There are several awards handed out across the country each week, but one of the most prestigious honors celebrates an entire team’s accomplishment. And on Monday, that accolade went to UCF as the Knights were named the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week.
The announcement was made on SiriusXM Radio’s “College Sports Today,” hosted by Mark Packer and Eddie George.
The Football Writers Association of America has named a national team of the week since 2002, and it is the ninth season that the award has been sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Members of the FWAA All-America Committee decide the weekly honor.
2013 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Teams of the Week
For week:
- North Dakota State
- BYU
- UCLA
- Stanford
- Georgia
- Florida State
- Texas
- UCF
Earning its first win over a top-10 team, UCF traveled to Kentucky Oct. 18 and knocked off No. 8/6 Louisville in dramatic fashion, 38-35. That pushed the Knights’ record to 5-1 this year and 2-0 in the American Athletic Conference, while they also improved to 4-0 on the road in 2013. The 38 points were the most by a UCF team against a ranked opponent, and their 446 yards of total offense were the second most vs. a ranked team.
Against the Cardinals, the Knights fell behind in the third quarter, 28-7, before marching their way to 24-unanswered points. That was highlighted by three touchdowns in a span of 4:20 in the third quarter alone. Eventually with UCF trailing, 35-31, with 3:00 to go, the offense put together an 11-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a 2-yard touchdown pass from Blake Bortles to Jeff Godfrey with 23 seconds remaining.
When the clock struck 0:00, UCF tied its school record for the largest come-from-behind win in program history.
With the victory, UCF entered the top 25 for the first time since 2010, being ranked No. 21 in the AP Poll and No. 25 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. It also sat No. 23 in the first BCS standings released Oct. 20.
The Knights will be back at home for the first time since Sept. 28 when they host UConn in the first American Athletic Conference game at Bright House Networks Stadium. Kickoff is set for Saturday at noon.