A 45-19 blowout win over Temple wasn’t enough for UCF to move up in this week’s College Football Playoff rankings. The Knights remained No. 15 in this week’s installment of the rankings.
The Knights (10-0, 7-0) are one of only four undefeated teams left in all of Division I, but the committee ranked seven two-loss teams- plus a three-loss team- ahead of them. Mississippi State (8-3, 4-3 SEC) jumped UCF this week despite needing a late touchdown to beat Arkansas (4-7, 1-6 SEC) on Saturday.
UCF is still the top-ranked Group of Five team, leading Memphis (No. 20) and Boise State (No. 23). This week’s opponent, USF, is still missing from the poll. If the Knights beat the Bulls and win next week’s conference championship game, they will earn a spot in a New Year’s Six bowl game. Their destination would most likely be Atlanta for the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl.
This week’s rankings continued to boost the argument that Group of Five programs receive far less consideration than programs in Power Five conferences. In past weeks, the committee has said that UCF’s strength of schedule is what prevents a higher ranking. Wisconsin is the next-lowest undefeated team at No. 5. The Badgers have one win over a team currently ranked in the College Football Playoff poll (Northwestern at No. 23). The Knights also have one (Memphis at No. 20).
UCF will look to finish the regular season with a perfect 11-0 record when it hosts USF (9-1, 6-1 AAC) on Friday. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.
