UCF Knights Kick Off Season Against New Hampshire Wildcats: A Comprehensive Preview

The UCF Knights are set to begin their football season at home on Thursday, August 29th, against the New Hampshire Wildcats. As one of only two FBS teams to start each of their last four seasons on a Thursday night, alongside Minnesota, UCF looks to make a statement in their season opener. This article provides a comprehensive preview of the game, analyzing team strengths, key players, and expert predictions.

Setting the Stage

The Knights are aiming to improve upon their 6-7 record from last season and have been picked to finish eighth in the Big 12 Conference's preseason media poll. UCF has bolstered its roster with the addition of dual-threat quarterback KJ Jefferson and six new defensive starters from the transfer portal. Key returners include Doak Walker Award semifinalist RJ Harvey, second-leading receiver Kobe Hudson, and defensive tackles Lee Hunter and Ricky Barber.

New Hampshire, a member of the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA), an FCS conference, finished last season with a 6-5 record, missing out on the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. The Wildcats are looking to replace key players, including running back Dylan Laube, who was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders, and starting quarterback Max Brosmer, who transferred to Minnesota.

Expert Predictions

Several experts have weighed in on the upcoming game, offering their predictions:

Chris Boyle (UCF Reporter): UCF 48, New Hampshire 13
Chris Vinel (Sports Reporter): UCF 52, New Hampshire 7
Ken Willis (News-Journal Columnist): UCF 38, New Hampshire 8

These predictions suggest a comfortable victory for UCF, highlighting the significant talent and depth gaps between the two teams.

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Team Overviews

UCF Knights

Offense: The Knights' offense is expected to be run-heavy, led by Arkansas transfer quarterback KJ Jefferson, who is known for his dual-threat ability. Jefferson has accumulated over 1,800 rushing yards in his career. Running back RJ Harvey returns as the starter, supported by a committee of talented backs, including Peny Boone, Johnny Richardson, and Myles Montgomery. The offensive line is anchored by junior center Carter Miller, an All-Sun Belt honoree from ULM. The receiving corps features Kobe Hudson and Xavier Townsend, with Trent Whittemore stepping into a larger role.
Defense: The defense is under new leadership with defensive coordinator Ted Roof, who previously won a national championship with Malzahn at Auburn in 2010. Roof's scheme emphasizes a nickel formation with five defensive backs. Key defensive players include senior defensive end Nyjalik Kelly and junior safety Phillip Dunnam. Proven veterans Ricky Barber and Lee Hunter will anchor the defensive line.
Special Teams: Colton Boomer returns as the lead kicker.

New Hampshire Wildcats

Offense: The Wildcats' offense will feature senior quarterback Seth Morgan, a transfer from Virginia Military Institute. Morgan has a career total of 4,815 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions since 2019.
Key Losses: New Hampshire is tasked with replacing two All-Americans on offense: quarterback Max Brosmer, now at Minnesota, and running back Dylan Laube, a sixth-round draft pick of the Las Vegas Raiders. That duo powered the Wildcats to the No. 5 mark in scoring offense (37.5 points per game) among Football Championship Subdivision programs.

Key Factors for UCF

Rushing Attack: UCF's potent rushing attack is expected to wear down New Hampshire's defense. The Knights were fourth nationally in rushing offense last season, averaging 228.2 rushing yards per game.
Quarterback Play: The performance of quarterback KJ Jefferson will be crucial.
Defensive Scheme: The new defensive scheme under Ted Roof aims to improve the Knights' defense.
Home-Field Advantage: UCF's home-field advantage at FBC Mortgage Stadium, where they have an all-time record of 82-26 (.759), should provide a boost.

Key Factors for New Hampshire

Replacing Key Players: The Wildcats must find replacements for their key offensive players from last season.
Quarterback Performance: The performance of new starting quarterback Seth Morgan will be critical.
Containing UCF's Run Game: New Hampshire's defense must find a way to contain UCF's powerful rushing attack.

Noteworthy Stats and Facts

UCF owns a 34-10 all-time record in season openers and has won their last eight season openers dating back to 2016.
Gus Malzahn is 3-0 in season openers at UCF and 11-1 overall in his college coaching career.
UCF was the only Big 12 Conference newcomer to make a bowl game last season.
Gus Malzahn is the only coach to ever win 100 career games as a high school coach and 100 career games at the FBS level as a collegiate head coach.
North Carolina, a future UCF opponent, ranked seventh nationally in total offense last season.
UCF rushed for 200 or more yards in nine of their 13 games in 2023.
In 2023, UCF was 0-8 when allowing 85 rushing yards or more, and 4-0 when they didn’t. The offense also averaged 67% completion in those four wins.
UCF is one of just two FBS teams to start each of their last four seasons on a Thursday night, along with Minnesota.

Players to Watch

UCF:
- KJ Jefferson (QB): The Arkansas transfer brings a dual-threat ability to the Knights' offense.
- RJ Harvey (RB): A Doak Walker Award semifinalist, Harvey is the leader of UCF's rushing attack.
- Carter Miller (C): The junior center is expected to anchor the offensive line.
- Nyjalik Kelly (EDGE): A key player on the defensive line.
- Phillip Dunnam (S): A leader in the secondary.
New Hampshire:
- Seth Morgan (QB): The Virginia Military Institute transfer will lead the Wildcats' offense.

2025 UCF Schedule

The third game of the season against North Carolina will be a strong measuring stick. The Knights will be 2-0 after beating Jacksonville State and North Carolina A&T. They get a week off before Bill Belichick and the Tar Heels come to town. It would be a great win to get before diving into Big 12 play at Kansas State.

Conclusion

The UCF Knights are heavily favored to win their season opener against the New Hampshire Wildcats. With a potent rushing attack, a talented quarterback in KJ Jefferson, and a revamped defense under Ted Roof, the Knights are poised to start the season strong. The game will be a good opportunity for UCF to showcase their talent and depth as they look to build on last season's bowl appearance.

The Knights should be able to take advantage of the home crowd and have some fun when UCF hosts New Hampshire on Thursday, August 29th at 7 pm at FBC Mortgage Stadium.

UCF Knights Top 10 Players

Nyjalik Kelly, EDGE Sr.
Phillip Dunnam, S Jr.
Carter Miller, C Jr.
Keli Lawson, LB Sr.
Isaiah Reed, CB Sr.
Myles Montgomery, RB Sr.
Sincere Edwards, EDGE Soph.
Jalen Nixon, RB Sr.
Malachi Lawrence, EDGE Sr.
Chris Domercant, WR Sr.

UCF Knights Fun Stats

Fumbles: UCF 15 (lost 8), Opponents 10 (lost 2)
UCF Scoring: 1st Quarter 58, 2nd Quarter 119
Rushing TDs: UCF 33, Opponents 14

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