UCF may have landed at No. 11 in USA Today’s latest Big 12 power rankings, but the Knights still have the kind of roster that can make the preseason chatter look silly fast.
On Monday morning, Matthew Glenesk slotted UCF behind a long list of conference teams, with the Knights finishing ahead of Kansas, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Colorado, and Iowa State. They also came away empty in Glenesk’s preseason All-Big 12 selections. That’s the kind of early respect level that usually gets filed under “prove it.”
Still, there’s a real case for UCF as a dangerous spoiler in the league race. Scott Frost’s staff has built around portal additions and returning talent, and the offense has a stabilizing piece in transfer quarterback Alonza Barnett III.
Barnett arrives with a strong recent résumé. After helping James Madison reach the College Football Playoff last season, he turned in a sharp showing against Oregon in the Dukes’ first-round game, throwing for 273 yards, rushing for 45 more and accounting for three total touchdowns. He kept plays alive, pushed the ball downfield and gave a defense that shut out the Big 12 champion Red Raiders in the next round plenty to worry about.
The only catch so far is that fans haven’t seen that version of Barnett in a UCF uniform yet. The coaching staff has been careful with his workload as he works back from lingering injuries, though the staff says he has stayed active and energetic in meetings.
When Barnett does get rolling, he’ll have options. Tight end Dylan Wade is coming off a huge junior season in 2025, when his 43 catches, 523 receiving yards and five touchdowns all set program records for the position.
UCF also has help waiting on the defensive side. Jayden Bellamy is set up for another productive year after finishing with 27 tackles, eight passes defended and one interception. He was a steady presence in Alex Grinch’s scheme, and in February PFSN College ranked him the fifth-best returning cornerback in the FBS after giving him an 88.9 grade last season.
The bigger picture around the program hasn’t changed much this offseason: the Knights keep talking and acting like a team with championship ambitions. That mindset has been echoed by players and coaches alike as UCF tries to turn a low preseason ranking into something much more interesting once the games start.
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UCF Fans Are Already Going To Debate EAs New Big 12 Ratings
With EA SPORTS College Football 27 set to arrive worldwide on July 9, 2026, the first wave of team and player ratings is already giving UCF fans something to argue about. The Knights landed in the middle of the Big 12 conversation, and the initial numbers put a clear spotlight on how the games developers see this roster heading into the new season.
The broader rating sheet gives UCF a respectable but hardly untouchable profile, with the offense and defense both drawing plenty of attention from fans who will compare every digit to what they expect on Saturdays. The individual rankings only sharpen that debate, especially with the top names on each side of the ball and a transfer class that figures to be part of the conversation long before the game even hits shelves. [Read more 🡒]
Braeden Marshalls Lake Mary Return Is A Proud Moment For UCF
Braeden Marshall spent a recent day back in Lake Mary, turning his hometown and alma mater into a place for giving back as he hosted a football camp for young players. For the UCF defensive back, it was a chance to reconnect with the field where his own journey started, reflect on how far he has come, and show local kids what it looks like when a homegrown player comes back with a purpose.
Marshall also used the moment to talk about the leadership role he has grown into with the Knights, where his voice matters as much as his play. His bond with cornerbacks coach David Overstreet has helped shape that approach, and the camp underscored why those relationships matter now, especially for a senior trying to set the tone while still carrying the pride of where he came from. [Read more 🡒]