LSU Football: 5 reasons Tigers are on upset alert vs UCF

3. Richie Grant leads one of the nation’s best secondaries at UCF

Where LSU is significantly worse than last year’s Auburn side is in terms of their passing game. Jarrett Stidham threw for more than 300 yards against UCF last year, but the next New Year’s Six opponent for the Knights has no quarterbacks on the roster that inspire quite as much fear as Stidham.

They take on a UCF secondary that ranks 14th in the nation in opponent passing efficiency and 33rd in yards allowed through the air. The Knights concede fewer than 200 yards per game, thanks to a formidable secondary that also averages more than one interception per game.

The key to the secondary is RIchie Grant, the redshirt sophomore defensive back that ranks fourth in the country in interceptions. Over the course of the regular season, Grant snatched six of UCF’s 13 interceptions to date.

He also had three other pass breakups, led the team with 102 total tackles, generated two forced fumbles while recovering one, and generally served as the catalyst for UCF’s defensive resurgence. Grant was a big reason why the Knights were able to weather the loss of several key defenders like linebacker Shaquem Griffin and defensive back Mike Hughes.