For the first time in three years, UCF will have to carry on through a season after a loss. The Knights fell to Pitt on the road on Saturday, dropping their first regular season game since Nov. 26, 2016.
It was the first time during this win streak that UCF played back-to-back Power Five opponents, and the team just couldn’t quite notch two in a row after easily defeating Stanford last week. A common criticism of the Knights over the last few years has been that, while they are capable of beating power teams in one-off games, the grind of a major conference schedule would wear them down.
The AP voters appear to have bought into that theory, dropping UCF from No. 15 to No. 22
While the loss didn’t affect the team’s AAC Championship hopes, the Knights are now no longer in control of their destiny when it comes to making a third-straight New Year’s Six Bowl.
UCF will need to be perfect throughout the rest of the season, and needs to see teams like No. 16 Boise State and Appalachian State drop at least one game.
Despite the road loss, the Knights still currently have won 17 straight games at home. They will look to defend that streak in their conference opener when UConn comes to Orlando next Saturday.
