UF, UCF kick off conference play; UM is on a roll and FSU, USF look to rebound
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FLORIDA — It's Week 3 in the world of college football, and UCF and Florida will open conference play. With the start of the 12-team college playoff this season, conference play takes on added importance. UCF is undefeated so far, but the Knights played a Football Championship Subdivision team in Rhode Island in the first week and a second-year Football Bowl Subdivision opponent in Sam Houston State. Florida opened with a loss to the Miami Hurricanes, who have climbed to No. 10 in the Associated Press Top 25 and are the only state team ranked.
But the Gators routed FCS team Samford last week. USF crushed FCS foe Bethune-Cookman in its opener but turned in a game effort against No. 4 Alabama before eventually losing 42-16. Florida State, which went undefeated in the regular season last year, is the only winless team, but it is also the only squad to begin the season against two conference opponents. The Seminoles were stunned by Atlantic Coast Conference foe Georgia Tech in its first game of the season in Ireland and then was defeated by Boston College last week.
FSU is hoping to get its season on track against American Athletic Conference foe Memphis, the team he coached before the Seminoles. Here's a closer look at this week's games: Saturday, Sept. 14 UCF (2-0) at TCU (2-0), 7:30 p. m. , FOX The Knights will hit the road for the first time this season, in addition to playing their first Big 12 Conference game of the season.
The Horned Frogs are 11-3 in home games under coach Sonny Dykes. UCF has never played TCU. The Knights rushed for 384.