Now these are your points on why you think UCF is going to become a force in college football
* UCF's position slab dab in the middle of the nation's best state for recruiting (arguably) - This I agree with, but my counter would be its also the most competitive state for recruiting. Do you think UCF is suddenly going to prevent all the programs from getting the talent. You mention current circumstances. When was the last time UCF pulled a top 5 class in the country? Even this year, with what you say is historical lows among the big 3 the best they did is 41 FSU did better and UF and UM at 49 and the only reason why they did better than them is because of numbers signed. Their average composite was an 87 versus 90 - UF and 92 - UM. That is current circumstance.
* its size in terms of students as one of the largest universities in the country, - I don't know why people keep bringing this up as if it is some type of ultimate power. As I said before, the majority of their student body is derived from online distance education. You might as well compare them to the University of Phoenix. They don't continuously pack their stadium. And since when has student body size been the predictor of any football success. Some of the most successful programs have pretty moderate student body size.
* its financial footprint, - Its financial footprint is dependent upon its conference affiliation. Everyone knows that. Again, current circumstances, they are not even in a P5 conference. They WILL be moving to one that is losing its two premier programs in a couple of years, which also coincides when the 2025 television contracts are up. Now do you think the Big 12 is going to end up with the best TV contract? Their financial footprint will improve, but by how much is a huge question
* its location in a major media hub, - This is something Orlando people tell themselves and like to tell everyone, but first Orlando is not a major media hub and second, like student body, this has little to no impact on athletic success.
* its potential leverage in the legislature due to the local demographics, and - Either you do not live in the state of Florida or you are blind to the legislative process. Local demographics do not drive the legislature, the board of governors drive it, which are appointed political positions. If anything, UCF is under probation from the Legislature for misappropriating funds that the legislature allocated. That cost them their president and they are still digging out of that hole.
* its ability to avoid annual face-to-face conference games with the top in-state rivals. - This I agree with.
and explain to the skeptics why UCF (in your opinion) * ABSOLUTELY CANNOT* do what the much less well-situated Clemson from South Carolina has done to pull itself up by its bootstraps .... played in 4 national championships in the past 8 years, and won 2. Finally, Clemson had already won a title back around 1980 and spent the 20+ years after that in a major P5 conference and all the benefits that accrue to it. I agree, is there a chance that UCF is going to win a title in the next 3 - 5 years and become a force in the state of Florida and college football? Sure. They certainly are going to be in better position than any of the lessor programs in Florida. But history AND current circumstances do not say their chance is better than UF, FSU or UM. Therefore, only a blind pumper would sit there and assert that it's a high probability and legitimate threat to happen. In 20 years? Maybe. In the near future 3,5, even 10 years, probably not.
There, I explained why UCF will not do what you assert is possible. All based on not only current circumstances but also historical fact.