Central Florida continues to be college football gift that keep on giving.

The Knights' undefeated season - and self-proclaimed national championship - is a conversation that just about everyone associated with college football has an opinion on.

Late last week, Scott Frost - now the coach at Nebraska - pointed out his UCF team deserved a shot at the College Football Playoff but that doesn't mean the team is the champ.

SEC Network analyst Greg McElroy went one better than Frost.

McElroy said on Monday on ESPNU Radio on SiriusXM that Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and, yes, Auburn, would've beaten UCF for the College Football Playoff national championship.

That's right. Despite a 34-27 win over Gus Malzahn's Tigers in the Peach Bowl, Central Florida "would've been dusted," McElroy said.

"If a national championship was on the line, Auburn would've played a whole heck of a lot better," McElroy said. "Just go watch the effort. Talk to the coaches. They may not want to tell you that.

"Getting those guys ready to play just after they got their heart ripped out (in the SEC title game) is really difficult."

If anyone would know, it would be McElroy.

As he pointed out, his Crimson Tide had just lost to Florida for the SEC title in 2008 before meeting Utah in the Sugar Bowl. The Tide lost 31-17.

It comes down to motivation. Central Florida had it in the Peach Bowl. Auburn didn't.

Back in 2008, Utah had it. Alabama didn't.

It certainly justify the losses by the two SEC team, but it helps explain it.

"The Power 5 and Group of 5 are totally different," he explained. "The best Group of 5 is probably a middle-tier Power-5 team, or maybe middle- to upper-tier Power 5 team, depending on the season.

"The Group of 5's depth and talent in the trenches and length defensively ... They are not close to some of the teams actually contending for national championships."

Despite Alabama winning the College Football Playoff, UCF got national championship rings for its players and held a championship parade at nearby Walt Disney World. The school's police department even painted "UCF national champions" on its squad cars.

To his point, McElroy rattled off a couple of teams who would have beaten the Knights.

"Alabama would dust (UCF)," he said. "So would Clemson. So would Georgia. So would all those teams. They would dust Central Florida if a national championship was on the line.

"And you know what? Auburn would to."

Could the Group of 5 hang with the Power 5 if a National Championship was on the line? @GregMcElroy says no.



LISTEN 👇👇👇 pic.twitter.com/Us3oAgmprf — College Sports on SiriusXM (@SXMCollege) May 7, 2018

Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.