UCF Focused on Playing Its Best Ball Against Bethune-Cookman
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
UCF Knights football is back on Thursday, and the team is focusing on playing its best football in the season opener against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats.
It's the first test for a veteran-laden roster playing with a chip on its shoulder and aiming to win the Big 12 championship. Continuity could be an underrated strength, lessening the self-inflicted mistakes that cost them games last season.
Defensive back Antione Jackson said the goal is to play clean football games with no penalties. Penalties were the Knights' Achilles heel, as they led the conference with 91 flags before bowl games took place.
Inexperience and miscommunication resulted in frequent penalties. Illegal shifts, delay of games and false starts erased downfield progression throughout the season.
UCF picked up three false starts in the fourth quarter after Kansas Jayhawks running back Leshon Williams scored the lead-taking touchdown on Oct. 4. It lost the game 27-20, extending its conference record to 0-2.
Jackson highlighted the style the Knights want to play against the Wildcats during the weekly press conference.
"We're blessed to be here in Florida with the heat, and we can use that to our advantage," Jackson told local reporters. "So, we just want to show that we're able to play fast and play physical throughout the whole game."
"Playing fast" has been a trend throughout the offseason during spring and fall camps. Jackson said the offense has given the defense some problems with its speed, with quarterback Alonza Barnett III zipping passes to tight end Dylan Wade and wide receiver Josh Derry.
Most of the offense has said their goal is to be explosive, completing backbreaking plays two to three times a game.
Part of the offense's success also hinges on Jackson putting them into a favorable position. He is returning punts and was named to Phil Steele's 2026 Preseason Big 12 Fourth Team as a punt returner.
The senior defensive back returned 16 punts for 188 yards last season. His 188 yards rank best in the Big 12 and 17th nationally.
Jackson will play a significant role in UCF's performance this season as part of a top pass defense in the Big 12 and one of the best special teams players in the conference.
The Knights are kicking off the journey to rewriting back-to-back losing seasons and returning to a bowl game for the first time since 2022. UCF's season opener against Bethune-Cookman at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos