UCF and Colorado are in positions similar to last year as they ready for Saturday afternoon’s Big 12 clash in Orlando, Fla.The Knights (3-0, 1-0 Big 12) won their first three games in 2023 before their season went into a lengthy struggle that led to a final 6-7 record. The Buffaloes (3-1, 1-0) started 3-0 last year before stumbling to a final 4-8 mark.Both coaches are putting aside any thought of a repeat performance.”This is a completely different team,” UCF’s Gus Malzahn said this week. “We have more experience. I’ve said that before. We’re actually 1-0 in the conference and we weren’t that way last year.”We have a real quality road win (at TCU) so it’s a different year. That ship’s sailed. We’re not thinking that way. We’ve got a big game and we’ve got to take care of business.”Colorado’s Deion Sanders likes the way his Buffaloes have progressed in bounce-back wins over Colorado State and Baylor since a Sept. 7 loss at Nebraska.”We’re getting there,” he said. “We’re getting closer. The one thing I can honestly and wholeheartedly say is we’re getting better every week in different facets of the game. You know darn well that you can’t compare last year’s defense to this defense or the offense as well. You see progress.”