We all know the story of the Central Florida Knights from the 2017 season. In case you do not know, here is a bit of a run down; Central Florida goes 12-0 in the regular season, heads to the Peach Bowl to face the Auburn Tigers. The Knights upset the Tigers 34-27, going 13-0 for the season. The Knights self proclaimed themselves the 17-18 national champions of the season despite not going to the CFP last season. Alabama would go on to win the national championship in the CFP. The NCAA would not recognize Central Florida as champions until a few months later after the season was over, recognizing them as co-champions.
The Knights have done nothing but dominate their competition so far this year and still have the nations longest winning streak at 18-0 the past 18 games of course dating back to last season. Which brings us to todays discussion. Are the Knights legitimate playoff/title contenders? Simply put; Yes, they are. Only if the remaining schools in front of them just collapse before our very eyes.
Why They Have A Chance
The Knights have 6 games left in the regular season. They do not have a win against someone in the top 25. But as of right now, there are two top 25 teams remaining in their schedule in which they play those two schools the last two weeks of the season, which are Cincinnati and South Florida. If they stay within the top 25 until hen and they win, that will certainly look great for them. And let us not forget going to Memphis will not be a picnic either.
The first College Football Rankings for the 2018 season will be on Tuesday October 20. Currently, the Knights sit at #10 on the AP Poll. If the CFP rankings are any reflection of the AP Poll, right now that means 6 teams stand between them and a playoff spot. But we have just a little over two weeks to see where the Knights will stand in the eyes of the selection committee. They could very easily lose in those 2 weeks. Anything can happen on any given Saturday. And that could also mean that that any of the schools in front of them can lose as well.
What They Need To Be Careful Of
Believe me when I say the schools in front of them certainly are taking notice of them creeping up on them, and are rooting against them. The one conference in particular and schools that are certainly rooting against them is the SEC Alabama and Georgia and the reason why they are scared is because the Knights are fully capable of taking away the SEC chances of once again having two schools in the Playoff much like they had last year. And the Knights are very well capable of stealing one of the SECs playoff spots.
Right now I am not saying the Knights are not going to make the CFP this year, however if they do not make the CFP going 26-0, they should open up the committees/NCAA eyes of possibly expanding the CFP to having an 8 team playoff.
Prove Everyone Wrong
I have been saying it since the beginning, a 4 team playoff is just a Guinea Pig. Just testing the waters and seeing how it works. If the Knights do not make the Playoffs this year going not just undefeated again this year but going 25-0. It probably would be 26-0 but however Hurricane Florence ran its course on the east coast earlier this year causing Rany cancelled games including UCF vs UNC.
Regardless if UCF makes it into the Playoffs this year or not, I say to them and the Knights nation is enjoy it while you can. This wave will not last forever. Good luck to you Knights. Prove to the nation that a no power 5 school can make the CFP and possibly win a lone national championship.