Tigers Championship Game Preview: UCF

Saturday, December 2

Orlando, Fla.

11:00 AM CT

University of Memphis

#12/11 UCF

Tickets

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Dec 01, 2017 | Football

2017 Memphis FB Notes 12 2 AAC 2017 UCF FB Notes Gm12 Memphis 2017 American FB release 14a

Memphis, UCF battle for 2017 AAC Crown Saturday

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Tiger Nation, let's hope the third time is the charm.

For the third time in 2017, the University of Memphis football squad travels to Orlando, Fla., to face UCF in Saturday's American Athletic Conference Championship Game. No, the Tigers aren't actually playing the Knights for a third time this season, but it is Memphis' third trip to Orlando.

Memphis and UCF were originally scheduled to play Sept. 9 and moved that game up to Sept. 8 because of Hurricane Irma. The Tigers flew to Orlando Sept. 7, but when they landed, they learned Florida Governor Rick Scott had closed the state's universities, and the game was postponed.

The game was rescheduled for Sept. 30, and Memphis traveled to Orlando for a second time in September. This time, the game was played, and the Knights won 40-13.

And it's no wonder the two are meeting for a second time this season with two of the nation's top scoring offenses and two of the country's most dynamic return teams. Memphis (6) and UCF (9) also combined to place 15 players on the All-American Athletic Conference first team and a total of 25 players on both the league's first and second teams (Memphis, 9; UCF, 16).

Game Quick Facts

Opponent	UCF
Day/Date	Saturday, Dec. 2
Time	11 a.m. (CT)
Site	Orlando, Fla./Spectrum Stadium
Television	ABC
Radio (Flagship)	600 WREC AM/Rock 103 (102.7 FM)

Memphis Head Coach Mike Norvell
(Opening comments)
"For our guys last Saturday, it was fun to see them celebrating afterwards, but when we got in the locker room, it wasn't too crazy because we knew our journey hasn't ended yet. It comes to this week, championship week, where every game that we've had put us in a position to be in this game. We know the opponent, having to go back out on the road against an undefeated East Division champion, and one that's played at an exceptionally high level. We know it's going to be a heck of a game. It's going to take our best effort, and we're excited for the opportunity to be in this game, competing against a great team."

(Are the players anxious to have rematch with UCF?)
"They are, most definitely. After the game in Orlando early in the season, we were embarrassed. We didn't feel like we played to the best of our abilities. All credit went to UCF because they caused a lot of that. We turned the ball over four times, lost a possession on a kick return, didn't score in the red zone – all the things that you can't do against a great team. I knew going into the game that was a championship-caliber team we were playing, and I've been proven correct over the past 11 weeks with how UCF's progressing through their season. They've played in some close games, and they've been dominant in just about every single one of them. We've got our hands full. Our guys know there's no need to talk about it. We've got to go out there and prepare, and we've got to put ourselves in a position to be able to have success. When you're playing against another championship-caliber team, you can't make those kinds of mistakes."

(Does the game plan change this time?)
"We have a better sense of who we are. That was our fourth game of the season, and it was UCF's third game of the season. It was early in the season, and we were still trying to find out who we were going to be. Defensively, we had a lot of first- or second-time starters in that game, and we had communication breakdowns. But as the season progressed, you see the cohesion of our football team. We've had to make some changes, and our team adapted to our strengths and talents. You also see that on UCF's team. You look at their offense, and they started off extremely fast this year. They've continued to get better as the year's gone on. You look at their quarterback, and he's got a second full season under his belt now. He's playing at such a high level, and the weapons they have at receiver, running back, in every aspect of their football team, they've improved. It's a complete team that we're playing."

Tigers Tidbits/Five Notes To Know

Saturday's game is the 12^th all-time meeting on the gridiron between the two programs. UCF holds a 10-1 series lead and has won the last 10 over the Tigers, including this season's earlier 40-13 victory at Spectrum Stadium Sept. 30. The Tigers' only win in the series was a 37-28 victory in the 1990 campaign.
This is the first appearance for both Memphis and UCF in the American Athletic Conference championship game, but both programs have league titles in their possessions. UCF won the inaugural conference crown in 2013 with a perfect 8-0 record, and in 2014, Memphis, UCF and Cincinnati each claimed a share of the league championship with 7-1 records. The American went to a two-division format with a championship game in 2015.
While most eyes will be on the high-flying offenses and spectacular return teams, viewers may want to keep a close look on the defenses and how many turnovers they force. Memphis (6^th) and UCF (1^st) both rank in the top-10 nationally in turnover margin. UCF has a +17 turnover margin, and the Tigers are at +12. In the Sept. 30 game, the Knights won the turnover battle 4-1.
The Saturday wake-up calls for 11 a.m. (CT) kickoffs are early. However, the Tigers love playing the morning-kickoff contests, and the numbers prove it. Since the 2014 campaign, Memphis is a perfect 8-0 in games that kick off at 11 a.m. (CT), including seven at the Liberty Bowl. Three of the most memorable wins in Tigers history came in recent 11 a.m. (CT) starts. Earlier this season, Memphis defeated No. 25 UCLA 48-45, and in last season's regular-season finale, the Tigers upset No. 18/21 Houston 48-44. In 2015, the Tigers defeated No. 12 Ole Miss 37-24. This Saturday, Memphis and UCF kick off their American Athletic Conference championship game match-up at 11 a.m. (CT).
One member of the Tigers coaching staff that may feel at "home" Saturday, and he is offensive line coach Ryan Silverfield, who served as a Knights graduate assistant in 2006 and 2007. During his time in Orlando, Silverfield worked with 2007 NCAA rushing champion Kevin Smith, who ran for 2,567 yards in 2007. Silverfield also was a member of the Knights staff that led UCF to the 2007 Conference USA title and a spot in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

Know Your Foe/UCF Facts-Stats Leaders

Quick Facts	2017 Statistical Leaders
2017 Record: 11-0/8-0 The American	Rushing: McKenzie Milton (3,301 yds/30 TD)
Head Coach/Yrs: Scott Frost/2^nd in 2017	Passing: Adrian Killins (711 yds/9 TD)
Starters Returning: 15 (9 Off/4 Def/2 Special Teams)	Receiving: Tre'Quan Smith (48 rec/921 yds/11 TD)
Letterwinners Returning: 42	Tackles: Pat Jasinski (83 total/37 solo/6.0 TFL)