UCF was given more fuel to propel Coach O’Leary’s “Humble and Hungry” mantra on Sunday, finishing outside the Top 25 of AP’s preseason poll yet again.
This snub comes after 2013’s historic run that ended with a defiant and iconic win for O’Leary and his Knights in their first BCS Game appearance. UCF returns nine of their starters on defense and key contributors all throughout the offense from a squad that stood tall at No. 10 in the nation when all was said and done.
The Knights did, however, receive 94 votes, the most preseason attention the AP has ever paid the organization. The votes were enough to finish ahead of every other team outside the Top 25, including in-state neighbor University of Florida (87), and strong programs such as Texas (86), Iowa (48) and Louisville (48).
Reigning champion Florida State retained their No. 1 ranking from 2013, and UCF’s second week opponent, the University of Missouri, is ranked No. 24.
If the Knights can start this season with two emphatic wins against Penn State in Dublin and away at Missouri, it is not inconceivable to think they will have cemented themselves in the Top 25 heading into Week 3.
You can see the fully expanded rankings here: http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/rankings/ap
