UCF is now playing ball with the big boys of the BIG 12. Although Gus Malzahn, head coach of the Knights, has been drawing in Power 5 names and talent to UCF every since he got the job in 2021, there will still certainly be a grace period for his team to get fully adjusted into playing teams full of 4 and 5 star recruits in the Big 12 vs. what they were playing against in the AAC.
Run Run Run: I see UCF leading the Big 12 in rushing this year, and it might not be close. John Rhys Plumlee led the team in rushing last year as a QB with 862 yards and 111 touchdowns, followed by RJ Harvey with 796 yards and 5 touchdowns. This team should go into
every Big 112 contest looking to run down the throats of the piss poor defenses in front of them, and if they do that I can see them winning 4 or 5 games in conference. Whether or not they win more than that, will be completely up to the arm of Plumlee, which was inconsistent but promising last year. Over 2,500 yards, 14 touchdowns and 8 interceptions is solid for a run first offense, but those numbers will have to improve if they want to make some noise in the Big 12.
The Defense: It is hard to grasp how this defense will fare against the pass heavy Big 12, but we do know that the back seven is the weakness and the front four is their strength. The front four will have to apply pressure consistently throughout the year, otherwise the back seven will get carved up
Prediction: I like the Knights to be a bowl eligible team their first year in the Big 12, but not by much. 7-5.
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