chance to prove last year wasn’t a fluke starts with Milton. If he cannot deliver the team will falter.