UCF Knights Belongs in the SEC East

ORLANDO – It’s time for the UCF Knights to upgrade. The AP Polls have placed the Knights at #15, but the fan base is absolutely distraught. Losing only one game in the past two seasons, the momentum is still strong in UCF’s favor. Looking at the rest of the Knights Schedule: We might have to take a wild guess and say they might just go undefeated in the regular season. Their remaining strength of schedule ranks 77th with the biggest challenge being Houston at home. Unfortunately, the Knights might go undefeated and still not be accepted in the National Championship Playoff. The schedule needs improvement desperately and the Playoff Committee has made it clear that going undefeated with a Group of 5 schedule is not enough to make the four team playoff. So I offer up a solution: UCF belongs in the SEC East.

Why the SEC?

The SEC is full of playoff contenders such as Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Auburn, and Florida. UCF has already defeated Auburn, and only lost by 8 to LSU. So far in 2019: UCF ranks 10th in points per game with 46.5. This ranks ahead of every team in the SEC except for LSU (50.0) and Alabama (50.3). Georgia is ranked behind the Knights at 17 with 42.5 points per game. So far, Alabama and UCF are the only teams to match their 40+ points per game numbers from 2018.

In addition, the Knights have a 29 game streak of scoring 30-plus points. All of this is impressive yes. And it is even more reason to pin them up against the SEC powerhouses every year. But why the east and not the west? Well there’s no one to replace in the west. There may be a strong opinion about the Arkansas program but it’s time for Vanderbilt University to pack their things.

Since joining the SEC, Vandy has won zero conference titles and post a 4-4-1 bowl game record. They have also never been invited to a New Year Six Bowl Game since their 1974 Season. They tied with Texas Tech at 6 in the Peach Bowl. Vanderbilt’s SEC rivals (Georgia and Tennessee) have been completely dominate over the Commodores – both leading the series by at least 35 games. Switching to the AAC (American Athletic Conference) to face schools such as Houston, Memphis, Tulane, USF, and more top American programs to help shape what Vanderbilt can really be.

Rivalry Refresh

Therefore, Central Florida can replace the empty SEC East spot and create new rivalries with their neighbor Florida Gators, the Georgia Bulldogs, and other SEC addition Missouri. Florida and UCF had been communicating through their respective Athletic Directors about playing one another. One can say talking, the other can say debating. Florida wanted a two-for-one series (two games at Florida, one game at Central Florida), but UCF wanted a straight one-for-one. Now we can end this debacle and make them play annually. The last meeting in 2006 where Florida won 42-0.

Pitting them against the powerhouse Georgia Bulldogs yearly will test the capability of UCF Football being a consistent program. Year after year, Georgia is ranked as one of the top teams in the nation. They’re also the only other SEC team, besides Alabama, to make the College Football Playoff. The Knights have never taken on the Bulldogs and can strengthen their resume if they ever come out victorious over Georgia and stifle a SEC/National Title run.

For Bonus, a rematch of the 2018 Peach Bowl between the Knights and Auburn Tigers is due. I’m also confident Central Florida can defeat the struggling Tennessee Volunteers, average South Carolina Gamecocks, and the rising Kentucky Wildcats.

Conclusion

UCF will prove win-after-win that they are here to stay and are serious contenders while in the American Conference. The College Football Playoff Committee will not vote for UCF until their schedule is strengthened. the only way to do that is to give them an SEC schedule and see if they run the table.