The regular season has come to an end and I still am wondering how exactly we got to this point.
1. Central Florida Knights (11-0, 8-0 AAC) (Last Week: 1)
Last Week: at South Florida Bulls (7-5) W 38-10
Next opponent: vs Memphis (8-4), AAC Championship
UCF has finished the regular season undefeated for the second straight year, but they suffered a huge loss in the process. Star QB McKenzie Milton suffered a gruesome leg injury in the Knights win over the Bulls last Saturday. UCF could make a case for a playoff spot if everything goes their way this weekend, but it is hard to believe they will be the same team without Milton.
2. Florida Gators (9-3, 5-3 SEC) (Last Week: 2)
Last Week: at Florida State Seminoles (5-7) W 41-14
Next opponent: Bowl Game
The Gators were finally able to end their losing streak to the Seminoles last week and they did so in convincing fashion. Florida’s offense was extremely efficient in this one, as they ran for over 250 yards as a team. Even Feleipe Franks played well, throwing for 250 yards and three touchdowns. The Gators defense also played well as they held FSU to under 300 yards for the game.
3. Miami Hurricanes (7-5, 4-4 ACC) (Last Week: 4)
Last week: vs Pittsburgh Panthers (7-5) W 24-3
Next opponent: Bowl Game
Miami was able to knock off the Coastal division champions last weekend on the backs of their defense. Miami offense may be playing awful right now, but this defense is elite. Miami held Pitt to just 1 for 15 on third downs and just 200 yards of total offense for the game. This offense is atrocious and hopefully that changes during the offseason, but let's just admire this defense for the time being.
4. South Florida Bulls (7-5, 3-5 AAC) (Last Week: 3)
Last week: vs Central Florida Knights (10-0) L 38-10
Next opponent: Bowl Game
Make it five straight losses for USF now. Things have gone from bad to worse in Tampa. This offense is atrocious and it starts at the QB position. USF played two quarterbacks last week, Brett Kean and Chris Oladokun, and the two combined for just over 100 yards passing. That's not gonna get it done. Johnny Ford continues to be the only bright spot on this USF offense, as he ran for 120 yards on 16 carries.
5. Florida International Panthers (8-4, 6-2 CUSA) (Last Week: 5)
Last Week: vs Marshall Thundering Herd (7-3) L 28-25
Next Opponent: at Toledo Rockets (7-5), Bahamas Bowl
FIU’s hot streak came to an end last weekend as they fell to Marshall. Neither offense really got going in this one with both teams hovering around only 300 yards for the game. Neither QB played particularly well in this one but Marshall’s Isaiah Green had two touchdowns to go along with his two turnovers while James Morgan only had the two interceptions.
6. Florida State Seminoles (5-7, 3-5 ACC) (Last Week: 6)
Last Week: Florida Gators (9-3) L 41-14
Next Opponent: Nobody since they didn’t make a bowl game.
Mercifully for everyone in Tallahassee, the Seminoles don’t have to play anymore games this year. It is safe to say that Willie Taggart’s first season at FSU did not go exactly as planned. In their most recent loss at the hands of the Gators, the Seminoles had under 300 yards of offense while also giving up 536 yards to Feleipe Franks and company. FSU will not play in a bowl game for the first time in forever and instead will have to sit through an extra month of offseason before they take the field again.
7. Florida Atlantic Owls (5-7, 3-5 CUSA) (Last Week: 7)
Last Week: vs Charlotte 49ers (4-7) L 27-24
Next Opponent: None
FSU is not the only team in the state to miss out on a bowl game. Thanks to FAU’s loss to Charlotte last week, their season has also come to an end. This season did not go according to plan for the Owls either, especially when you consider that they were almost ranked in the preseason top 25. As for last week, FAU really had no business losing that game. The Owls outgained to 49ers by 112 yards and only had one penalty for the night. With that being said, Charlotte making a 56 yard game winning field goal was enough to send Lane Kiffin and squad home for the year.
1. Central Florida Knights (11-0, 8-0 AAC) (Last Week: 1)
Last Week: at South Florida Bulls (7-5) W 38-10
Next opponent: vs Memphis (8-4), AAC Championship
UCF has finished the regular season undefeated for the second straight year, but they suffered a huge loss in the process. Star QB McKenzie Milton suffered a gruesome leg injury in the Knights win over the Bulls last Saturday. UCF could make a case for a playoff spot if everything goes their way this weekend, but it is hard to believe they will be the same team without Milton.
2. Florida Gators (9-3, 5-3 SEC) (Last Week: 2)
Last Week: at Florida State Seminoles (5-7) W 41-14
Next opponent: Bowl Game
The Gators were finally able to end their losing streak to the Seminoles last week and they did so in convincing fashion. Florida’s offense was extremely efficient in this one, as they ran for over 250 yards as a team. Even Feleipe Franks played well, throwing for 250 yards and three touchdowns. The Gators defense also played well as they held FSU to under 300 yards for the game.
3. Miami Hurricanes (7-5, 4-4 ACC) (Last Week: 4)
Last week: vs Pittsburgh Panthers (7-5) W 24-3
Next opponent: Bowl Game
Miami was able to knock off the Coastal division champions last weekend on the backs of their defense. Miami offense may be playing awful right now, but this defense is elite. Miami held Pitt to just 1 for 15 on third downs and just 200 yards of total offense for the game. This offense is atrocious and hopefully that changes during the offseason, but let's just admire this defense for the time being.
4. South Florida Bulls (7-5, 3-5 AAC) (Last Week: 3)
Last week: vs Central Florida Knights (10-0) L 38-10
Next opponent: Bowl Game
Make it five straight losses for USF now. Things have gone from bad to worse in Tampa. This offense is atrocious and it starts at the QB position. USF played two quarterbacks last week, Brett Kean and Chris Oladokun, and the two combined for just over 100 yards passing. That's not gonna get it done. Johnny Ford continues to be the only bright spot on this USF offense, as he ran for 120 yards on 16 carries.
5. Florida International Panthers (8-4, 6-2 CUSA) (Last Week: 5)
Last Week: vs Marshall Thundering Herd (7-3) L 28-25
Next Opponent: at Toledo Rockets (7-5), Bahamas Bowl
FIU’s hot streak came to an end last weekend as they fell to Marshall. Neither offense really got going in this one with both teams hovering around only 300 yards for the game. Neither QB played particularly well in this one but Marshall’s Isaiah Green had two touchdowns to go along with his two turnovers while James Morgan only had the two interceptions.
6. Florida State Seminoles (5-7, 3-5 ACC) (Last Week: 6)
Last Week: Florida Gators (9-3) L 41-14
Next Opponent: Nobody since they didn’t make a bowl game.
Mercifully for everyone in Tallahassee, the Seminoles don’t have to play anymore games this year. It is safe to say that Willie Taggart’s first season at FSU did not go exactly as planned. In their most recent loss at the hands of the Gators, the Seminoles had under 300 yards of offense while also giving up 536 yards to Feleipe Franks and company. FSU will not play in a bowl game for the first time in forever and instead will have to sit through an extra month of offseason before they take the field again.
7. Florida Atlantic Owls (5-7, 3-5 CUSA) (Last Week: 7)
Last Week: vs Charlotte 49ers (4-7) L 27-24
Next Opponent: None
FSU is not the only team in the state to miss out on a bowl game. Thanks to FAU’s loss to Charlotte last week, their season has also come to an end. This season did not go according to plan for the Owls either, especially when you consider that they were almost ranked in the preseason top 25. As for last week, FAU really had no business losing that game. The Owls outgained to 49ers by 112 yards and only had one penalty for the night. With that being said, Charlotte making a 56 yard game winning field goal was enough to send Lane Kiffin and squad home for the year.
