UCF fans everywhere were excited to reach the top 10 on both the AP and Coaches Polls on Sunday after thumping the SMU Mustangs in a conference game. It seems as the Knights continue to win, the national media continues to be forced to show them more respect.

While I maintain my prediction from back in August that if UCF stays undefeated, they will be excluded from the College Football Playoff, there is something interesting coming into play. As often as head coach Josh Heupel mentions that American Athletic Conference (AAC) is for real within the Power 6 and there are “three undefeated teams in the division” during various weekly and postgame press conferences, it appears the AP has been listening. All three of these teams are in the AP Poll for the first time this season.

The USF Bulls at 5-0 are ranked 23rd while the Bearcats of Cincinnati are 25. Considering that both of these teams are on the Knights schedule, this could work out not only for UCF but the reputation of the American as well. Should the University of Central Florida complete the regular season undefeated once again, and that loss is the only one of the docket for USF and Cincy, could that leave the AAC with 3 teams in the Top 25 just before bowl season? And would that leave the Knights higher than the 12th place they were going into all of the New Year’s bowl games?

📺 UPDATE! We’ll be on ABC across most the nation on Saturday at Memphis ✊ (Other portions of the country will see it on ESPN2) pic.twitter.com/Ph89drD8Uv — UCF Football (@UCF_Football) October 7, 2018

But before we can truly answer those questions, the teams have to handle business on the field. UCF is set to hit the road for their first game as a visitor this season since Week 1. Hype has been building around Memphis, for the Tigers see an opportunity for revenge after losing to the Knights in both the regular season and in the AAC championship.

Last week’s AAC Defensive Player of the Week Titus Davis commented on how Memphis is different than last year when they had a senior quarterback, Riley Ferguson, to accompany running back Darrell Henderson. “They look pretty good. Riley Ferguson was a big loss for them; he was a great quarterback. But they filled some holes and they are back rolling like they were. Looking forward to the game. Looking forward to [getting] some good shots on number eight. He’s a good runner. If he gets in the open field, he can move and he can break loose”.

With 934 yards for far on the year, Henderson has done his part to earn Davis’ respect as well as the rest of the nation.

Memphis losses on the year have only come against programs that run the option on offense. But with two defeats already on the season facing Navy and Tulane, they find themselves fighting to stay within a game of the 5-1 Houston Cougars who lead the Western division. Should the Tigers lose to UCF, they will fall to 4-3 and potentially two games back. This is plenty of motivation on top of any payback they might seek.

Kyle Nash, known as The Student of the Game, covers UCF Football for SportsMediaPass.com and is a special contributor for Break the Fourth. He’s a also a writer for the DolphinsWire of USA Today and co-host of the DinnerTime and Default Assault podcasts.