Fresh off a 360-yard rushing masterclass, transfer Duke Watson and a deep Knights backfield are ready to prove their explosive ground game belongs among the college elite.
The UCF Knights' running game thoroughly dominated the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, rushing for 360 yards en route to the school's largest margin of victory.
Duke Watson, Landen Chambers and Taevion Swint provided a glimpse of how explosive the offense is on the ground, totaling four touchdowns in three quarters.
Watson blew the game open on the second snap of UCF's first drive. The Louisville transfer burst through a wide-open gap created by his blocks and saw nothing but green grass in his 64-yard touchdown run.
His 64-yard run put him four yards shy of tying his career-long 68-yarder against Stanford on Sept. 18, 2024.
Loud cheers followed the first score of the night, as Watson got the Acrisure Bounce House jumping early. The junior running back said he was surprised by the fans' energy, and he'll have more opportunities to bask in their presence this season.
"I didn't know Knight Nation got like that," Watson said during the post-game press conference. "I love the bounce house. It was crazy."
He finished the night with 110 yards and a touchdown on seven carries (15.7 yards per carry), showing the program why he was the nation's leader in yards per carry at Louisville as a freshman. Watson rushed for 8.9 yards per carry in 2024, which bested some of the best running backs in college football at the time.
Chambers and Swint followed suit, combining for 104 yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries.
Although their performances came against an FCS team, Watson believes they have built a solid case as one of the best running back groups in the nation.
"I watch the guys practice every day," Watson said. "They work hard, head down. They're great backs, you know. I feel like we got one of the best running back rooms in the nation."
The position group is living up to the recognition they earned in the offseason as one of the nation's best. Questions arose about how UCF would replace Jaden Nixon and Myles Montgomery after their eligibilities expired, and the program answered by signing Watson and Chambers during January's transfer portal cycle.
Watson, Chambers and Swint will face their toughest competition next week against another Power Four team, the Pittsburgh Panthers. The Panthers are in the ACC and are riding the momentum of a seven-touchdown performance from quarterback Mason Heintschel.
Watson said he is ready for the challenge, aiming to prove himself against an ACC opponent and the Big 12 when conference play begins.
"I'm definitely waiting until next week and conference play to really show," Watson said. "But I definitely think this was a great start."
