November 17, 2018. This marks a historic day in UCF history. College GameDay has arrived and the Knights are ready for battle! This is the first time that College GameDay has made its way to UCF. Not only that, but we are also the youngest university to have College GameDay visit our campus! The atmosphere is brewing with excitement and anxiety as our undefeated Knights face off again in The Bounce House. Here’s why this is so important for us Knights.
1. College GameDay has never made its way to UCF…until now.
If you don’t know what College GameDay is, maybe you’re confused about the hype and why this is so crucial for our school. College GameDay is a live talk show where anchors report on college football’s top teams, their picks, and some of the top players. The live show lasts about three hours and will go on from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. November 17 will make history for us Knights because we have never had College GameDay come to our school. Essentially, if College GameDay comes to your university, you’ve made an impression and now all eyes are on your team. That being said…GO KNIGHTS!
2. This will be UCF’s first top 25 matchup of the season
Not only have we remained undefeated which caught College GameDay’s attention, but we will also be playing another top 25 team. The Cincinnati Bearcats are ranked #24 in the College Football Playoff Ranking and UCF is ranked #11! The stakes are rising as this could possibly be the team to threaten our winning streak. This game will be watched closely as there is a lot on the line!
3. UCF will gain more exposure
We’ve been waiting for this moment for a while now. The Knights haven’t been taken seriously and there’s something off about the system. This is the perfect opportunity for others to begin taking us seriously and realizing our potential as a team (if they haven’t already.) Our top players will also draw more attention as they make their charge to victory! If the draft was on their minds already, they’re all one step closer to that possibility now. You never know when you’ll see Mackenzie Milton, Tre Nixon, Adrian Killins, Mac Loudermilk and others being placed into the limelight. Another thing to keep in mind is that we’ll be on ABC primetime at 8 p.m. for the game—that’s a pretty big deal!
4. College GameDay brings the UCF Knights & their fans closer together
The blackout, the signs, camping out at 3 a.m., the nerves and the dedication. This game is so crucial and is bringing our campus together. An event like this has the Knights at an all-time high and the pride of Central Florida has spread quickly. Drive down Alafaya and you’ll see businesses with “Go Knights!” displayed on their signs. There are banners lined down the buildings on Memory Mall. Knights fans are traveling in packs, buying their GameDay shirts and thinking of creative signs to hold up during the live broadcast. This game has not only become something huge for the UCF football team, but it has also become so important in bringing together the Knights and the fans as we create the best memories. Regardless of what happens, it’s evident that the UCF Knights have some of the most spirited fans in the nation!
All that said…