The Knights will host 5 home games in Scott Frost’s second season

The Big 12 Conference announced its 2026 conference schedule on Wednesday during a televised event on ESPNU. For the UCF Knights, their fourth season in conference play will feature five home games, along with four road contests, in head coach Scott Frost‘s second year leading the program in the Big 12.

The schedule features several first-time events, including three teams visiting Orlando for the first time and two first-time road venues for the Knights.

Before the conference slate, UCF has already announced the dates and times of the non-conference matchups, which start with a September 3rd clash against in-state opponent Bethune-Cookman. Next, the Knights will travel to Pittsburgh for a September 12th matchup with the ACC’s Pitt Panthers. And finally, on September 19th, the Knights will host Georgia State from the Sun Belt conference.

2026 Big 12 Conference Schedule

The first version of the schedule will feature every home game listed on a Saturday; however, select games may be adjusted to Friday or other special dates. Any announcement on date changes will be released by UCF and the Big 12 conference in the coming weeks. To ensure the best possible game day atmosphere, UCF will await the decision of the conference and its television partners before designating the date of the 10th edition of The Space Game.

September 26th – TCU (Home)

The Knights will kick off conference play with a home game against the TCU Horned Frogs. It marks the first time that UCF has started conference play with a home game, and the second time they’ve faced TCU in the opening conference game. The Horned Frogs are coming off a 9-4 season in 2025, but they will be breaking in a new QB with former starter Josh Hoover moving on in the transfer portal. The game also has the potential for a family reunion, as Scott Frost’s nephew, Will, a former TCU player, was on staff as an undergrad assistant in 2025.

October 3rd – Houston (Away)

The first road contest of conference play has UCF going to face its former American Conference rival, Houston. The Knights have not visited the Cougars since 2020, but head coach Scott Frost is familiar with the environment from his first stint at UCF. Houston had a resurgence in 2025 under coach Willie Fritz, going 10-3 and beating LSU in the Texas Bowl. They will also return quarterback Connor Wegman, who was at the helm when the Cougars beat UCF at home in 2025.

October 10th – Oklahoma State (Away)

The Knights will make their first-ever trip to Stillwater to take on a new-look Cowboys squad under first-year head coach Eric Morris. UCF is 2-0 against OK State since joining the Big 12, but this version of the Cowboys figures to be much different than the Mike Gundy-led teams that previously visited Orlando. The Pokes roster will feature almost 70 new players, headlined by quarterback Drew Mestemaker, who led the country in passing yards in 2025.

October 24th – BYU (Home)

The Big 12 conference runners-up will make the trip to Orlando for the second time in three seasons, led by head coach Kalani Sitake. The Cougars will return starting quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who put together a solid freshman campaign, which included a win over the Knights, en route to a 12-2 season.

October 31st – Baylor (Home)

The PTSD of hosting Baylor at home will be real for Knights fans as they welcome the Bears to Orlando for Halloween weekend. The Knights lost a tough game in Waco last season, but the Bears will feature a new quarterback, DJ Lagway, formerly of Florida, when they visit Orlando. Baylor coach Dave Aranda has been on the hot seat in recent years, which could set up some interesting stakes in this mid-season matchup.

November 7th – Kansas (Away)

The third edition of the Terry Mohajir Bowl will see the Knights head to the Sunflower State for their first game in the newly renovated David Booth Stadium. The Jayhawks will be breaking in a new quarterback and a new offensive system under offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, who returns to Lawrence after two seasons at Penn State. The Knights have never beaten the Jayhawks in football, but have won two of the last three in basketball.

November 14th – Arizona State (Home)

UCF will host the Arizona State Sun Devils in Orlando for the first time in program history. Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham signed a lucrative extension in the offseason, justifiably so after leading his team to a 19-8 record in the past two seasons. The Sun Devils will be under the direction of a new quarterback, presumably transfer Cutter Boley, who previously played for Kentucky. This matchup will also feature the return of former Knights QB Mikey Keene, who will be a member of the Arizona State roster in 2026.

November 21st – Iowa State (Home)

For the second consecutive week, the Knights welcome a first-time visitor to Orlando, this time with Iowa State. The Cyclones will experience an extensive roster overhaul under first-year head coach Jimmy Rogers, featuring upwards of 57 new players. Who will be under center for Iowa State is still unclear, but either way, the Knights will look to avenge the loss they suffered in their only previous meeting in 2024.

November 28th – Colorado (Away)

For the second straight season, the Knights will close their conference schedule with a mountain time zone road game, this time in Boulder, Colorado. The Deion Sanders-led Buffaloes will feature significant roster turnover in 2026, but rising sophomore quarterback Julian Lewis is the likely frontrunner to lead the offense designed by new coordinator Brennan Marion. This will be the Knights’ second-ever meeting against Colorado, and their first trip to Folsom Field.