UCF relying on returning players, as the Knights are “on the rise” this upcoming season

conferences in college football, and probably the deepest from top to bottom,” Knights coach Guz Malzahn said at Big 12 Media Days.

Despite stepping into a new conference, the roster is in familiar territory. Six starters on both sides of the ball (plus the kicker and punter) are returning this season, and 11 of the returning players received first, second, or third team conference honors last year.

(albeit against lesser competition), ranking 31st in PPG (32.9) and 46th in opponents PPG (23.6).

Since the July 1 announcement back in 2021, the Big 12 has been awaiting its four new schools, UCF included.

As a new era of the conference begins this season, the Knights, coming off a 9-5 season and an appearance in the Military Bowl, are being called up to the majors, departing the American Athletic Conference for the Big 12.

“I’m very excited. This is a great conference, one of the best football

In the new era of college football, though, the expectation is to also reload via the transfer portal, and the Knights did just that, poaching 18 players from other schools. From all areas, UCF had a successful offseason by officially uprooting its AAC ties for the Big 12 and from a roster standpoint.

The biggest positive in the Knights retaining and adding players from both sides of the ball is that they ranked in the top 50 in both points per game and opponents points per game

However, like all football conversations, the expectations for the upcoming season start and end at the quarterback position, a position that has a familiar face from last season. John Rhys Plumlee, entering his second season at UCF after transferring from Ole Miss, led FBS quarterbacks in rushing yards (861 yards) and threw for over 2,500 yards as well. Malzahn believes he’s ready to take the reins of the program both on and off the field.

“I actually recruited (Plumlee) out of high school; (he) went in the portal two years ago, transferred from Ole Miss; did a very solid job for us. He is in a great spot to take that next step really as our team leader,” Malzahn said on his QB1.

Whether it’s Plumlee, the city of Orlando, or the UCF program, Mal- zahn’s key theme in Arlington, Texas, in July when talking with reporters was how his team was “on the rise.” With double-digit numbers of players returning and incoming transfers, the roster is ready to be competent in the Big 12, but only time will tell if they’ll be competitive.

Malzahn’s confident. The sky’s the limit.

“I really feel like we’re a program that’s on the rise. When I took this job, I really thought it was a gold mine, the potential,” Malzahn said. “I really felt strongly we would be in the Power Five in a short period of time. I didn’t know it was going to be in the Big 12, but just the potential, like I said earlier, in Orlando, the best brands in the world, no NFL team...

“So, the sky’s the limit potential.” sports.ed@ocolly.com