Aug. 4, 2011
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By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF football achieved several firsts during the historic 2010 season, including its first bowl victory and top-25 national rankings. Now with the 2011 campaign a month away, the Knights received 22 points in the USA Today Coaches Preseason Poll to rank No. 33 in the nation.
It was the highest preseason ranking UCF has earned, and the third-straight season the Knights were receiving votes in one of the two major preseason polls (the Associated Press top-25 rankings have not been released).
UCF also was the highest-ranked program in Conference USA. Houston came in at No. 37 and Southern Miss was at No. 42. Boise State (No. 7) and TCU (No. 15) were the only two schools from non-automatic qualifying BCS leagues (and Notre Dame) to rank higher than the Knights.
Led by C-USA Coach of the Year George O'Leary, the Black and Gold posted a school-record with 11 victories en route to a C-USA title and an AutoZone Liberty Bowl win over Georgia a year ago. It ranked first in the country in kickoff returns thanks to All-American Quincy McDuffie who enters his junior year in 2011. UCF also was eighth in both rushing defense and scoring defense and has several key role players back this season including defensive end Darius Nall (8.5 sacks) and All-C-USA First Team defensive backs Kemal Ishmael and Josh Robinson.
Guiding the offense in 2010 was C-USA Freshman of the Year Jeff Godfrey, who is a member of the 2011 Davey O'Brien Award Watch List for the nation's top quarterback. He will have plenty of support as the Knights' offensive line have a combined 86-career starts and running backs Latavius Murray, Ronnie Weaver and Brynn Harvey each posted at least 10 rushing touchdowns in either 2009 or 2010.
The Knights will get things started in 2011 with the season-opener Sept. 3 against Charleston Southern at 7 p.m. before hosting Boston College Sept. 10 at 8 p.m. at Bright House Networks Stadium.
2011 USA Today Coaches Preseason Poll
1) Oklahoma (42) - 1,454 points
2) Alabama (13) - 1,414
3) Oregon (2) - 1,309
4) LSU (2) - 1,296
5) Florida State - 1,116
6) Stanford - 1,101
7) Boise State - 1,065
8) Oklahoma State - 933
9) Texas A&M - 885
10) Wisconsin - 829
11) Nebraska - 814
12) South Carolina - 779
13) Virginia Tech - 767
14) Arkansas - 750
15) TCU - 687
16) Ohio State - 631
17) Michigan State - 536
18) Notre Dame - 440
19) Auburn - 329
20) Mississippi State - 301
21) Missouri - 266
22) Georgia - 260
23) Florida - 240
24) Texas - 162
25) Penn State - 161
Receiving Votes: Arizona State (6-6) 158; West Virginia (9-4) 149; Utah (10-3) 50; Miami (Fla.) (7-6) 49; Iowa (8-5) 41; Northwestern (7-6) 30; Arizona (7-6) 28; UCF (11-3) 22; Michigan (7-6) 19; Air Force (9-4) 15; North Carolina (8-5) 14; Houston (5-7) 13; South Florida (8-5) 9; Hawaii (10-4) 8; Clemson (6-7) 7; Tennessee (6-7) 7; Southern Miss (8-5) 6; Brigham Young (7-6) 5; North Carolina State (9-4) 4; Northern Illinois (11-3) 4; Oregon State (5-7) 4; Pittsburgh (8-5) 3; Washington (7-6) 3; Georgia Tech (6-7) 1; Nevada (13-1) 1.
UCF football season ticket packages can be purchased online at UCFAthletics.com or by calling the UCF Athletics Ticket Office at (407) 823-1000. Should UCF host the C-USA Championship Game for the fourth time in seven years, it would be played on Saturday, Dec. 3, and season ticket holders will receive the first shot at the best seats.