Arizona looks to end skid vs. reeling UCF

Arizona will travel to Orlando, Fla., to face UCF on Saturday afternoon in a game featuring two teams that have made coaching and play-calling changes this season.The Knights (3-5, 1-4 Big 12) dropped their fifth straight decision with a 37-24 setback to then-No. 11 BYU on Saturday. Two days later, head coach Gus Malzahn fired defensive coordinator Ted Roof and relinquished play-calling duties on offense, giving that responsibility to offensive coordinator Tim Harris.Addison Williams, who has coached primarily defensive backs, replaced Roof as the defensive coordinator.”These decisions were 100 percent my decision,” Malzahn said during his weekly news conference. “I feel it gives the Knights the best chance to snap out of the losing skid.”Arizona first-year coach Brent Brennan earlier this season switched play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Dino Babers to tight ends coach and passing-game coordinator Matt Adkins.The Wildcats (3-5, 1-4) saw their losing streak reach four games with a 31-26 setback to West Virginia on Saturday.Arizona has not won since Sept. 28, when it beat Utah 23-10 in Salt Lake City. The Utes were ranked 10th at the time.UCF bolted to a 3-0 start with a 35-34 victory over TCU on Sept. 14. It’s been downhill ever since for the Knights.”I would think pieces of what they’ve done schematically are still going to be part of them,” Brennan said Monday of UCF’s coaching moves. “It is a challenge because it’s something different than what you’re seeing on the film.”

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