With Memphis rout, UCF strengthens claim to Group of Five top spot
https://theathletic.com/114911/2017...-strengthens-claim-to-group-of-five-top-spot/
UCF made a statement Saturday night in Orlando, and it left a mark.
Four years ago, the Knights won the Fiesta Bowl. Two years ago, they were winless. Now, Scott Frost’s team should be the favorite to win the American Athletic Conference.
The Knights rolled past Memphis 40-13 on Saturday, putting up 603 total yards, including 350 on the ground.
“I love being these guys’ coach,” Frost told reporters afterward. “That was an unbelievable performance by our guys. They were hungry to play. We beat a really good team, and we outplayed them.”
South Florida has been the highest-ranked team in the AAC all season, but the Bulls have looked shaky at times against an easy schedule. Meanwhile, UCF’s blowout win against Memphis came one week after a dominating 38-10 victory at Maryland — a team that won at Minnesota on Saturday.
It was widely known UCF could put up points, and that the Knights likely would against a banged-up Memphis defense. But it was the UCF defense Saturday that shut down a Tigers offense that was scoring more than 40 points per game. UCF forced four turnovers, including three interceptions of Memphis quarterback Riley Ferguson, and also made a 4th-and-goal stop. Two takeaways came with Memphis inside UCF’s 10-yard line.
MOOD.
Welcome to the livest locker room in the Sunshine State ?
#RiseAndConquer pic.twitter.com/tOG4U6O8cO
— UCF Football (@UCF_Football)
October 1, 2017
“I was a little worried after that first drive,” Frost told reporters afterward. “I talked to (defensive coordinator Erik) Chinander, who did a fantastic job. I can’t say enough about him. They gave us some stuff on the first drive that we weren’t ready for. We made great adjustments. Man, we’ve got a defense that loves to play football. They play together, they communicate, and they run and hit. I’m just a spectator when the defense is on the field, because those coaches have got it, and those players have got it. It’s fun to watch.”
UCF has four starters back from last season’s defense, all in the front seven. Chinander told The All-American last week that the Knights’ solid rush defense allowed him to simplify things for an inexperienced secondary. That paid off Saturday. The Knights held Memphis to 3.1 yards per rush, and the three interceptions give UCF six in three games. Linebacker Shaquem Griffin, the 2016 AAC Defensive Player of the Year, recorded eight tackles (five solo) plus a sack and forced fumble.
As for the offense, sophomore quarterback McKenzie Milton was 19-for-31 passing for 253 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, along with 88 yards on the ground. Running back Adrian Killins Jr. broke off a 96-yard touchdown run to help UCF achieve its first 300-yard team rushing performance since 2011.
Frost took the Knights from winless to six victories last season but has said the jump to nine or 10 wins would be more difficult. With their victories over Maryland and Memphis, plus the cancellation of the Georgia Tech game, the path to nine or 10 wins is in sight, as is the Group of Five berth in the New Year’s Six bowl games.
UCF’s next two games are at Cincinnati and at home again East Carolina, two of the worst teams in the AAC. After that, it’s a difficult trip to Navy followed by a Nov. 4 game against SMU, two stout challenges ahead of the regular season finale against USF.
With each UCF win, the noise from Nebraska fans clamoring for Frost to be the Cornhuskers’ next coach will only get louder. Frost hasn’t hidden his love for his alma mater, but he’s not going to say anything noteworthy about the Nebraska job during the season, and especially not while Mike Riley is the coach in Lincoln. Still, the situation reminds of when Michigan fans openly clamored for Jim Harbaugh’s return for essentially an entire season, and then it happened.
For now, the focus should be on UCF’s resurgence. USF is the highest-ranked Group of Five team in the polls, and although San Diego State will remain my top G5 team if they hold off Northern Illinois, UCF has its own claim, and it is growing stronger.
“We’ve got a ways to go, but I’m happy with the way the guys are executing,” Chinander told The All-American last week. “The effort, the hats to the ball, the communication, their demeanor on the field. We’re pleased with that.”
