Knightly Review
FanSided

UCF fires defensive coordinator Ted Roof as they scramble to stop five-game skid

UCF started the season 3-0, but since has dropped to 3-5 with the defense being on of the many problems with this team.

ByEricka Brockish|
Oklahoma defensive coordinator Ted Roof watches the Sooners warm up before a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the TCU Horned Frogs at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. Oklahoma won 69-45.
Oklahoma defensive coordinator Ted Roof watches the Sooners warm up before a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the TCU Horned Frogs at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. Oklahoma won 69-45. | BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

UCF is clearly trying to find any way to stop the fans from rioting by firing defensive coordinator Ted Roof. Roof came onto the UCF staff this season as the co-defensive coordinator with Addison Williams, who was the main defensive coordinator last year in UCF's first season in the Big 12. The Knights in 2023 under Williams led the Big 12 in pass defense under Williams, who will now take over defensive play-calling duties.

So far this season, UCF's defense has allowed 30 or more points to Big 12 opponents in four of their five conference games. The Knights have allowed an average of 379.1 total yards per game to opponents, 247.3 passing yards to opposing quarterbacks, 131.9 rushing yards per game, and 27.1 points per game. Some of those numbers are skewed with by the Sam Houston and New Hampshire games where the Knights dominated the lesser opponents.

Roof was just the start of the Knights' problems this season and this firing won't satisfy the fans. During the homecoming game against BYU, fans began a "Fire Gus" chant as the team was walking into the locker room. They even started the chant during UCF's most beloved homecoming tradition, Spirit Splash, when the four-year UCF head coach was announced.

The Knights came into the season as a sleeper pick to win the Big 12 and make it to the College Football Playoff. Transfer quarterback KJ Jefferson was also selected as the Preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and has since been benched by Malzahn just two games ago.

While firing Ted Roof is a start for this program, Gus Malzahn is to be next. He has shown he can't keep guys in the building, including guys he recruited to the program, and is showing he can't win even the games he should. There is hope that with the defense back in Williams's hands, they can at least finish the season strong, but if the offense can't put points up on the board, UCF could miss a bowl game for the first time since the 2015 season when the Knights went winless.

Home/UCF Football