ATLANTA _ The size difference UCF's offense is facing against Auburn's defense hasn't gone unnoticed.
UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton stands at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds and must duck the pass rush from the likes of Auburn linebacker Jeff Holland, who has a 64 pound advantage.
And the Knights' most explosive rushers, Adrian Killins and Otis Anderson, built their resumes on finesse over brawn. Both weigh under 165 pounds each.
So when the teams face off at 12:30 p.m. Monday in the Peach Bowl, UCF will have the opportunity to answer an age-old football adage. Does size really matter?
"Size always matters in football, I'm not gonna lie," said Auburn safety Tray Matthews. "Especially dealing with the SEC. Size and speed is what matters in this game."
Auburn's size and speed helped them the Tigers rank No. 14 nationally in total defense, allowing an average of 312 yards and 17.3 points a game. In the 26 games with defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, the Tigers (10-3) collected 61 sacks and have been held without a sack during just four games since 2016.
Steele, who had previous defensive coordinator stints with Alabama, Clemson and LSU, is somewhat familiar with Scott Frost's talent. Steele was a position coach at Nebraska when Frost was quarterbacked for the program in the early 1990s.
"When you turn on the video and start watching the technical football aspect, they're very well coached. You see that they play and understand what they're being asked to do and so their execution is at a high level," Steele said. "They're very resilient in terms of they play the game it's really supposed to be played."
He added, "They appear on video to have the psychological mindset that execute the next play, execute the next play and you see them play at a fast, high tempo with fast guys that look like they are executing at a high level."
Speed has been UCF's weapon of choice since Frost took over the program in 2016. He specifically recruited undersized, wicked fast and confident Florida skill players to run the Chip Kelly-inspired system he brought from Oregon.
And so far, it's worked.
The Knights ran the table this season, averaging 49.4 points a game to become the No. 1 scoring offense in the country.
Freshman running back Otis Anderson even believes he and some of his smaller peers have an advantage.
"I think that helps us a lot. They don't think they have to hit us as hard," Anderson said. "A lot of teams they come down and they hit without wrapping up or they push us out of bounds and we get an extra five yards. I think that really helped us get to where we are now.
"I'm pretty sure Auburn is going to wrap up and do what they're supposed to do, but that just shows us that we have to be tough and get everything done."
There's no question this is the biggest test UCF's offense has faced all season. When offensive coordinator Troy Walters was asked last week if the Knights faced anything comparable to Auburn's defense, he didn't hesitate to say no.
Walters, who played in the NFL as an undersized receiver, also knows there are multiple ways to take down a giant. But it's going to require a perfect shot.
"We are who we are and we're gonna use our speed and the things that have gotten us to where we are," Walters said. "They're big, they're stout, physical and so we've gotta find ways to use our strengths to our advantage. We've come up with some creative ideas and ways to attack their defense because, honestly, there are no holes in that defense. They're stout and good from front to back."
Walters said the Knights have added some new wrinkles to their offense during the past few weeks to utilize many playmakers on the roster. This is also a game where UCF could use its biggest running back, Taj McGowan, more in the rotation, according to Walters.
Headed into the bowl, McGowan registered the third most rush attempts behind Killins and Milton and has eight touchdowns.
"He's definitely a guy that may have a bigger role in this game, depending on how everything goes," Walters said.
UCF does have size in its receiving corps, which includes Tre'Quan Smith, Gabe Davis and big-bodied tight end Jordan Akins. But one of its rising star true freshman receivers also happens to be one of the smallest guys on the team in Anderson.
"To be this small and play football, you have to be tough," Anderson said. "Getting hit is a part of the game, I expect to get hit but it's just how I take it and how I get up is what's going to make the difference."
It goes without saying Anderson believes it's the size of fight in the dog rather than the size of the dog in the fight makes the difference. He fielded 26 offers out of Jacksonville University Christian high school, including SEC schools Vanderbilt and Ole Miss.
Coincidentally, Anderson's jersey number is also No. 26.
"Size matters? I don't think size matters, honestly. It could if they catch you," Anderson said with a chuckle. "Our game is mostly finesse. It's going to be power against finesse; I think the whole world knows that. It just comes down to who executes the game plan better and who really wants it more."
