2. UCF boasts the type of top-shelf defense that wins championships
Even though UCF found themselves unable to produce nearly as many points without McKenzie Milton as they usually put on the scoreboard with their Heisman-hopeful quarterback, they had no problem putting away rival South Florida. That was in large part thanks to the shutdown performance by a strong defense that has the Knights in title contention for a second straight year.
Against a strong South Florida offense that entered the game averaging 456 yards and 31 points per game, UCF clamped down on the road. The Knights gave up only 309 total yards to the Bulls, as USF was unable to do much in the air without Blake Barnett at quarterback. Between Chris Oladokun and Brett Kean, the Bulls managed to post only 113 passing yards with one touchdown and one interception.
UCF boasts the type of defense that clamps down hardest when it matters most. The Knights entered the weekend with the 16th-best defense in the FBS in the red zone, and they held the Bulls to 5-for-18 on third downs and 0-for-2 on fourth-down tries.
If they are going to successfully defend their AAC championship and earn a second straight New Year’s Six bowl trip, UCF needs their defense to be as good as they were against South Florida on Friday. The defense that showed up in Tampa is playing at a championship level and would be wholly justified in earning one of the College Football Playoff spots if everything swings right.