A dominant home opener. Early road tests against ranked Big 12 teams. And a Homecoming date with BYU in late October. The 2026 UCF Football Schedule mixes strong home opportunities with a demanding conference stretch that includes multiple ranked opponents and a late road trip to Colorado. UCF Knights football opens in Orlando, hosts several key conference games, and closes the regular season on the road. Here is the complete 2026 UCF Football Schedule with dates, locations, times and television information.
2026 UCF Football Schedule
| Date | Logo | Opponent | Time | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | vs Bethune-Cookman WildcatsAcrisure Bounce House, Orlando, FL | 7:00 PM ETESPN+ | Win 73-6 | |
| Saturday | at Pitt PanthersAcrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA | 3:30 PM ETESPN2 | Loss 12-7 | |
| Saturday | vs Georgia State PanthersAcrisure Bounce House, Orlando, FL | 7:00 PM ETESPN+ | Win 44-30 | |
| Saturday | vs TCU Horned FrogsAcrisure Bounce House, Orlando, FL | 3:30 PM ETFS1 | Win 21-13 | |
| Saturday | at 20 Houston CougarsTDECU Stadium, Houston, TX | 12:00 PM ETESPN2 | Loss 27-17 | |
| Saturday | at 18 Oklahoma State CowboysBoone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK | 12:00 PM ETESPN2 | Loss 42-28 | |
| Saturday | OFF | |||
| Saturday | vs BYU CougarsAcrisure Bounce House, Orlando, FL | Time TBA ETTV TBA | Homecoming | |
| Friday | vs Baylor BearsAcrisure Bounce House, Orlando, FL | 7:30 PM ETESPN | ||
| Saturday | at Kansas JayhawksDavid Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, KS | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | vs Arizona State Sun DevilsAcrisure Bounce House, Orlando, FL | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Friday | vs Iowa State CyclonesAcrisure Bounce House, Orlando, FL | 6:00 PM ETFS1 | ||
| Saturday | at Colorado BuffaloesFolsom Field, Boulder, CO | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Friday | vs Big 12 ChampionshipAT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX | 8:00 PM ETABC |
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Strong Home Start and Early Road Tests
UCF Knights Football Schedule 2026 opened with a big win at home before facing tough early competition.
- Bethune-Cookman at home (Sept 3)
- Pitt on the road (Sept 12)
- Georgia State at home (Sept 19)
- TCU at home (Sept 26)
Ranked Road Losses and a Bye
October began with consecutive ranked road games before the bye week.
- No. 20 Houston on the road (Oct 3)
- No. 18 Oklahoma State on the road (Oct 10)
- Bye week (Oct 17)
Homecoming and a Friday Night Home Date
The schedule turns back home for two important October opportunities.
- BYU at home for Homecoming (Oct 24)
- Baylor at home (Oct 30, Friday night)
November Road Trip and Final Home Stand
November mixes a road game with two more home dates before the season closer.
- Kansas on the road (Nov 7)
- Arizona State at home (Nov 14)
- Iowa State at home (Nov 20)
- Colorado on the road (Nov 28)
UCF Football Home Games 2026
UCF has seven home games at Acrisure Bounce House in 2026:
- Bethune-Cookman
- Georgia State
- TCU
- BYU (Homecoming)
- Baylor
- Arizona State
- Iowa State
The dates against TCU, BYU and Arizona State stand out as the highest-profile opportunities at home.
The 2026 UCF Football Schedule features a strong early home start, a difficult mid-season road stretch against ranked teams, and a solid late home stand. How the Knights handle the BYU Homecoming date, the November home games against Arizona State and Iowa State, and the closing road trip to Colorado will shape the entire season.
FAQ
When does UCF play its first game on the 2026 schedule?
UCF Football Schedule 2026 opened at home against Bethune-Cookman on Thursday, September 3, at Acrisure Bounce House.
When is UCF vs BYU 2026?
UCF vs BYU 2026 is set for Saturday, October 24, at home at Acrisure Bounce House, doubling as Homecoming.
How many home games does UCF play in 2026?
UCF has seven UCF football home games in 2026 at Acrisure Bounce House: Bethune-Cookman, Georgia State, TCU, BYU, Baylor, Arizona State and Iowa State.
What is UCF’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
The consecutive ranked road games at Houston and Oklahoma State in early October rank as the toughest stretch on the UCF Big 12 schedule 2026, alongside the late November road closer at Colorado.
