UCF picked to finish second in preseason AAC poll
UCF has been picked to finish second in the American Athletic Conference preseason media poll, snapping a two-season streak of being the favorite.
The Knights, who received 241 points and two first-place votes, finished behind Cincinnati, which was the overwhelming favorite with 22 first-place votes. The Bearcats are coming off a conference championship and a spot in the New Year’s Six Access Bowl.
The preseason favorite has gone on to claim at least a piece of the AAC championship in just two of the past eight seasons.
UCF is coming off a 6-4 season in 2020 and hired a new coach in Gus Malzahn in February. The team returns 16 starters, including quarterback Dillon Gabriel.
2021 AAC PRESEASON POLL
1. Cincinnati (22) 262
2. UCF (2) 241
3. SMU 188
4. Houston 181
5. Memphis 168
6. Tulsa 153
7. Tulane 132
8. (tie) East Carolina 85
8. Navy 85
10. Temple 46
11. South Florida 43
First-place votes in parentheses.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Matt Murschel at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @osmattmurschel.
