UCF’s season is finally and mercifully over. The Knights’ season ended with a 44-3 loss to the USF Bulls that was never really close.
The result was . . . predictable.
Whether it was predictable back in August . . . it certainly was not. The complete destruction of UCF on both sides of the ball. The complete ineffectiveness of the offense and the defense to do anything.
It all came to a close mercifully with USF defeating UCF 44-3 at Bright House Networks Stadium on Thursday night.
The Knights again saw the same story — the team scored early and looked OK. They looked like they could keep pace if they could get some stops and move the ball.
Then USF scored easily and answered. The Knights had no answer for the Bulls. And the mistakes began to compound. The defense could not get the stops and UCF could not move the ball.
Justin Holman again struggled to find a rhythm. He passed for 116 yards on 10-for-26 attempts. Seven of those catches and 102 of those yards went to Tre’Quan Smith.
The Knights, like all season, had no offensive options. No run game to speak of and inconsistent pass game. And that is putting it kindly.
The defense could not track down Quinton Flowers — 176 yards on 14-for-21 passing for three touchdowns — or Marlon Mack — 102 yards on 18 carries. The Bulls drove easily as the Knights failed to tackle.
South Florida, like every team it seems this year, just bulldozed UCF. The Knights faced adversity and they pushed too hard to try to get it back and only made things worse.
UCF certainly tried be aggressive and go for it to try and push for that win. But the team did not have it. Not at all. USF had everything to play for even if UCF had nothing to lose.
Eventually nothing to lose became no reason to play. The Knights gained only 203 total yards, giving up 455 total yards to the Bulls. It was total domination.
The Knights never had a chance once the Bulls got themselves going.
And thankfully, they do not have to get themselves going again until next August. At least then they will be 0-0 and have a chance again.
