A highly anticipated matchup, Florida Atlantic and their head coach Lane Kiffin draw no expectations when they travel from Boca Raton to Orlando for Friday’s game.
Head coaches from both teams favor offensive mindsets and both have excelled in overpowering their team peers. Kiffin has followed along with UCF’s championship season and – while favoring Alabama as the true national champ – across the board praised the players who brought the team to Atlanta, quarterback McKenzie Milton especially.
“This is obviously a tough guy to contain and a tough offense,” Kiffin said of Milton, the Palm Beach Post reports.
“They obviously go extremely fast and he’s a really special player. He made so many plays down the stretch and some tight games where he made some huge plays. They’re really good all around.”
UCF (2-0) has gone fifteen games without seeing a loss and shows no signs of stopping. Head coach Josh Heupel is in the process of filling in areas that saw key players leave for the NFL such as Mike Hughes, Tre Quan Smith, Jordan Akins, and more. Milton, however, remains in the stellar condition he built up in 2017.
Despite three interceptions in the SC State matchup – what the team dismissed as an off game – Milton still contributed a touchdown and 250 yards. Adrian Killins and Otis Anderson continue to be a potent mix on the field. The offensive line has yet to allow Milton to be sacked or tackled – a point of pride so far during both weekly press conferences.
“Height, weight, speed, the players, the size of the guys,” Kiffin said. “It’s like playing an SEC opponent.”
UCF as an “SEC Caliber team” makes sense for the SEC East. The conference West? Maybe. The post-season will say more. Either way, Kiffin and crew will be up against a team hot on their feet and a home fan base that line up in the thousands within the opening minutes of ticket sales.
The game will likely sell out.
Join us in covering UCF and FAU at Spectrum Stadium Friday at 7 p.m.
Photo: FAU Athletics
