Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Playoff? UCF states its case
ATLANTA — McKenzie Milton wanted to throw a blanket of 13 victories and no losses over the College Football Playoff.
After Milton and Central Florida capped a perfect season, he suggested it was time to respect the Knights, even if they weren’t invited to the playoff.
Milton threw two touchdown passes and ran for 116 yards with another touchdown, leading No. 12 UCF to a 34-27 Peach Bowl victory over No. 7 Auburn on Monday.
Then it was time to boast. “I said on the podium, you can go ahead and cancel the playoffs,” Milton said. “I’m not changing my mind.”
UCF (13-0) led 34-20 before having to stop a late Auburn comeback. Antwan Collier’s interception in the end zone with 24 seconds remaining clinched the victory.
The UCF players launched a joyous postgame celebration, rolling around in confetti on the field while wearing T-shirts that read “Champions.”
The Knights won in their final game with Coach Scott Frost, who stayed with the team through the bowl game after accepting an offer to become the new coach at Nebraska, his alma mater. Frost will bring most of his UCF assistants to Nebraska.
“It was the right thing to do to come coach these guys,” Frost said, holding the game ball. “I’m not happy for me. I’m so happy for these guys.”
The Knights thought they deserved a higher ranking after winning the American Athletic Conference and leading the nation in scoring. They made a strong statement by beating Auburn (104).
Frost said “it wasn’t right” for UCF to not receive more consideration for the fourteam playoff.
“They deserve more credit from the committee than they got,” he said.
Auburn was held to 90 yards rushing on 44 carries.
“That was probably the main stat that was disappointing for me,” Tigers Coach Gus Malzahn said.
The Knights sacked Jarrett Stidham six times. Auburn had only one sack.
After Auburn took a 20-13 lead in the third quarter on a 4-yard run by Kerryon Johnson, Milton threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Otis Anderson to tie the game. Milton, under pressure, zipped an 8-yard scoring pass to Dredrick Snelson early in the fourth to give the Knights the lead.
Chequan Burkett’s 45yard interception return for a touchdown pushed the lead to 14 points.
Auburn suffered its second consecutive loss at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where it was beaten by Georgia in the SEC Championship Game one month ago.
Johnson, who said he was almost fully recovered from a late-season shoulder injury, ran for 71 yards.
UCF led 13-6 at halftime despite being held under 14 points at the break for the first time this season.