A Thursday night opener against Bethune-Cookman. No. 23 TCU visiting Orlando in late September. And No. 12 BYU coming to town for Homecoming in October. The UCF Football Schedule 2026 delivers ranked competition at home early and keeps it coming.
UCF Football Schedule 2026
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Sep 3 | Bethune-Cookman Wildcats | Acrisure Bounce House, Orlando, FL | 7:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| Sat, Sep 12 | at Pitt Panthers | Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA | 3:30 PM | ESPN2 |
| Sat, Sep 19 | Georgia State Panthers | Acrisure Bounce House, Orlando, FL | 7:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| Sat, Sep 26 | No. 23 TCU Horned Frogs | Acrisure Bounce House, Orlando, FL | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 3 | at Houston Cougars | TDECU Stadium, Houston, TX | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 10 | at Oklahoma State Cowboys | Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 17 | — | OFF | — | — |
| Sat, Oct 24 | No. 12 BYU Cougars (Homecoming) | Acrisure Bounce House, Orlando, FL | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Fri, Oct 30 | Baylor Bears | Acrisure Bounce House, Orlando, FL | 7:30 PM | ESPN |
| Sat, Nov 7 | at Kansas Jayhawks | David Booth Kansas Mem. Stadium, Lawrence, KS | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 14 | Arizona State Sun Devils | Acrisure Bounce House, Orlando, FL | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Fri, Nov 20 | Iowa State Cyclones | Acrisure Bounce House, Orlando, FL | 6:00 PM | FS1 |
| Sat, Nov 28 | at Colorado Buffaloes | Folsom Field, Boulder, CO | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Fri, Dec 4 | Big 12 Championship | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX | 8:00 PM | ABC |
A Thursday Night Opener, Then a Road Trip to Pitt
UCF Football Schedule 2026 opens on a Thursday night against Bethune-Cookman before an early road test at Pitt on September 12. Georgia State gives Orlando a home date before the season’s first ranked opponent arrives.
TCU Visits, Then Back-to-Back Road Tests
No. 23 TCU comes to Acrisure Bounce House on September 26, one of the marquee home dates of the season. The UCF Big 12 schedule 2026 then sends the Knights on the road for consecutive weeks — first Houston, then Oklahoma State — before a bye week on October 17 offers a chance to recover.
BYU for Homecoming, Then Baylor Under the Lights
No. 12 BYU visits Orlando for Homecoming on October 24, followed by a Friday night home game against Baylor on October 30 — two ranked-caliber tests inside a single week’s turnaround.
A Road Trip to Kansas, Then a Manageable Home Stretch
A trip to Kansas opens November before Arizona State and Iowa State both visit Orlando in consecutive weeks, the latter under Friday night lights. The regular season closes on the road at Colorado on November 28. If UCF is still playing December 4, it’s in Arlington for the Big 12 Championship.
The Bottom Line
Between TCU and BYU at home, plus the closing road trip to Colorado, UCF’s schedule leans on a strong home slate to carry it through a demanding October road stretch. The UCF football home games in 2026 include two ranked opponents in a matter of weeks — how the Knights handle that stretch will shape the whole season.
FAQ
Q: When does UCF play its first game on the 2026 schedule?
A: UCF Football Schedule 2026 opens at home against Bethune-Cookman on Thursday, September 3, at Acrisure Bounce House.
Q: When is UCF vs BYU 2026?
A: UCF vs BYU 2026 is set for Saturday, October 24, at home at Acrisure Bounce House in Orlando, for Homecoming.
Q: How many home games does UCF play in 2026?
A: UCF has eight UCF football home games in 2026 at Acrisure Bounce House: Bethune-Cookman, Georgia State, TCU, BYU, Baylor, Arizona State, and Iowa State.
Q: What is UCF’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
A: The back-to-back home dates against BYU and Baylor — October 24 and October 30 — are the toughest stretch on the UCF Big 12 schedule 2026, alongside the earlier home game against TCU.
