When the 2018 Preseason AP Poll dropped on August 20th, I was curious as to what would transpire for the UCF Football Program. The Coaches Poll listed the University of Central Florida at no. 23 as the highest ranked and the only member of the American Athletic Conference in the top 25. Would the AP Poll put them in the same place?

With the Knights ranked 21 in the AP Poll, I could already hear all the UCF fans and local Orlando media outrage despite a higher placement than in the Coaches Poll. It’s not that it’s without merit.

No other school in the Top 25 of the AP saw as much movement from their 2017 ranking within the list compared to UCF who dropped 15 spots from their previous rank of 6 at the end of last year.

UCF is the first school ever to be ranked lower than 20th in the poll after completing the previous season undefeated and returning a quarterback who received Heisman Trophy votes. (McKenzie Milton was eighth in the voting nationwide.)

The reason given for this is the change in coaching from Scott Frost to Josh Heupel. Not a bad explanation on the surface until you observe FSU at 19 after losing coach Jimbo Fisher in favor of former Oregon man Willie Taggert.

So while the supporters of the 2017 National Champion Knights have their credible gripes, there are a few benefits to being ranked in this spot.

1 2 3 4

Share this: Tweet



