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LSU’s Devin White on UCF’s 2017 national title: ‘That’s one of the most embarrassing things I’ve ever seen.’

The Butkus Award winner also said the Knights haven’t faced a quality SEC defense during their 25-game winning streak.

Louisiana Tech v LSU
LSU LB Devin White returns a fumble versus Louisiana Tech on Sept. 22.
Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. — We are just a few days away from the anniversary of when UCF AD Danny White stood on the Peach Bowl turf in Atlanta and uttered two words that flung UCF into the center of college football’s debate universe: “National champs.”

White’s proclamation and the Knights’ worthiness to make such a statement were among the sport’s top topics of 2018 and continued to batted around even after their claim was officially recognized by the NCAA.

LSU’s Devin White is sick of that talk. He doesn’t want to hear it any longer. To him, what UCF did was an embarrassment. So much so that when asked Saturday if he agrees with some of his Tigers teammates who believe that UCF is coming to play for another national championship in the Fiesta Bowl, White responded, “I hope not. That’s one of the most embarrassing things I’ve ever seen.”

White didn’t stop there his strong takes. The Butkus Award winner as the nation’s best linebacker and likely first-round NFL Draft pick (he has yet to declare) was later asked about UCF’s schedule during its current 25-game winning streak. Specifically, he was asked if there’s a sense that the Knights haven’t faced a “real SEC-caliber defense” during their historic run.

White’s response: “I can most definitely tell you they haven’t. No offense to Auburn, but I don’t think the Auburn defense is on our level. I feel like we’re the best defense in America, and I’m saying that very humbly.”

If LSU falls to the Knights on Jan. 1, Devin White is probably going to really hate what Danny White has to say following the game.