SMQ: What would it take for UCF to reach the College Football Playoff?

1. UCF must stay undefeated en route to the AAC title

First and foremost, UCF cannot sustain a loss in November. Depending on when and where it happens, a loss wouldn’t be the death knell for the Knights’ chances of reaching a New Year’s Six bowl game. But the ceiling would immediately become a trip to Glendale, Arlington, or Atlanta rather than Pasadena or New Orleans.

At this point, a loss would be more costly than if it had come in September or October. When NIU made it to the Orange Bowl back in the BCS days as a one-loss team, their defeat came in the season opener against Iowa. A loss now would come in conference play, which would effectively end not only any longshot dream of a College Football Playoff berth but also even a shot at a New Year’s Six game.

Especially since the Knights lost a chance to play Georgia Tech due to Hurricane Irma, there is even less margin for error this season. For any chance of the improbable to happen, UCF must first hold up its end of the bargain. Five more wins stand between the Knights and a chance at the ultimate prize. Step one is winning out against SMU, UConn, Temple, South Florida, and whichever team makes it out of the AAC West this season.