Growing up just an hour away from Orlando, Florida I know that writing this article is going to get me in trouble with some of my friends from high school, but if the University of Central Florida isn’t letting it go anytime soon, neither am I.

Congratulations UCF on your on your amazing season and your undefeated record!

Going 13-0 and holding the American Athletic Conference record is no easy feat. However, you climbed your way to the Top 25 by playing some average teams and some mostly unranked teams. Regardless, it is impressive that you were able to remain undefeated for the entire season and I understand why you would be excited. Your team should revel in their achievements and your collegiate community should celebrate all your accomplishments and hard work.

However, despite how impressive this may seem, unfortunately, you are NOT National Champions.

You want to call yourself THE National Championship Team WITHOUT even qualifying to play for the National Championship game. Winning a Peach Bowl against a strong, 2017 SEC Championship winning team like Auburn University was an incredible way to end your season—you did it!!!

But winning a Peach Bowl does not allow you to claim a National Championship nor does it give you permission to diminish or undermine the College Football National Playoff Championship process.

There is a system used by the College Football Playoff Committee—a committee of thirteen individuals who are current athletic directors from each of the five Power Five Conferences, university presidents, head coaches, sports reporters, and/or former standout professional and college football players.

This committee considers multiple factors throughout the season when making their final determination of which four teams will end up in the playoff bracket. Merely stating that you should be National Champions because you beat Auburn after Auburn took out the two regular season #1 ranked teams—Georgia and Alabama—does not make it so.

Frankly, is not only outrageous, it’s laughable. And people are laughing.

Alabama played six ranked teams going into the championship with a 12-1 season, Georgia played five ranked teams in a 13-1 season. Clemson played a total of seven ranked teams while only losing two games all season and Oklahoma finished 12-1. Even Ohio State played a total of five ranked teams in a 14-2 season. So how does it make sense for you, only playing two ranked teams, to be in a playoff championship?

I agree that your coaches deserve playoff bonuses and your university should be celebrating the season. However throwing yourself a parade, making National Champions t-shirts, and talking about having a trophy made for your undefeated season is embarrassing...and now that you are in the big league let it be known that this is not how National Champion contenders roll.

I’m sorry but you are not National Champions this year just because you participated and did a good job—there are no participation trophies in college football. But you did finish #6 this season—CONGRATULATIONS!!

You have put UCF on the map and there are 24 other teams on that impressive list of college football powerhouses that see you — you have made your presence in the Top 10 known. Now #ChargeOn, act like the champions you believe you are and bring it again next season!!

Who knows, maybe this time next year, you will have a College Football National Playoff Championship, Knight!