ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit doubted UCF. He didn't believe the Knights belonged in the College Football Playoff last year. He tweaked the school for claiming a national championship. He did not like the approach UCF took in building its brand in the College Football Playoff era.
Then, when ESPN College GameDay traveled to Orlando, Fla., for UCF's matchup with Cincinnati on Nov. 17, he met with UCF athletic director Danny White. He saw a talented team led by McKenzie Milton before the quarterback suffered a season-ending leg injury. Herbstreit as he puts it, was "converted."
"It's one of those things where I needed to see for myself in person," Herbstreit told Sporting News. "I have an appreciation for their team and their skill. It made me really appreciate the passion for their fanbase, and I got it. I kind of apologize for being late to the party."
The problem is UCF (12-0) was not invited to the Playoff party despite a second straight unbeaten season. The Knights hold the longest win streak in the FBS at 25 games and play LSU (10-3) in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1.
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UCF has become one of the focal points of an escalating movement to push the CFP to eight teams. After seeing first-hand how the program operates, Herbstreit thinks that discussion is warranted.
"I think UCF's success in 2017 and then following it up in 2018 with another incredible run has definitely got people talking and got their attention," Herbstreit said. "On top of that, having the Pac-12 left out again and having the Big Ten champion left out the last three years (has helped). That's why you have a lot of people coming together saying, 'We've got to figure this thing out.'"
UCF has become the poster child of that movement, and that has created friction with the SEC. The Knights beat Auburn 34-27 in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl last season and claimed a national championship despite the fact Georgia and Alabama played in Atlanta in the Playoff championship. Now, UCF plays LSU, which lost three games and finished three spots behind the Knights in the final rankings at No. 11. During the buildup, the Knights have been in the middle of a scheduling controversy with Florida.
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If the Knights win here, then would they claim a second national championship?
"There is a polarizing view of their brand around the nation," Herbstreit said. "Maybe that's been the plan all along is to try to create enough havoc to have people talk about it."
Herbstreit compared UCF to Boise State, which compiled an 84-8 record under Chris Petersen from 2006-12 during the Bowl Championship Series era and scored victories against heavyweights such as Oklahoma, Georgia and Oregon in that stretch. Petersen took a far more low-key approach during that run, but the Broncos were never given a shot at the national championship despite undefeated regular seasons in 2006, 2008 and 2009.
Would a win against the Tigers push the eight-team playoff debate even more?
"We're still a long way from executing that or having something happen," Herbstreit said. "I think it's healthy and natural to be discussing about expanding it to eight teams."
Herbstreit continued his work with Allstate throughout the season, which included selecting a Mayhem Moment that was highlighted on each week's prime-time telecast. That will continue during the bowl season. "It's to remind fans that who knows what kind of mayhem bowl season will bring us, and fans can always count on Allstate to continue to find exciting ways to bring college football and fans together on and off the field," Herbstreit said.
