Fans Buy Billboard Ad, Challenge Alabama Football To Play Vs. UCF

Less than a week after its national championship victory, Alabama’s football team has been challenged to a series by another school.

UCF vs. Alabama Billboard Ad News

UCF fans purchased a billboard advertisement in Tuscaloosa, Alabama to congratulate the Crimson Tide on their title, but they added an extra message:

“Congratulations, Alabama. How about a home & home series with UCF?” the ad read.

Thirty-seven UCF Knights fans raised $1,665 on a GoFundMe page to pay for the ad.

“We felt like this year’s team could run with anyone in the country, and the Peach Bowl win [over Auburn] proved that,” said Sean Barakett, who added that he contributed $100 toward the campaign. “All we needed was a chance to play harder opponents.”

The Knights finished their season 12-0 and first in the American East Conference, but were ranked 12th in the final College Football Playoff rankings.

Barakett said the original idea was to put a billboard in Atlanta, where the national championship game was held Monday. However, the group missed deadlines so the fans changed the ad and then made arrangements to put the sign near the University of Alabama.

There has only been one matchup between the two teams in the last 20 years. In 2000, UCF defeated the Crimson Tide 40-38 in Tuscaloosa.

Both UFC athletic director Danny White and Florida governor Rick Scott declared the Knights “national champions” despite not officially winning the title, and the team had a parade at Disney World in Orlando.

UCF coach Scott Frost left the school to coach at Nebraska, where he finished out his college career.

GLENDALE, AZ – JANUARY 11: O.J. Howard #88 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates after scoring a 53 yard touchdown in the third quarter against the Clemson Tigers during the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 11, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)