2024 FTBL Preview: Inside the Schedule -- UCF Knights

UCF KNIGHTS

2023 Record: 6-7

2024 FPI Projection: 7-5

2024 Over/Under Total: 7.5


BIGGEST GAME: Colorado (September 28)

Yeah, you better expect Deion Sanders' return to the state of Florida is going to get a lot of attention. UCF should be 3-0 going into the game. Colorado's schedule is a little more tricky, but 4-0 is a possibility. If that happens, you might as well shut the area down for four hours on the final Saturday of September. Wherever Deion goes is going to draw attention, but Shedeur Sanders is a top quarterback prospect and Travis Hunter is going to be an early Heisman candidate. The environment for this game is going to be exciting and it's a great chance for UCF to make noise on the national stage. 


TRAP GAME: at Iowa State (October 19)

The Big XII schedule wore down UCF in their first year of the conference because they just struggled to stay healthy on the lines week after week. The Cyclones catch UCF after games against Florida and Colorado, so I wonder how healthy they will be in the middle of October. Iowa State has a deep group of starters returning with a solid QB in Rocco Becht. This is.a game they could determine the pecking order for bowl games in the top 5-6 in the Big XII. I just don't like where it is on the schedule for the Knights. 


POTENTIAL UPSET: Cincinnati (October 12)

Another situation where I just don't like where this game is on the schedule. It comes directly after Colorado and Florida, which means the Knights will have dealt with two very emotional games that will have taken a lot of energy. Not leaving the state should prove to be the advantage in terms of physical recovery, but mentally I don't expect UCF to be geared up for facing Cincinnati. That could be a lackluster performance against a team that should be good enough to get to a bowl game. 

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