We met with Black & Gold Banneret before TCU’s first Big 12 contest.
Following a 2-0 start to the season, the Horned Frogs await the Knights in a battle at Amon G. Carter on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. CT. This contest will be the first between the two schools. After numerous successful seasons as a member of the American Conference, UCF has since transitioned to the Big 12—winning three conference games a season ago. Prior to TCU’s first intra-conference game, we caught up with Kyle Nash of the Black & Gold Banneret for more on UCF’s first season in the Big 12, the current state of the Knights’ roster, and how UCF matches up with TCU.
Frogs O’ War: What do you make of UCF’s first season in the Big 12? Was it a success? Did you expect a better record?
Black & Gold Banneret: I know KnightNation expected a better record. I picked them in August that year to go 6-6 in the regular season and saw a bowl appearance in the first year of ramp-up from the former G5 as a success. While I was exactly right in my record prediction, I didn’t see three one-score games that felt more like UCF lost them than Baylor, Oklahoma, or Texas Tech won them.
Frogs O’ War: How confident are you in the Knights’ ability to compete in the Big 12 going forward? Do you foresee a Big 12 Championship within the next three years?
Black & Gold Banneret: While Gus Malzahn has his critics, he and offensive line coach Herb Hand have done wonders in the trenches developing the offense from a Chip Kelly Oregon-style offense under Scott Frost and Josh Heupel to one that will punch you in the mouth and compete on the line at a power-conference level.
In a conference whose incumbent members aren’t best known for defense, this enables UCF to control the ball and keep explosive offenses off the field, assuming their linebacker transfer class does a better job than last year stopping the run. As for winning a Big 12 Championship, I’m not so sure that happens. But as we continue to witness the collapse of the PAC 12 and ACC from their previous perches, the Knights may be among the first teams to be included in the first college football playoff with multiple Big 12 participants.
Frogs O’ War: Following an impressive offseason transfer haul, who’s been the most impactful transfer through the first two weeks?
Black & Gold Banneret: The defensive transfers will be the focus for most UCF followers, but it’s hard for me to judge how real they are at this point. For now, put me down for former Cincinnati Bearcat Myles Montgomery at running back. RJ Harvey is UCF’s primary offensive weapon, but Montgomery represents a player with the versatility to be a true asset even if he shares the field with Harvey. Case in point, Harvey scored four touchdowns on a 19-carry night with 126 yards against Sam Houston last Saturday, but Montgomery still ate on his nine carries for 51 yards and a touchdown.
Frogs O’ War: The Knights haven’t had to throw often against two FCS opponents (least amount of passing attempts in the Big 12). Will UCF continue to rely on the ground game against TCU, or will the game script determine the Knights’ playcalling?
Black & Gold Banneret: If UCF throws the ball more than 25 times in a football game, it would have to be in unique circumstances that involved devastating calamity (most likely for the Knights). Obviously, the flow of the game dictates when KJ Jefferson would throw, but if he’s throwing the ball, it’s a down where he or Harvey aren’t running the ball—unless it’s a bomb or a 3rd and long conversion to Kobe Hudson, Xavier Townsend, or Randy Pittman.
Frogs O’ War: Although TCU hasn’t played the staunchest of opponents, the Horned Frogs have flaunted a strong aerial attack. Is UCF’s pass defense as good or better than it was after a fantastic showing a season ago? Which defenders will make life difficult for Josh Hoover and Co?
Black & Gold Banneret: The Knights’ pass defense, despite transfers all over the roster, seems to have come out as cohesive and complete as last year. That being said, what I believe makes life most difficult for Josh Hoover is the double barrel of beef coming from the defensive tackle position. Ricky Barber and Lee Hunter are massive forces that are meant to soak up blocks in space to stop the run but are fast and athletic enough to make a tackle of a runner from behind and effectively rush the quarterback.
As we saw last year though, should TCU manage to keep that duo and the UCF defense on the field for more than 35:00 of the contest, they do start to get tired.
Frogs O’ War: What’s your prediction for UCF vs. TCU? Who wins? What’s the final score?
Black & Gold Banneret: I don’t see a blowout. Also, somehow UCF was favored last I checked. (Yes—I cover UCF and this surprised me.) I see a couple of big plays by TCU turning into touchdowns, but I think both sides get their share of points.
I think the Knights prevail 31-24 as the defense comes up with a big stop late on the UCF side of the field in the closing seconds. However, it feels just as likely it can go the other way.
Special thanks to Kyle for taking the time to enlighten us Horned Frogs fans about one of the Big 12’s newest squads. Be sure to check out Black & Gold Banneret for everything UCF.