UCF has spent the better part of two weeks preparing for North Carolina, as the Tar Heels represent the best yardstick to measure the Knights’ progress so far this season.
This isn’t to downplay the achievements of Jacksonville State (1-2) or North Carolina A&T (1-2), but neither program could be a reliable benchmark for gauging UCF’s true identity.
That should change on Saturday as the Knights look to improve to 3-0 for the third straight season.
“We had two non-conference games to start and got a good battle in the first one and found a way to get that one done. We had a big win in the second one against a team that we probably should have beaten,” said UCF coach Scott Frost. “Every game from here on out is going to be a battle. There are good teams in our league and this is a team that’s going to continue to get better, so we’ve got to go earn it every week.”
Through its first two games, UCF ranks in the top 30 in the nation in scoring (42.5 points per game), total offense (491 yards per game), rushing offense (232 ypg.), scoring defense (8.5 ppg.), passing defense (98.5 ypg.) and total defense (261 ypg.).
The Knights are set to kick off Year 3 in the Big 12 next week with their first road game of the season against Kansas State. The Wildcats have had a rough start, sitting at 1-3, with their sole victory being a comeback win over North Dakota, 38-35.
While a 3-0 start wouldn’t guarantee success in the Big 12, it would provide some crucial momentum for a program that’s 5-13 (28%) in its first two seasons in the league.
North Carolina (2-1) is facing a similar predicament this season.
Scouting the opponent: 5 questions about North Carolina ahead of UCF matchup
In their season opener, the Tar Heels suffered a humiliating loss in front of a national audience, as TCU dominated the game with a 48-14 tally. However, Bill Belichick’s squad bounced back impressively, delivering two consecutive blowout victories against Charlotte (20-3) and Richmond (41-6).
UNC ranks at the bottom of the Football Bowl Subdivision in total offense (125th), passing offense (117th) and rushing offense (100th) while being in the middle of the pack in defense: total defense (69th) and scoring defense (53rd).
Still, it’s tough to figure out which UNC team will show up when the Tar Heels open conference play when they host the reigning ACC Champion in Clemson on Oct. 4. A solid performance against UCF — their second Big 12 rival this month — would greatly influence expectations for Belichick’s team.
“Let’s see where they are after four games,” said Brian Murphy, who covers the program for WRAL. “If you’re 3-1, that feels a lot different than if you’re 2-2 and your only wins are against Charlotte and Richmond. If you’re 3-1 and you’ve shown improvement since the opener, then suddenly the whole Belichick era looks a little bit different through four weeks.”
Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.
