UCF QB Dillon Gabriel: 'We're the best team in Florida'

It wasn't supposed to look that easy for UCF during Saturday's 49-21 win at Georgia Tech, a team coming off a comeback victory over Florida State in its season opener. Knights sophomore quarterback Dillon Gabriel sparked his initial Heisman campaign with 417 yards passing and four touchdowns, leading UCF's quick-pace offense to several scoring drives while also benefiting from a few Georgia Tech miscues.

For a team expected to be ranked inside the Top 15 nationally after their first game, Gabriel didn't mince words in the aftermath and put the rest of the Sunshine State on notice.

"You saw what happened last week, you can say we're the best team in Florida," Gabriel said after the game.

Power ranking the state of Florida, UCF was one of three teams slotted in the AP Poll entering Saturday's opener in Atlanta, joining the Gators — picked by some to win the SEC East this season — and the Miami Hurricanes. Miami beat Louisville, 47-34, on Saturday night in college football's first nationally-ranked matchup of the season for its second win in as many weeks.

The Hurricanes go on the road this week to take on Florida State while UCF travels to East Carolina and Florida battle Ole Miss in Oxford.

Like Florida and Miami, UCF brings back an impressive group of offensive weapons, led by Gabriel, who set several single-season programs records last fall during his first campaign. All of Gabriel's seven interceptions as a freshman came on the road during three losses, something he'll try and correct as one of the AAC's top players.

"Being a freshman, I lacked experience. That's something now I have," Gabriel said leading up to Saturday's opener. "I know how to prepare, play on the road and just be able to get a good drive going regardless of how things are going, good or bad, continuing to be a positive attitude on the team."