Assuming, of course, that Central Florida gets the minimum six wins necessary to go bowling; the Knights can do that this weekend at Marshall.
UCF was hit with a number of sanctions for impermissible recruiting violations over the summer, including a one-year postseason ban. Of the sanctions levied, the university only appealed the bowl ban. The goal was to have the appeal finalized before the end of this year, but in the event the matter was not settled by then, UCF would serve the ban following the 2013 regular season -- UCF joins the Big East in ’13 -- if the appeal is in fact denied.
One way or the other, it looks as though that’s going to be the case. The Orlando Sentinel reported Tuesday that the NCAA was not going to rule on UCF’s postseason ban until January, making the program eligible for a bowl this year. Knights coach George O’Leary later confirmed during his press conference that the appeal hearing is set for Jan. 24.
UCF will be eligible for the Conference USA championship game and a bowl.