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5 college football teams that could be the next TCU in 2023

By John Scimeca

Dec 31, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; TCU Horned Frogs head coach Sonny Dykes celebrates their 51-45 over the Michigan Wolverines during the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Rondone-Arizona RepublicMich Tcu 28
Dec 31, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; TCU Horned Frogs head coach Sonny Dykes celebrates their 51-45 over the Michigan Wolverines during the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Rondone-Arizona RepublicMich Tcu 28 /
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ORLANDO, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 29: John Rhys Plumlee #10 of the UCF Knights looks on prior to a game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at FBC Mortgage Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 29: John Rhys Plumlee #10 of the UCF Knights looks on prior to a game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at FBC Mortgage Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

2. Central Florida

While the Knights went 9-5 last season  (not quite a sub-.500 record like TCU in 2021), the record was a letdown for a program that wanted to jumpstart its participation in the Big 12 this upcoming fall.

In fact, Central Florida has compiled 13 losses overall in the past three seasons, a far cry from the three-year stretch between 2017 – 2019 in which the Knights went a combined 35-4, appeared in two New Years Six bowls and claimed a national championship (following the 13-0 finish in 2017).

UCF lost both its coordinators, which could be akin to replacing your longtime head coach (like TCU with Gary Patterson) before making a postseason run. The Knights still put together a solid early signing day class, including the Orlando Sentinel’s top Super 60 prospect — defensive end Kaven Call.

Something else to build on for 2023 is the team’s ground attack: the Knights ranked ninth in the nation last year with 228 rushing yards per game, averaging 5.2 yards per carry.

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