Florida’s Oct. 5 matchup with the UCF Knights will air on the SEC Network with a scheduled kickoff time of 7:45 p.m., according to the SEC office.
The Gators are on a bye this week following a 45-28 win over Mississippi State to move to 2-2 on the season, while UCF plays host to Colorado in search of a 4-0 start.
Florida leads the all-time series against UCF, 2-1, but the Knights won the most recent matchup in 2021. The Gators were in a state flux during that Gasparilla Bowl loss, playing under interim head coach Greg Knox following the firing of Dan Mullen.
However, it’s hard to say that Florida is in a more stable place this time, despite being in Year 3 of the Billy Napier era. Napier’s on the hottest seat in the country, and a good portion of the fan base wants him gone. A loss to UCF — a program long maligned as the little brother of Florida’s Big 3 — might be the final nail in the coffin.
There’s no doubt the Knights have elevated their status in the college football world over the past few years. An undefeated season in 2017 led to a national title claim — the Colley Matrix agrees — and UCF has moved into a Power Four conference with a legitimate shot at winning the Big 12 championship this year.
Florida desperately needs to slow down this changing of the guard before perceptions change for good. Being pushed to the SEC Network after sundown isn’t a sign that the conference believes Florida will, though.
In other years, a surging UCF team coming to Gainesville would receive a lot more hype. Because of the Gators’ recent struggles, this game has been relegated to a regional interest matchup. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
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