Three takeaways from Central Florida's wild win over South Florida

Central Florida remained one of three undefeated teams in college football after a 49-42 win over South Florida Friday, but the scoreline was deceiving.

The two quarterbacks were as good as it gets, but it was a defensive play that brought a stubborn South Florida team down.

Here are three takeaways from Central Florida's win:

1. In a game full of offense, a defensive play ended it

There were more than 1,200 total yards, 800 passing yards and 60 total first downs in this one, but one well-timed tackle proved the Knights' undoing. Mitchell Wilcox had a good game with four catches and a touchdown, but he will unfortunately be remembered for the one thing he got wrong.

After picking up a first down with less than a minute to play on a well-run route, Wilcox was trying to get extra yardage to get his team in range to tie the game at 49. But Richie Grant was active, too, for UCF. Grant made the tackle and hit Wilcox just the right way.

The ball popped out and was recovered by Chequan Barnett.

Everyone felt this game was going to overtime even with South Florida down late, but Grant wasn't having it. So this one ended on a defensive play. Who would have thought that?

2. Sports are about stories, and this game had some of the best ever

If you don't know Shaquem Griffin's story you certainly heard about it when watching this game. The young man had his hand amputated before the age of five and fought his way his entire life to not only be a successful college football player, but a great one at that. He was very good again Friday with a pass breakup and a sack.

Griffin has a great story, but so does South Florida quarterback Quinton Flowers. The young man has lost both of his parents along with several other people in his life, and yet he keeps on succeeding. Go read these young men's stories. They are linked here and here.

3. Central Florida better move up in the CFP rankings, and honestly, so should South Florida

South Florida is unjustifiably unranked in the CFP rankings despite a 9-2 record on the season. They were 9-1 coming into the game with one last-second loss to Houston being their only blemish. Playing Central Floriday like they did Saturday should move them up in the rankings. Period. They need to be ranked.

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They need to be ranked because Central Florida deserves a quality win. Any team watching this game knows this was a quality win, but without a ranking in the CFP standings for South Florida, UCF is robbed of a quality win.

That is a crime. Put South Florida where they belong and give UCF that quality win they deserve.