A Thursday night opener against Bethune-Cookman. TCU visiting Orlando in late September. And BYU coming to town for Homecoming in October. The 2026 UCF Football Schedule delivers ranked competition at home early and keeps it coming.
UCF Knights football opens under the lights, hosts multiple Big 12 contenders at home, and faces a demanding mid-season road stretch. 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 | Bethune-Cookman WildcatsAcrisure Bounce House, Orlando, FL | 7:00 PM ETESPN+ | ||
| Saturday | at Pitt PanthersAcrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA | 3:30 PM ETESPN2 | ||
| Saturday | Georgia State PanthersAcrisure Bounce House, Orlando, FL | 7:00 PM ETESPN+ | ||
| Saturday | TCU Horned FrogsAcrisure Bounce House, Orlando, FL | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at Houston CougarsTDECU Stadium, Houston, TX | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at Oklahoma State CowboysBoone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | OFF | |||
| Homecoming | ||||
| Saturday | BYU CougarsAcrisure Bounce House, Orlando, FL | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Friday | 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 | Arizona State Sun DevilsAcrisure Bounce House, Orlando, FL | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Friday | 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 | ||
A Thursday Night Opener, Then a Road Trip to Pitt
UCF Knights 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.
That early home presence sets a solid foundation.
TCU Visits, Then Back-to-Back Road Tests
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
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, the Knights will be in Arlington for the Big 12 Championship.
UCF Football Home Games 2026
UCF has seven home games at Acrisure Bounce House in 2026: Bethune-Cookman, Georgia State, TCU, BYU, Baylor, Arizona State and Iowa State. The dates against TCU, BYU and Baylor stand out as the highest-profile opportunities at home.
The 2026 UCF Football Schedule features early ranked home competition, a mid-season road gauntlet, and a strong late home stretch. How the Knights handle the TCU home date, the back-to-back road games at Houston and Oklahoma State, and the BYU-Baylor home stretch will shape the entire season.
FAQ
When does UCF play its first game on the 2026 schedule?
UCF Football Schedule 2026 opens 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 in Orlando, for 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 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.
