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BYU linebacker Jack Kelly (17) tries to hit Oklahoma State Cowboys running back Rodney Fields Jr. (20) as BYU and Oklahoma State play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
ORLANDO, Florida — Plastered on the face of the press box that overlooks the “Bounce House” — aka FBC Mortgage Stadium, home of UCF football — are words that proclaim the Knights the “2017 National Champions.”
The phrase has brought plenty of attention, and plenty of derision, because UCF wasn’t the “real” national champion that year. In most minds, it was Alabama, winner of the College Football Playoff.
The Knights claimed it because they had gone undefeated (12-0) in the regular season and then beat Auburn in the Peach Bowl after being snubbed for a spot in the CFP.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott and state lawmakers passed a resolution on Jan. 8, 2018, saying UCF was the true national champion, and shortly thereafter there was new signage at the Bounce House — which apparently got the nickname because the stadium vibrates and shakes when the fans jump in unison.
It is into that setting that the undefeated and No. 11-ranked BYU Cougars — who also claim a national championship (1984) — arrive on Saturday with plenty to gain, and a lot to lose.
But will anybody in black and gold be jumping around?
UCF (3-4, 1-3), which isn’t having anything close to its 2017 campaign, having lost four straight games, hosts BYU (7-0, 4-0) with an eye toward turning its season around. The Knights will be able to play loose and free.
So the pressure is squarely on BYU in a Big 12 game that kicks off at 1:30 p.m. MDT and will be televised nationally by ESPN.
Will the Cougars be up to the task? Or will the Knights get a measure of revenge for the 49-23 beatdown delivered by Zach Wilson and company in…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/byu-vs-ucf-struggling-knights-030000299.html
Author : Deseret News
Publish date : 2024-10-26 03:00:00
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