(Photo by Adrian J. Hernandez / New Day Review)
ORLANDO, Fla. – The University of Central Florida will take its first trip out of the Eastern time zone this season, as the Knights will take on Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday.
This will be UCF’s first time playing as a team ranked in the College Football Playoff rankings, as the first list of the season debuted on Oct. 31. Apart from No. 18 UCF, the No. 23 Memphis Tigers are the only other team in the American Athletic Conference or any Group of Five conferences in the first CFP rankings.
The Knights (7-0, 4-0 in AAC) will play their second-to-last road game of the year against SMU (6-2, 3-1 in AAC) at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Week 10 action.
The last time the Knights visited SMU was in 2013. A UCF team that would later beat Baylor University 52-42 in the 2014 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl narrowly escaped an SMU team that finished 5-7 that year with a 17-13 victory. The weather at kickoff for that game was 24 degrees Fahrenheit. On Saturday, the low temperature is expected to be 68 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Weather.com.
Here is what to look for when UCF travels to face SMU.
Chad Morris Has Lead SMU to Turnaround Season
SMU head coach Chad Morris has the Mustangs bowl-eligible for the first time since 2012. Morris is in his third season as coach of SMU, and the team has improved every year.
In 2015, after coming over from Clemson University where he was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, he led the Mustangs to a 2-10 record, a one-game improvement from 2014. In 2016, an even bigger improvement was made, as the team finished 5-7. Now, in 2017, with four games left in the season, Morris and the Mustangs are already bowl-eligible at 6-2.
“From 35 months ago to get to this point today is remarkable,” Morris said on Oct. 27 after a win over the University of Tulsa, per SMUMustangs.com. “To get to where we want to get to and consistently win championships here at SMU, you had to get to this point first. To get here, it raises the bar for this program. I’m so proud these young men believed in us when nobody else did. When others said it would be so difficult to do, these kids saw it as an opportunity.”
SMU Has Nation’s Ninth-best Offense
The main reason for the rebirth of the SMU program is its offense. SMU ranks No. 9 in college football in points and total yards per game. The Mustangs average 41.5 points per game on 507.4 yard per game. SMU is just one of the nation’s seven teams that can claim top-10 rankings in both scoring and total yards.
For SMU, the majority of their offense comes through the air. The Mustangs rank 14th in the country for passing yards per game, throwing for 319.9 yards per game. SMU’s pace is also faster than UCF’s No. 1 scoring offense, which runs an average of 67.4 plays per game. At No. 17 in the nation, SMU runs an average of 76.3 plays per game.
UCF defensive coordinator Erik Chinander acknowledges the potency of SMU’s offense.
“It’s the No. [9] offense in the country, so I love that challenge,” Chinander said after practice on Oct. 31. “Just like we loved the Navy [Midshipmen] challenge. I think our team plays better when we’re really challenged, and they know it’s gonna be a good offense. This is a good scheme. Well-coached team.”
Courtland Sutton Is 1 of the Best Wide Receivers in the Country
The Knights’ defense has faced several imposing threats on the flank throughout the 2017 season, such as East Carolina University’s Davon Grayson, the University of Memphis’ Anthony Miller and the University of Cincinnati’s Davon Grayson. Together, they have combined for 2,086 yards and 20 touchdowns this season.
SMU’s Courtland Sutton might be even more dangerous. Sutton is a projected first-round pick, as predicted by Pro Football Focus, Bleacher Report, CBS Sports and USA TODAY. Luke Easterling of CBS Sports predicts Sutton could be drafted as high as 10th-overall.
This season, Sutton is having a down year, relative to last season. In 2016, Sutton finished 12 games with 1,246 yards and 10 touchdowns. Through eight games this season, Sutton has caught 43 balls for 706 yards and nine touchdowns. His nine touchdowns have him tied for third in the nation in touchdown receptions. One reason for Sutton’s decrease in receptions is Louisiana State University transfer Trey Quinn. He leads the nation in receptions with 79.
“They got a first-round draft choice at receiver, and they got a transfer from LSU that’s really, really good,” Chinander said. “I think [Quinn]’s really good. I think he’d be the No. 1 receiver at most places. He’s the No. 2 because of [Sutton].”
Mustangs Defense Is Vulnerable to UCF’s Offense
While the SMU offense puts up prolific numbers and has some of the best playmakers at wide receiver, the defense has struggled. The Mustangs’ defense ranks near the bottom in both opposition scoring and yards. Opposing teams have scored an average of 31 points per contest, as the Mustangs have the 95th-best scoring defense in the country. The yardage allowed is even worse, as SMU allows 439.6 yards per game, ranking 101st.
The secondary is where the Mustangs have the most problems. SMU gives up 278 passing yards per game, ranking 122nd in the nation. Even with those deficiencies, UCF offensive coordinator Troy Walters sees a game-changing defensive line.
“They play hard,” Walters said after practice on Oct. 31. “It starts up front with those guys. Their D-line is active, big, tough. On the edge, the defensive ends—they come up field. They create havoc up front.”
SMU Hardly Tested in AAC Play Yet
At No. 15 in the Associated Press Top 25 and No. 14 in the Coaches Poll, UCF will be SMU’s second ranked opponent of the season. The first was Texas Christian University. SMU lost its first game of the season 56-36 the then-No. 20 Horned Frogs in Week 3. Despite the TCU game, SMU’s schedule hasn’t been arduous. In the preseason, ESPN ranked SMU’s schedule to be the 75th-hardest this year. As the season progressed, the SMU’s ranking never elevated higher than 65th until Week 8. In Week 8, SMU had the 58th-hardest schedule, and, in Week 9, the mustangs had the 48th-hardest.
The combined record of opponents that SMU has defeated this season is 21-28. FCS Stephen F. Austin State University, SMU’s season-opening opponent, contributes four wins and five losses. As for teams the Mustangs have lost to, their combined record is 12-4. UCF will be the second conference foe that SMU will face with an overall record above .500. The Knights are also entering their second homecoming game this season, as Navy held its homecoming against UCF, too.
“I know it’s gonna be their homecoming, and they’re coming off a big win,” Frost said. “It’s gonna be a fun game, but, again, I wanna see this is as an opportunity for our team to take another step.”
For more on the Knights, as they prepare for the Mustangs, follow Ryan Weiss on Twitter at @NDR_RyanWeiss.
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