Recognize Your Enemy: UCF Knights.
Black & Gold Banneret met with us prior to TCU’s inaugural Big 12 game.
The Horned Frogs, who have a 2-0 record so far this season, take face the Knights on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. CT at Amon G. Carter. This will be the two schools’ first-ever competition. UCF moved to the Big 12 last season after multiple strong seasons as a member of the American Conference. This past season, UCF won three conference games. We spoke with Kyle Nash of the Black & Gold Banneret before TCU’s inaugural intraconference game to get more about UCF’s first Big 12 season, the present status of the Knights’ squad, and how UCF and TCU measure up.
O’ War Frogs: What impressions do you have of UCF’s Big 12 debut season? Was it a success? Was a better record what you expected? Banneret in Black and Gold: KnightNation was hoping for a better result. I predicted them to finish 6-6 in the regular season in August of that year, and I considered their first-year ramp-up from the former G5 to be a success. Even though my record forecast came to pass, there were three one-score games that gave the impression that Baylor, Texas Tech, or Oklahoma had won rather than UCF.
O’ War Frogs: To what extent do you think the Knights can contend in the Big 12 in the future? Will there be a Big 12 Championship in the following three years? Black & Gold Banneret: Gus Malzahn and offensive line coach Herb Hand have worked wonders in the trenches, transforming the offense from one that was Chip Kelly-style, Oregon-based under Scott Frost and Josh Heupel to one that can compete at a power-conference level and punch you in the mouth.
This allows UCF to control the ball and keep explosive offenses off the field in a conference where defense isn’t the strongest suit. That is, if their linebacker transfer class stops the run better than they did the previous season. I’m not sure if winning a Big 12 Championship actually occurs. However, the PAC 12 and ACC are still collapsing from their former apex, and the Knights might be one of the first teams with several Big 12 participation in the college football playoffs.
Black & Gold Banneret: The defensive transfers will be the focus for most UCF followers, but it’s hard for me to judge how real they are at this point. For now, put me down for former Cincinnati Bearcat Myles Montgomery at running back. RJ Harvey is UCF’s primary offensive weapon, but Montgomery represents a player with the versatility to be a true asset even if he shares the field with Harvey. Case in point, Harvey scored four touchdowns on a 19-carry night with 126 yards against Sam Houston last Saturday, but Montgomery still ate on his nine carries for 51 yards and a touchdown.
Frogs O’ War: The Knights haven’t had to throw often against two FCS opponents (least amount of passing attempts in the Big 12). Will UCF continue to rely on the ground game against TCU, or will the game script determine the Knights’ playcalling?
Black & Gold Banneret: If UCF throws the ball more than 25 times in a football game, it would have to be in unique circumstances that involved devastating calamity (most likely for the Knights). Obviously, the flow of the game dictates when KJ Jefferson would throw, but if he’s throwing the ball, it’s a down where he or Harvey aren’t running the ball—unless it’s a bomb or a 3rd and long conversion to Kobe Hudson, Xavier Townsend, or Randy Pittman.
Frogs O’ War: Although TCU hasn’t played the staunchest of opponents, the Horned Frogs have flaunted a strong aerial attack. Is UCF’s pass defense as good or better than it was after a fantastic showing a season ago? Which defenders will make life difficult for Josh Hoover and Co?
Black & Gold Banneret: The Knights’ pass defense, despite transfers all over the roster, seems to have come out as cohesive and complete as last year. That being said, what I believe makes life most difficult for Josh Hoover is the double barrel of beef coming from the defensive tackle position. Ricky Barber and Lee Hunter are massive forces that are meant to soak up blocks in space to stop the run but are fast and athletic enough to make a tackle of a runner from behind and effectively rush the quarterback.
As we saw last year though, should TCU manage to keep that duo and the UCF defense on the field for more than 35:00 of the contest, they do start to get tired.
Frogs O’ War: What’s your prediction for UCF vs. TCU? Who wins? What’s the final score?
Black & Gold Banneret: I don’t see a blowout. Also, somehow UCF was favored last I checked. (Yes—I cover UCF and this surprised me.) I see a couple of big plays by TCU turning into touchdowns, but I think both sides get their share of points.
I think the Knights prevail 31-24 as the defense comes up with a big stop late on the UCF side of the field in the closing seconds. However, it feels just as likely it can go the other way.
