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UCF Football: Win or lose, it will be exciting with Gus Malzahn

By Chris Peterson

TAMPA, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 27: Dillon Gabriel #11 hands the ball off to Greg McCrae #30 of the UCF Knights during the second quarter against the South Florida Bulls at Raymond James Stadium on November 27, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 27: Dillon Gabriel #11 hands the ball off to Greg McCrae #30 of the UCF Knights during the second quarter against the South Florida Bulls at Raymond James Stadium on November 27, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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UCF football has a new head coach in Gus Malzahn and his first season with the Knights should be exciting and successful. 

Even before Gus Malzahn came to UCF football as the head coach, the Knights were a program with vast potential.

The Knights had their undefeated season and Peach Bowl win over Auburn as well as an appearance in the Fiesta Bowl.

UCF put together three consecutive 10-win seasons before the program dropped to 6-4 last season and finished outside the top-25 for the first time since 2016.

Malzahn might have been fired by Auburn last season, but he won 66 percent of his games there and beat Nick Saban three times. He also led the Tigers to the BCS title game and two major bowl games.

Adding a coach like Malzahn to a program like Central Florida could be a dynamic pairing and if there’s one program that’s not part of a power-5 conference but should be — it’s the Knights.

But programs in the SEC or ACC are probably going to be reluctant to add the Knights when it would only bolster recruiting even more.

As it stands, Malzahn should be able to clean up on the recruiting trail, and looking ahead to this season, he’s blessed with one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Dillon Gabriel.

The non-conference schedule offers some opportunity and with the Knights just outside the AP Top 25, they could contend for a NY6 bowl again with a strong start, although winning the American will be a huge challenge with Cincinnati.

Here’s a look ahead to the 2021 season with a breakdown of the offense and defense, as well as game-by-game predictions.

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