The UCF Knights have left the AAC and have joined the Big 12. It is now Gus Malzahn’s second power five conference that he has coached in his coaching career. The UCF Knights have a good group coming back and look to play better against better competition as well. This team could be a potential sleeper in the Big 12 in 2023. Here is the preview for the 2023 UCF Knights. 

UCF’s Passing Offense

With Gus Malzahn giving up control of the offense and bringing in Darin Hinshaw, a former UCF quarterback, to come in as the co-offensive coordinator should work wonders for the Knights in 2023. Hinshaw is going to try and improve their passing game which was up and down last year. They bring back quarterback John Rhys Plumlee, who led the team in rushing with 862 rushing yards, but struggled in the passing game from time to time even though he accumulated 2,586 passing yards to go along with 14 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. For Plumlee, they bring back two of his top three receivers from a season ago in Javon Baker (796 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns) and Kobe Hudson (641 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns). These two are going to be vital to the resurgence of the UCF passing attack. 

UCF’s Talented Rushing Attack

The strength of this team has to be their running game. RJ Harvey is the running back to watch out for as he is coming back after a breakout season in 2022. Harvey rushed for 796 yards on 6.7 yards per carry and added 5 touchdowns to go along with it. They also have a speedy back in Johnny Richardson and a former five star recruit Demarkcus Bowman that will solidify this running back group.

This offensive lineman group got a little bit of a retooling. They are led by fifth year senior right guard Lokahi Pauole, who will be the leader of the offensive line. However, they have three transfers coming in that will be expected to start and be effective right away this season. Those three transfers are left guard Amari Knight (Alabama), center Bula Schmidt (Fresno State), and right tackle Marcellus Marshall (Kent State). UCF’s offensive line will be the biggest question mark this season. If they have a successful season, the Knights potential is super high. 

UCF’s Front Six

There is a new defensive coordinator in town as former secondary coach Addison Williams has been promoted to be the new defensive coordinator. This defense is returning six starters and will look to take a step in the right direction in year one in the Big 12. The strength of this defense has to be their defensive line. The leaders of this defense are defensive end Ricky Barber and defensive tackles Josh Celiscar and Tre’Mon Morris-Bash leading the charge. Morris-Bash led the team in sacks and tackles for loss in 2022. They are going to need transfer Shaun Peterson (FIU) to step in and make an impact to make the defensive line that much better for the Knights.

The linebacker core is super suspect, besides the fact that leading tackler Jason Johnson (126 tackles) is back to lead the back seven. UCF needs one of their transfer linebackers Rian Davis (Georiga) and Isaiah Paul (Washington State) to step up and fill the other linebacker position. If UCF can get one of them to step up and help the linebacker group, they’ll be in good shape.

UCF’s Secondary

The secondary is going to either be a strength or a weakness for this UCF defense. Corey Thornton and Brandon Adams are coming back for UCF. Thornton led the team in pass deflections and Adams is poised for a good season. However, they have some transfers coming in that could make an impact. Clemson transfer Fred Davis and Middle Tennessee transfer Decorian Patterson will work to get that number one role on their side. Either way, the cornerback position will be strong because of the fight that will be there all season long.

At the safety spot, the starters should be ECU transfer Jireh Wilson and Texas State transfer DeJordan Mask. However, I do like Quadric Bullard’s chances of making a move at one of the safety spots. UCF Is going to need this secondary’s competition and willingness to get the reps to be a strength for the season. If they are as hungry as I think they are, look out. 

Win Total Bet

The win total is set at 6.5 on the FanDuel Sportsbook, with the over odds set at -110 and the under odds at -110 as well. This team is a sleeper team in the Big 12. I think they match up well against some of these teams on their schedule. Their win total is low in my honest opinion. I am taking the over 6.5 win total at -110 for two units. This team is going to be the best first year Big 12 team. They will show it early and often, and I think they have a chance to make some noise and let the Big 12 know that they are here to stay. 

Schedule Predictions

Win vs Kent State (1-0)

Win at Boise State (2-0)

Blowout Win vs Villanova (3-0)

Loss at Kansas State (3-1)

Win vs Baylor (4-1)

Loss at Kansas (4-2)

Loss at Oklahoma (4-3)

Win vs West Virginia (5-3)

Win at Cincinnati (6-3)

Close Win vs Oklahoma State (7-3)

Loss at Texas Tech (7-4)

Win vs Houston (8-4)