According to Brandon Marcello of CBS Sports, Gus Malzahn can come back to UCF in 2025 if he wants to. Marcello put Malzahn in the “swing group” of coaches who can be “safe or fired depending on November” in the publication’s most recent list of coaches who could be fired.
“During his time at UCF, Malzahn did some good things. As the Knights moved from back-to-back nine-win AAC seasons to the Big 12, he raised their reputation as a team to recruit. In 2024, they were ranked third in the Big 12.
But the results on the field have made people wonder about some things. Even though they were the only new team in the Big 12 to finish with a.500 record in 2023, the Knights have gone backwards with their quarterback play, which is why star transfer K.J. Jefferson was put on the bench earlier in the year.
After losing five straight games, Malzahn fired defensive coordinator Ted Roof and took over as play-caller for the offense. After that, they hit Arizona hard.
Malzahn has a habit of giving up calling plays and then getting them back, sometimes in the same season. I think Malzahn will get a fifth season to fix things if he wants to stay in Orlando,” Marcello wrote.
Fans of UCF are sick of Malzahn’s poor performance in the Big 12. Not too long ago, the Knights were thought to be going to Florida and taking it over. That hope was there when UCF was beating up on AAC opponents, though.
Knights fans want to fire a coach who has lost the plot at this point. That is not always the answer, though, when it comes to a fatigue caused by Malzahn.
Tiger fans can show Knights Nation what happens when you do not have a good plan B in case you have to fire Malzahn. Auburn is still getting over his leaving.
UCF is not like other schools. In Orlando, it is easy to see the sell. Malzahn has not used the best players in the state enough.
It is a good idea to have a better local recruiter take over for Malzahn and run an attack that is less predictable. But the Knights should stick with Malzahn if they do not have a plan.