College Football News Preview 2020: UCF Knights Keys To The Season
Biggest Key To The UCF Knights Offense
Is it just as simple as being totally awesome all the time? The UCF attack was great in every game, and it was strong even in the three losses. However, it failed to generate 460 yards three times.
Loss at Pitt, loss at Cincinnati, loss at Tulsa
Okay, so there were a few other issues, too – like turnovers. The Knights turned the ball over six times in the ten wins, and nine times in those three losses, but when the O rocks, the team seems to be able to overcome everything else.
The program has lost 39 games over the last ten years. It didn’t get to 460 yards in any of them.
Biggest Key To The UCF Knights Defense
Force a few more fumbles and come up with a few more game-changing plays.
This is really nitpicky for a defense that was among the nation’s best on third downs, led the country in tackles for loss, and was great overall, but … recover the ball when it’s on the ground.
UCF forced 15 fumbles, and it recovered a mere eight – and three of those were in the bowl win over Marshall. The last time UCF failed to come up with double-digit fumble recoveries in a season was that 0-12 aberration in 2015.
The offense and giveaways were bigger issues, but the defense only came up with two takeaways in the three losses, and that was the only three times and the team lost the turnover margin.
Key UCF Knights Player To A Successful Season
C Matthew Lee, RFr.
Jordan Johnson was a terrific longtime center and anchor for the attack. He’s gone, but most of the remaining linemen are strong enough to come up with another good season up front.
The 6-4, 290-pound Lee got in four games worth of work as a true freshman – preserving his redshirt – working behind Johnson, and now he’ll get the first look. There are other options – veterans at other spots might get tried out – but if Lee is great, that eases the pressure everywhere else.
Key Game To The UCF Knights Season
North Carolina, Sept. 4
The home games at Cincinnati and Temple will be a huge deal in the American Athletic Conference title chase, and going to Memphis and USF will be even bigger, but as a program, UCF thinks bigger than just a conference championship.
Call the opener against North Carolina the tone-setter for everything else.
In the battle to get the Group of Five spot in a New Year’s Six bowl – and dreaming of getting into the CFP – starting out with a home win over a terrific North Carolina team is a must.
– UCF Knights Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2019 UCF Fun Stats
– 1st Quarter Scoring: UCF 191 – Opponents 45
– Time of Possession: Opponents 33:31 – UCF 26:07
– Passing Yards Per Game: UCF 316.7 – Opponents 199.5