When UCF released its 2012-13 schedule in late August, the slate was filled with big-time home contests. The Knights will host in-state rivals Miami and USF in non-league play, and then welcome Southern Miss, Marshall and Memphis for notable Conference USA contests. There are also non-league games against Middle Tennessee and Belmont, two strong squads that participated in the postseason a year ago.

I wondered if this year's home slate is the best in program history. When I think of UCF's best home schedules, 2007-08 immediately comes to mind. The Knights' inaugural year inside the new UCF Arena featured non-league matchups with Nevada, Ole Miss and UConn. But only one of those teams made the NCAA Tournament (UConn). The C-USA home schedule that season did not feature Memphis, the league's only NCAA Tournament squad in 2008.

Time will tell if this year's home slate is the best in program history, but it is clear that UCF will face plenty of tough tests at the UCF Arena in 2012-13.