With the start of the 2025 college football season less than 100 days out, this is the time of year when national sports commentators and analysts begin to fill these long, sun-soaked summer days with their predictions and projections for the upcoming season.

Enthusiastic debates about potential team rankings, standout players, and game strategies start to unfold, stirring excitement among fans eager for the return of the gridiron action.

There is much excitement surrounding UCF as the upcoming season approaches, as well as significant uncertainty. The program experienced a coaching change when Gus Malzahn left to become the offensive coordinator at Florida State, leading to Scott Frost‘s return.

This transition and a disappointing 4-8 record in the 2024 season resulted in a significant roster overhaul, with nearly 40 players entering the transfer portal. While there were substantial additions, questions remain about how this team will respond in Year 3 of the Big 12.

Former minor-league pitcher Mason Denaburg set to join UCF as punter

ESPN writers Eli Lederman, Max Olson and Adam Rittenberg ranked the offseason for every Power 4 program, basing their findings on the retention of key (non-draft eligible) players, retention of key coaches or staff upgrades, and player additions through the transfer portal and high school ranks.

According to their projections, UCF is last in the Big 12.

The Knights were credited with the additions of quarterback Tayven Jackson, defensive lineman Sincere Edwards and offensive lineman Carter Miller. However, it was also pointed out that the team lost running back RJ Harvey (drafted in the second round of the NFL draft), receiver Kobe Hudson (an NFL signee) and defensive tackle Lee Hunter (who transferred to Texas Tech).

When addressing what went wrong this offseason, ESPN quickly pointed to the number of departures, stating, “The Knights have had 34 scholarship players depart this offseason, including 11 who started games last season. They were hit especially hard along the offensive line with Adrian Medley (Florida State), Marcellus Marshall (Minnesota), Caden Kitler (Arkansas) and Waltclaire Flynn (Georgia) moving on.”

When looking at what UCF did right this offseason, the site talks about the 34 transfer signees Frost and the coaching staff brought into the program, highlighting a rebuilt quarterbacks room that features Jackson, Jacurri Brown, Cam Fancher, Davi Belfort, and running back Jaden Nixon.

College football analyst Bill Connelly breaks it down by saying, “Last time Frost took over in Orlando, he was inheriting pieces from an 0-12 team. So it has been worse! But UCF has the lowest returning production levels in the conference, and Frost will start out with an offense that boasts almost literally no proven pieces. This renovation might take a little while.”

Five observations on UCF football this offseason

ESPN isn’t the only national organization not high on UCF this offseason.

CBS Sports college football writer Shehan Jeyarajah released his post-spring Big 12 power rankings on Thursday, and the Knights were ranked last.

Jeyarajah also points to the team’s roster turnover as the main reason UCF projected higher.

“The Knights are truly starting from scratch after the return of coach Scott Frost, and replace more production than almost every power conference team. Potentially two-thirds of the depth chart could feature new faces, and the quarterback room contends with Oklahoma State for worst in the league. Year 1 could be a struggle,” he posted.

Considering the offseason changes, none of these projections should be surprising, but they give UCF fans some idea of what an uphill climb some see for the Knights this season.

Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com