The state of Florida has been a powerhouse going on 40 years in the college football world, led by Miami, Florida State, and UF. But are we now in a place where we put UCF in the same tier? Let’s break it down
Why it isn’t.
Florida, Florida State, and Miami have longer traditions and have won actual national titles. UCF claims one in 2017, but we know it’s fabricated. Going undefeated is great, but claiming you won a natty because you beat Auburn, who beat Alabama, who eventually won it all doesn’t fly. The best UCF win that season aside from the Auburn game? Memphis. Meanwhile, Alabama went on to beat Clemson and Georgia to win their national title, the real national title.
UCF is a solid program but they have a total of seven double-digit win seasons and have 10 losing seasons since they began football in 1996. That’s pretty much every three seasons they lose. That’s not great. The Gators have three legitimate national titles, Florida State has three as well, and Miami has five. And all three have winning percentages well above .600 over many more years of football while UCF is .559. Based on tradition, it’s just not a big four.
Why it is.
While history is great, let’s look at recent history. In the last six years, here are the teams’ records.
- UCF 59-19
- Florida 45-30
- Miami 43-31
- Florida State 36-36
That’s a hefty difference. Yes, the Gators play the toughest schedule of these teams by far, and the ACC is harder than the AAC as well, but winning is winning. UCF is also now a Power Five program, so its strength of schedule will improve.
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And an argument can certainly be made that UCF has been a playoff contender more than Miami, as many times as FSU and just slightly behind the Gators. With UCF headed to the Big 12 and recruiting clearly improving as a result, a case can be made for them as a Big Four member.
And my take is….
Give me UCF in the big four. I hear them mentioned by four-star recruits more than ever before, there is a lot of momentum for the program as they’ve become a legit portal option, and Gus Malzahn will have them competitive in the Big 12 very quickly. Florida State is on the rise, but Miami and Florida haven’t been truly impressive in years, and the last national title from any of the current Big Three was in 2013 when Jimbo Fisher led the ‘Noles. That seems like forever ago. I say big four.
