A Team Unveiled A National Championship Banner At Today's Spring Game, And It Wasn't Alabama
UCF football continues to do all of the things that traditional national champions do. After the Knights beat Auburn to secure an undefeated season, athletic director Danny White declared it as a UCF national championship.
They've printed merch. They've had a parade at Disney World. And as of today, a title banner official adorns Spectrum Stadium
UCF hosted its spring game this afternoon. It included the unveiling of the 2017 National Championship banner.
The Knights were the only undefeated team by season's end, hence these UCF national championship claims.
UCF knocked off Auburn in the Peach Bowl, 34-27. That same Auburn team, of course, beat Alabama in the Iron Bowl earlier in the year.
Alabama received an at-large bid to the College Football Playoff. Once there, the Crimson Tide ran through Clemson, and came back to beat Georgia to capture what most outside of Orlando consider the national championship.
UCF finished No. 6 in the final Associated Press Top 25, and No. 7 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. A few members of the media did give the Knights first place votes in that final AP poll.
However, the most important poll now is the College Football Playoff Top 25. The final poll, used to select the four teams in the field, had UCF at No. 12, despite the undefeated record. It was very clear long before that, that the Knights were never going to be considered for the field.
Alabama hasn't taken to UCF's national title claims all that kindly. White and Alabama AD Greg Byrne have traded Twitter jabs in recent months.
Some may be getting annoyed by this UCF national championship claim. However, you almost have to respect the dedication to the bit, even if you think the claim itself is absurd. UCF has celebrated this title more than some actual, official champions have.
