NEW YORK — Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey on Thursday said UCF should look “inward” to address the strength of schedule issues that have held back the Knights in the College Football Playoff rankings.
Central Florida (12-0) was ranked eighth in the final playoff rankings by the selection committee after finishing a second consecutive regular season undefeated. The top four teams make the playoff.
Sankey was asked about UCF at the Learfield Intercollegiate Athletics Forum. The commissioner compared UCF’s situation to when the SEC placed only three teams in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament in 2016.
“Rather than point to the selection committee, other people,” Sankey said, “… we looked inward and said how do we adjust to the circumstances around us?”
UCF athletic director Danny White said the Knights can do nothing to fix what he calls an “inadequate postseason” structure.
UCF will face LSU in the Fiesta Bowl this season. The Knights beat Auburn in the Peach Bowl last season to cap a perfect 13-0 season.