UCF-USF dispute rages despite Saturday's game

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Anybody who's anybody in college football has a rivalry game.

You know, one game on the schedule that annually puts fans in seats and is coated with the kind of naturally occurring venom that only two teams meant to play one another can generate.

"I still think this can be a great rivalry," said CSTV analyst Trev Alberts, who will cover Saturday's game for the network. "UCF and [Coach George] O'Leary want it bad. South Florida seems a little bit hesitant despite the natural fit.

"UCF has kind of taken the Pat Hill/Fresno State path and said, 'We'll play anybody.' USF thinks they are already there. That just makes it more intriguing to me, because USF thinks they are trying to separate from 'lowly UCF.' But in actuality, both are so similar where they are at and trying to go, it only makes sense for it to play out on the field."

Kyle Hightower: Sentinel Staff Writer