Football preview: UCF Knights
Facing a familiar foe, the Cincinnati Bearcats seek to gain their first conference win against Central Florida. Kickoff is 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at Nippert Stadium.
The Knights are 3-5 on the year and coming off a 13-point loss to the University of West Virginia. Similarly to the Bearcats, the black and gold are seeking their first win in Big 12 conference play, standing at 0-5 on the year.
The Bearcats are last in the Big 12 following a sizable 32-point loss to the Oklahoma State Cowboys in a game where Cincinnati’s offense was held to a mere 162 passing yards.
Enduring a rough season up to this point, the Knights have struggled moving the ball through the air but have had success on the ground. Running back RJ Harvey has been a bright spot in a dull offense, averaging an impressive 5.4 yards per carry in conference play.
In the Knights best game of the season, losing by only two points against top ranked Oklahoma, UCF managed to pass the ball effectively, create a turnover and control the pace of the game—a task that head coach Gus Malzahn and company will seek to replicate.
UCF will be focused on taking what plays the Bearcats give them, capitalizing on turnovers and controlling the pace of the game.
On the flip side, the Bearcats will seek to establish the run game early and, in return, open a passing attack that has thus far been inconsistent. At his best early in the season, quarterback Emory Jones was slinging the ball for over 300 yards and multiple touchdowns—a performance that has felt like a lifetime ago for Bearcats' fans.
Recently, however, Jones has struggled to find open receivers and has been careless with the ball—a weakness that the UCF secondary is eager to expose.
The Bearcats key to victory is playing clean football. By making the first tackle, limiting turnovers and establishing a consistent passing attack, Cincinnati may earn their first Big 12 conference win in program history.
Both Cincinnati and UCF are in uncharted territory as they go through their respective first year in a Power Five conference after being in the American Athletic Conference for several years prior. For both Bearcats head coach Scott Satterfield and UCF head coach Gus Malzahn, this game is critical to their teams’ futures.
For the Bearcats, a win on Saturday is essential for this season and future seasons. Despite likely being eliminated from bowl contention, a win could give the Bearcats momentum going into the offseason. After all, building a football program takes time and has its hard moments—just ask former head coach Luke Fickell.
The Knights and the Bearcats will battle it out at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. The game will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1.
