UCF isn’t buying into a glossy preseason label, and neither is the locker room.
When CBS Sports dropped its rankings of all 138 FBS programs on Wednesday, the Knights landed at No. 59 overall. That put them just behind Kansas and Cincinnati and slotted them at No. 13 in the Big 12 - a spot that has matched plenty of offseason expectations, even if it doesn’t exactly scream contender.
Inside the program, though, the focus is elsewhere. Scott Frost and members of his staff have said this offseason has felt much smoother than the last one, giving them a better chance to zero in on specific areas they want to improve. The tone around the team has shifted with that comfort level, and the players have been talking openly about bigger goals.
Alonza Barnett III has become one of the clearest voices driving that belief. The transfer quarterback has leaned into the idea that UCF can thrive in the underdog lane, and he’s pointed to his own playoff experience as part of that confidence.
"That's addicting bro," Barnett said about the opportunity. "It was crazy.
Growing up, playing video games against Oregon, like De'Anthony Thomas, all the different flashy uniforms and all that stuff. It was loud from the first quarter through the fourth.
Nobody left."
Barnett also described one of the more memorable details from that environment, noting Oregon’s duck mascot riding out of the tunnel on a motorcycle.
The moment clearly didn’t rattle him. Barnett produced three total touchdowns, threw for 273 yards and added 45 rushing yards.
James Madison put up 34 points in that game, which stands out even more considering Oregon’s defense then blanked Big 12 champion Texas Tech in the next round.
Barnett has made it clear he wants to be the kind of leader teammates can lean on, especially with his final college season ahead. He framed the year with a simple outlook at a recent meet-and-greet.
"I look forward to enjoying each and every game as it’s my last collegiate season…" Barnett said at a recent meet-and-greet."Fans can expect a great brand of football, some fireworks here and there and some really consistent play."
He has also pushed a “why not us?” message in the locker room, and the team has embraced that mindset. In a Big 12 where six different teams have won the regular season title in six straight seasons, there’s plenty of room for a program like UCF to believe the path is there.
In Other News...
UCF's New Backfield Could Decide How Far Scott Frost's Offense Goes
A new look in the backfield could end up telling the story of how far Scott Frosts offense can go at UCF. The Knights went into the transfer portal to patch a rushing attack that lost production from its previous running backs, bringing in Duke Watson from Louisville and Landen Chambers to compete with Taevion Swint for the starting job.
Watson has leaned into the battle, saying he welcomes the competition and sees a fit in Frosts wide zone scheme because of his versatile running style. With multiple options now in the mix, UCFs challenge is less about finding bodies and more about finding the right combination to lift a ground game that needs to take a step forward. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Defense Has A Reason For Real Hope This Season
Alex Grinch spent this offseason looking for the kind of stability UCFs defense has often lacked, and the clearest place to find it may be right up the middle. The Knights are trying to toughen the defensive interior with veteran edge and a linebacker group that now has more continuity, thanks in part to the return of familiar faces such as Lewis Carter and Jayden Bellamy. For a unit that wants to play with more consistency snap to snap, keeping experienced pieces in place matters almost as much as any schematic tweak.
Cole Kozlowski could be the biggest reason that optimism feels real. The linebacker made an immediate impact after arriving from a mid-major program and earned All-Big 12 Third Team honors last season, and his pending return gives UCF another proven presence in the middle of the defense. If the Knights are going to turn that offseason hope into actual improvement, the interior is where it likely starts, and Kozlowskis availability is the detail that could shape how far this group can go. [Read more 🡒]
UCFs Big 12 Path Looks Tougher With One Contender Setting The Pace
Texas Tech enters the Big 12 race looking like the team to beat again, and that matters for UCF because the path through the league already appears crowded at the top. The Red Raiders are favored to repeat as conference champions at -105, a reflection of a roster that returns 65% of its production and should again bring the league's best defense into the fall.
Houston is part of the reason the middle of the Big 12 could be so unforgiving for everyone else. The Cougars bring back the conference's second-highest share of production and have shown real growth recently, giving the league another team with the pieces to push for the title chase while Texas Tech remains the standard. [Read more 🡒]