New Rivals250: https://n.rivals.com/prospect_rankings/rivals250/2025
Biggest movers: https://n.rivals.com/news/rivals-rankings-week-ten-biggest-risers-in-the-rivals250-24
Adam Gorney's position-by-position thoughts: https://n.rivals.com/news/rivals-rankings-week-breaking-down-the-new-rivals250-for-2025

I have paid zero attention to Alabama this year, but taking a look at their schedule and stats:

• Their OOC weekend schedule was pretty weak: Manhattan, Valparaiso, Lipscomb (swept all three). They did play in a solid tournament in Frisco, TX that included #21 Indiana (win), Arizona (win), and #23 Dallas Baptist (loss).
• Offensive stats look pretty darn good. Five starters batting over .300 with a couple other guys with a lot of AB's also hitting over .300. Team batting AVG of .301 and .910 OPS. Our pitchers are definitely going to be tested.
• They actually have fewer stolen bases (29) than us (37), so they don't run much.
• Pitching wise, none of their starters look particularly scary. They do give up the long ball (85 compared to our 47). Their walks and strikeouts are pretty comparable to our stats. Our WHIP is a little lower than theirs. They've given up 327 runs to our 263.

We should be able to put up some runs, but it looks like it's going to mostly come down to our pitching being able to limit their potent bats.

I've noticed that even before the early signing day, many UCF fans have been panicking about the future of the program (or simply forgot how good of a class this is). Too many people are going by the overall ranking, ignoring the fact that UCF didn't just add a ton of 3 star kids to boost the overall ranking like other schools did nationally. I stumbled across this video of a coach who is decently known around GA talking about the UCF class. He has no ties to any UCF commit or UCF at all. If you have some time, give it a watch and realize the future is EXTREMELY bright.

Yes, UCF is looking for a 2024 QB.....but most need to realize it was/is going to take a few years for us to be where we feel we should be. We truly got some dogs in this class.

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Also because I'm in the mood to make another graphic, of the 2024 kids.....in this thread, who should I make a graphic for? I ideally want to make it for one kid and I'll let the dungeon decide (I'll count whoever has the most votes randomly one day).

Now he does say UCF may add like 10 more guys by NSD.....that isn't happening lol but he also isn't connected to UCF so he is just throwing out that random #.

The video isn't anything crazy btw, just an outsiders view of things

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😂

@SADUCFKNIGHT

Well played ole boy*

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Cameron White loved his first-ever visit to UCF.

The linebacker from Sumner High School near Tampa was offered a couple weeks ago and has quickly established a relationship with the staff, particularly defensive coordinator Ted Roof.

"I've been talking to Coach Roof on the phone ever since I got the offer," White said. "It was great being able to meet him and a lot of the other coaches for the first time. They showed me around the campus and facilities. I really liked it a lot. It was a really nice campus. All the people treated me really well."

What was his favorite part of the visit?

"Just talking ball with Coach Roof," White said. "I spent the whole day with him."

The 6-foot-1, 220-pound White says UCF is recruiting him as a middle linebacker, though will linebacker could be a possibility.

"They said they really like my physicality and athleticism," White said.

Upcoming visits include Colorado next weekend and he plans to also see Miami, Louisville, West Virginia and Syracuse this spring.

UCF certainly made an impression though.

"I just really like the type of coach Coach Roof is," White said. "He let me know that I'm a priority for them. I really like what they're building at UCF."

White plans to take official visits during the summer with the intent of committing prior to his senior season.

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Last minute postponement of meeting to approve 3MG Roofing as naming-rights partner. Site says meeting is being rescheduled.

From the article linked below:

What’s the deal with men and the social order?

Jerry Seinfeld discussed his nostalgia for the 1960s, the decade of his childhood, and the setting of his directorial debut Unfrosted, in a new interview with Bari Weiss on her show, Honesty.

“There's another element there that I think is the key element [of the ‘60s], and that is an agreed-upon hierarchy, which I think is absolutely vaporized in today's moment,” Seinfeld said. “I think that is why people lean on the horn and drive in the crazy way that they drive — because we have no sense of hierarchy and as humans we don't really feel comfortable like that.”

“The other thing is as a man, I've always wanted to be a real man,” he said. “I never made it, but I really thought when I was in that era — again, it was JFK, it was Muhammad Ali, it was Sean Connery, Howard Cosell, you can go all the way down there — that's a real man. I want to be like that someday.”

Seinfeld conceded that he never emulated those icons of manliness.

“I never really grew up,” he said. “You don't want to, as a comedian, because it's a childish pursuit. But I miss a dominant masculinity. Yeah, I get the toxic, I get it, I get it. But still, I like a real man.”

*****

This article is just one of many expressing the social media outrage over what A COMEDIAN says out loud. What's so horrible about it? I feel the same way about the predictable social media outrage we get when Dave Chappelle releases a new Netflix special. Aren't comedians allowed to joke anymore?

That said, I think there's a grain of truth to Jerry's comments. Let me be crystal clear, I'm not condoning any of the toxic masculinity sh*t. We sure as hell don't need more girlfriend beaters or pussy grabbers. But society's recent trend towards frowning on expressions of masculinity outside of sports is (to me) why so many young men today are struggling to find their place in the world.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/j...like-a-real-man/ar-BB1nhNku?OCID=ansmsnnews11

No. 8 national seed (1) FSU vs. No. 4 Stetson

No. 2 seed Alabama vs. No. 3 UCF

Aug 29 vs New Hampshire. 7:00. ESPN+
Sept 7. vs Sam Houston State. 6:30 ESPN+
Sept 14 vs TCU. 7:30 FOX

Episodes 5 and 9 may be the best Marvel content outside of the comics ever, excluding nothing.

I know we just have a guess at a 2 deep right now but what do you all think the point spread would be on a game between both teams?

I think I’d give the position group edge to

2024

QB
RB
TE
DT
LB
S

2023

OL

Equal

WR
CB

I could see a game playing out pretty similar to the K State game last year. Just don’t think 2023 could stop the run game of 2024.

Quick question as I'm hosting an incoming-freshmen event tomorrow and want to share some facts and figures. I know UCF is the youngest P5 school but I cannot remember or find the next youngest. I found that UH was founded in 1927, but I feel like there is another that is closer to UCF. Anyone have that info for me? TIA.

Seeded 3rd in Tallahassee bracket; first up: Alabama

It is official – the Knights are going to a Regional following the first year in the tenure of head coach Rich Wallace. This marks the first playoff appearance for the Knights baseball squad since 2017, which incidentally was also the first year of a new head coach for the Knights. UCF was listed as a “last four in” squad, shocking a few members of the team.

More here from Michael Theed for the Sons of UCF.

Knights eliminated in semifinal rout

“A SEMIFINAL!!” – Mae Green, Ted Lasso®, Season 2, Episode 9.

The Cinderella Story in the Big XII tournament comes to a close for the Knights following a 10-1 drubbing at the hands of the Oklahoma State Cowboys, who went on to defeat the Oklahoma Sooners for the Big XII tournament title.

With the way the tournament is formatted, despite entering the game undefeated in the tournament, the Knights found themselves in a win-or-go-home contest late Friday night. In another interesting aspect of this tournament format, the Knights found themselves once again being the “road” team for this neutral site setting.

Click here to read more from Michael Theed for the Sons of UCF.

This recruiting list is insane... there are dozens more coming on Saturday for unofficial visits, but here's a quick look at the 24 official visitors.

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There are no shortage of suitors for elite 2025 defensive lineman Malik Autry.

The face of Auburn's 2025 recruiting class out of Opelika (Ala.) High, the 6-foot-6, 320-pound Autry has been committed in-state to the Tigers for more than 16 months. That hasn't deterred other blue-blood programs from continuing to chip away at the massive DL target.

Join Eric Lopez and Trace Trylko as they debate some of the current topics surrounding UCF Athletics.

In this episode, the guys talk about some of the latest news in college football, including UCF's ranking according to On3 Sports, and at least one of the guys thinks the black Friday game against Utah could be the biggest black Friday game ever.

Plus, UCF Baseball is heading to the post-season in the Tallahassee Region, just barely as it turns out.

Also: Revenue sharing in college sports, FedEx ponies up some dough, baseball or softball stock, and Jennifer Aniston?

Click here for this week's Around the Kingdom.

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😂

@FijiUCF

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Dom Stagliano took a major step up during his second season at UCF.

The right-handed pitcher emerged as the Knights' most reliable weekend starter, finishing the regular season with a 3.73 ERA and a spot on the All-Big 12 second team. He's likely to be UCF's Friday night starter when they open NCAA Regional play against Alabama.

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Jack Zyska knows what it takes to reach the College World Series.

Playing under then-Notre Dame assistant Rich Wallace in 2022, Zyska and his teammates won a regional and Super Regional - all on the road - to get to Omaha.

"The atmosphere is electric regardless of where you are," Zyska said about regional play. "You've got to get there. Every team that's in a regional deserves to be there and they've a very good team. When you're in a regional, all bets are off.

"Our style of baseball travels. It's going to play well. Rely on your pitching and defense with timely hitting. That's how you win regionals and Super Regionals. Go in there with a great deal of confidence because our style of baseball is going to travel for sure."

Does UCF have what it takes to get to Omaha?

"Absolutely," Zyska said. "It takes a special team aside from talent in the lineup and in the rotation. It takes a special group of guys. I think we have that. That tough style of baseball where you've got to go out and out-execute somebody, I think it's going to be tough to beat us twice for sure."

Zyska was perhaps Wallace's biggest offseason addition. After he was granted a medical redshirt to free up an additional season of eligibility, Zyska transferred to UCF last September. Continuing the reputation he had at Notre Dame, Zyska proved to be UCF's best power hitter slugging a team-best 10 home runs and 44 runs batted in.

He came to Orlando to help Wallace start his head coaching journey on the right foot.

"It means a lot (to get to a regional)," Zyska said. "That's kind of why I cam here. We've been saying it all year. All we've got to do is get to June. Get to a regional and all bets are off. Anything can happen and here we are."

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Rich Wallace, who went to three NCAA Regionals as a UCF player, will take the Knights back to the postseason in his first season as head coach. The Knights were selected as a No. 3 seed and will play No. 2 Alabama in the Tallahassee Regional on Friday at 6 p.m. Florida State and Stetson are the other two teams in the bracket.

Shortly after the NCAA Selection Show, Wallace caught up with the media to talk about the achievement. It's UCF's first regional since 2017 and just their fourth overall since 2005.

After finishing strong which included two wins in the Big 12 tournament and a major RPI-boost victory against eventual champion Oklahoma State, most college baseball writers penciled UCF as solidly in the field. While the Knights obviously did get in, it was later revealed by the committee that they were among the last four teams in the field.

"(I was) a little bit on the edge, just because you never know," Wallace said. "They go in that room. I've been through this enough. You never know what's coming out of that room. But I thought our resume, non-conference, conference and conference tournament was that of a worthy NCAA tournament team.

"So I was hoping they would look at that. And we're just glad to be still playing. I'm glad we have practice this afternoon."

Though he was a bit surprised being among the "last four in."

"A little bit, yeah," Wallace said. "I think who we had to play, where we had to play them, the way the schedule was built with the non-conference weekends that we had. We won six out of 10 Big 12 series, 16 Big 12 games and get to the semifinal of the Big 12 tournament.

"I don't know exactly how many non-conference games we won, but we only lost three. So that to me felt like it, but you never know. I've been on this on both sides of this thing. We won an ACC championship by five and a half games in 2022 and you think you're gonna be a national seed and you're not. You try to do all you can and you just hope the committee gives you a shot."

Wallace reflected on how his inaugural team came together. A staff that had never worked together. Returning players who chose to stay. Transfers who decided to make the move. Freshmen they had to re-recruit.

"To get all that with the 26 new players and five new coaches, to get them all going in the same direction and to watch that kind of evolve over the year and see them win the games on the stage that they had to win them," Wallace said. "And the way they went about it and represented our program, our school and our city the way they did. For them to get a chance to keep playing has been unbelievable."

The NCAA Regional is a big accomplishment for the entire team, but extremely special to the players in their final season of eligibility. That includes several players who have been at UCF for the last four or five years.

"(Kyle) Kramer, (Andrew) Brait, (Ben) Vespi, some other guys in that room that have given everything they could to this program for so long," Wallace said. "Our team wanted them to have the opportunity to experience not only postseason baseball but NCAA Tournament baseball at the highest level. It means a lot to me and the program they don't leave this place without playing in an NCAA Tournament."

UCF opens regional play against Alabama, but there's the potential for a matchup against Florida State. Wallace is probably UCF's head coach today because of FSU coach Link Jarrett, who hired him at Notre Dame in 2020. Wallace spent three seasons with Jarrett in South Bend, which included a trip to the College World Series in 2022, then joined him at FSU last season.

"I had a feeling when we were in that's where we were going, Wallace said. "If you asked me in February that you're going and where it would be I would have guessed Tallahassee. That's what always happens here. You've got Florida State, Alabama, Stetson and us all in the same regional, that's an unbelievably deep regional that's got championship teams all around in it. It's going to be fun to watch."

Given UCF's recent lack of success combined with elevating conferences to the Big 12, few outsiders would have predicted a NCAA Regional in Wallace's first season. But he felt fairly early it would be a distinct possibility.

"I think as the fall started to roll around a little bit and we started to see some pieces fall together," Wallace said. "And then knowing when Jack Zyska showed up, obviously solidified some pieces in our offense. And you just started to see the team kind of gel and the pieces defensively start to work out from the guys we brought in and the guys returning.

"And then I would say near the end of the fall and early spring when you started to see some of those arms that at this point in their career had not had great careers start to look like they were really developing. The guys that we all thought they would be from the beginning like Dom Castellano, Dom Stagliano, Ben Vespi, Chase Centala. Kramer has always been Kramer, but those guys really started to emerge and you started to see that.

"We talked in our first meeting. I know a lot of people outside the building didn't think it, but the standard of UCF baseball is to play in June. So if you're going to sign up for this program, you're going to do everything right on and off the field and your goal and the expectation is that you're going to play in June. We're not going to throw a massive party when we get in in June, but that's the expectation, that's what you deserve. Put in the work, that's where we'll be. And it's nice to see them get rewarded for that."

Florida State will play Stetson at 12 noon on Friday, leaving the evening timeslot for UCF-Alabama at 6 p.m. That's perfectly fine with Wallace, assuming no weather issues.

Wallace anticipates Dom Stagliano will start Friday's game. He had typically pitched the Saturday games on the weekends, but pitched the first game of the Big 12 tournament against Cincinnati.

This will be Wallace's fifth NCAA Tournament at UCF: Three as a player, one as an assistant coach and now his first as head coach.

"I came back here because I love the program so much," Wallace said. "I was grateful for the opportunity. I know what it's like to play in these tournaments with the UCF on their chest. I'm happy that group of guys gets a chance to do that and represent our school on the highest stage."