Stakes high for UCF-USF rivalry matchup
When the No. 13-ranked UCF Knights and No. 22 South Florida Bulls tangle in their annual rivalry game, it's always an emotion-filled grudge match.
This year's showdown will also be the prelude to a potential championship and another step toward a major bowl bid.
UCF (10-0, 7-0) and USF (9-1, 6-1) will play Friday in Orlando for the American Athletic Conference's East Division title and a spot in the Dec. 2 AAC Championship Game against Memphis, which already has clinched the West Division.
USF's defensive improvement under first-year coach Charlie Strong provides confidence against UCF's high-powered offense, which leads the nation in scoring at 48.2 points per game. The Bulls are 21st nationally in total defense, a drastic departure from 2016, when they ranked 120th.
The Bulls will need sturdy defense against UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton, who is eighth nationally in total offense (330.1 yards per game) and running back Adrian Killins, who averages 7.5 yards per carry.
Meanwhile, UCF's defense must cope with USF's consistent running attack, which ranks eighth nationally at 276.9 yards per game. It features running backs Darius Tice and D'Ernest Johnson, along with dual-threat quarterback Quinton Flowers.
UCF is trying to position itself for the program's fifth conference title. USF has never won a conference title in its 21-season history.
Tennessee dismisses WR Jauan Jennings from team
Tennessee dismissed wide receiver Jauan Jennings from the team on Wednesday after he ripped the Volunteers' coaching staff in a profanity-laced video posted on Instagram.
Vols interim head coach Brady Hoke said in a statement he made the decision "in consultation with" athletic director John Currie. Hoke added that "representing the University of Tennessee football program is a privilege."
"It was a little bit of a surprise I think to everybody, me included," Hoke said Wednesday night on his "Vol Calls" radio show. "But after talking to John Currie and consulting with him, I know what the right thing to do is for our football team. That's why we made that decision."
In his video, Jennings used the words "lying," ''fake" and "snake" to describe the coaches. He said the "coaching staff (is) holding us back" and asked that Tennessee officials "bring us a coaching staff that's honest." Tennessee (4-7, 0-7 SEC) fired coach Butch Jones on Nov. 12. Hoke, who had served as a defensive line coach on Jones' staff, is Tennessee's interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
Jennings, a junior from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, entered the year as Tennessee's top returning receiver. But he hadn't played since injuring his wrist in a season-opening 42-41 double-overtime victory over Georgia Tech.