(Photo by Adrian J. Hernandez / New Day Review)
ORLANDO, Fla. – The No. 12 UCF Knights are playing for more than just themselves in the 2018 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. As the only Group of Five school in a New Year’s Six bowl game, the Knights feel there’s an extra motivation to represent non-Power Five programs in a matchup with a team from arguably the best conference in college football: the Southeastern Conference.
UCF and No. 7 Auburn University will meet in the Peach Bowl for the Knights’ second New Year’s Day bowl game. The Knights beat Baylor University in the 2014 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl 52-42 despite being 17-point underdogs the last time they went to a New Year’s Day bowl game.
“I think we’re kinda carrying the mantle for a lot of people this year,” Knights head coach Scott Frost said at UCF’s Peach Bowl invitation presser on Dec. 12. “We’re playing a team that if the ball would’ve bounced a little different could be in the playoff. And, you know, there’s been a lot of talk about Group of Five teams and where they fit and Power Six teams and where they fit.
“And I got a lot of confidence in the players that we’ve been going to battle with every Saturday. I think they’re hungry to prove that they belong on that stage, and, listen, we’re playing a great team, but we’re gonna be ready to play ‘em. We’ll give it our best shot.”
UCF and its nation-leading scoring offense (49.4 points per game) are 10-point underdogs, but the Knights’ Group of Five tag could favor them. Non-Power Five schools are 2-1 in New Year’s Six bowls since the beginning of the College Football Playoff Era and 5-2 in Bowl Championship Series games (h/t, The Ringer); that includes UCF’s win over Baylor.
Linebacker Shaquem Griffin recognizes the outside world’s perspective on UCF and its fellow non-Power Five programs. Even as the only remaining undefeated team in the 2017 season, the Knights only climbed as high as 12th in the CFP rankings. Because of those factors, Griffin feels UCF has a responsibility to beat Auburn.
“We are looked at as a conference that’s not being considered, you know, the top school or not being considered the top conference in the nation,” Griffin said after practice Wednesday. “But it’s up to us to kinda prove people wrong. Obviously, when it comes to the rankings and stuff, we didn’t get what we want, but the only thing we can do is just keep winning games. And we did that, and then we still didn’t get what we want. So it’s time for us to, you know, stand together as one.”
Because of UCF’s lone undefeated status, it was assumed the Knights would ultimately end their season against a Power Five team. Griffin recalls opposing players showing Griffin and his teammates support for a game like the Peach Bowl after wins over fellow AAC schools.
“I remember after each and every game, we had guys come and talk to us about, you know, put on for the conference, like, ‘Let’s finish this strong.’ And it was vice versa. And that’s how it is. Any team they go against, they need to be able to hold it down for our conference and [same] with us.”
Dual-threat running back Otis Anderson sees the Peach Bowl as an opportunity to earn respect.
“Yeah, it is [an opportunity to earn respect],” Anderson said after practice Wednesday. “But, you know, we look at it as every other game. We thank the doubters because that’s what makes us work harder. So, just being able to prove people wrong is really what we’re looking for and just a big game out of every player. This is a big stage; this is the biggest stage for me as well as a lot of the players, so us being able to perform will show the nation that we’re ready to go.”
The Knights and Tigers will meet in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1 at 12:30 p.m. on ESPN.
For more on the Knights, as they prepare for the Peach Bowl and No. 7 Auburn, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.
