Even with common bye week, UCF-Nebraska not happening

For a fleeting moment Tuesday, the proverbial planets seemed aligned in a spread formation, poised to execute the ultimate dig route.

Who wouldn't dig UCF vs. Nebraska? The Frost Bowl. On Tuesday, if ever so briefly, it seemed plausible.

With a Hurricane Florence bearing down on much of the East Coast, UCF's game Saturday at North Carolina was canceled. Similarly, Nebraska, now led by former UCF coach Scott Frost, had its Sept. 1 season opener against Akron called off due to inclement weather. The Knights and Cornhuskers share Oct. 27 as an open date, a seemingly prime opportunity for both to get a 12th game.

But reality sacked destiny in short order. It's not happening.

First, Oct. 27 isn't a true bye week for UCF, which has a Thursday night game (Nov. 1) against American Athletic Conference divisional foe Temple. Playing two games (one against a Power Five foe) in that span isn't practical.

Meantime, Nebraska plays arguably its biggest road game — at Ohio State — on Nov. 3. The Huskers presumably aren't interested in shoe-horning a game against a ranked foe one weekend earlier, regardless of the tantalizing story lines.

As a result, UCF likely won't have a 12th regular season game for the second year in a row.

Two of the Knights' home games (against Georgia Tech and Maine) were canceled last season due to the effects of Hurricane Irma. They  got one of those contests back — sort of — when the NCAA later approved a waiver allowing them to schedule a late-October contest against Division I-AA Austin Peay.

But this year is different, mainly because no bona fide open date exists on their '18 schedule.

And if they do attempt a late scheduling audible, it won't be to their old coach.