FBC Mortgage Stadium on the UCF campus in Orlando will be the site of the Knights' 2023 football season opener in a Thursday primetime assignment against Kent State on FS1. That contest is set for a 7 p.m. ET kickoff on Thursday, Aug. 31.
The Knights play on the road the following weekend with a 7 p.m. ET kickoff (5 p.m. MT in Boise) Sept. 9 versus Boise State (10-4 and winner of the Frisco Bowl in 2022) at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. That contest also will be shown on FS1.
UCF returns home for a Sept. 16 matchup against Villanova on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. Kickoff for that contest is 6:30 p.m. ET at FBC Mortgage Stadium.
Details for the Kent State, Boise State and Villanova games were part of a Big 12 Conference announcement today that included the first three weekends of the 2023 season and various other dates. The remainder of UCF kickoff times and television details will be announced week to week by the Big 12--on either a 12- or six-day turnaround.
Here's the complete slate for the Knights in 2023:
| Date | Opponent | Kickoff | Television |
| Aug. 31 (Thur.) | KENT STATE | 7 pm ET | FS1 |
| Sept. 9 | @Boise State | 7 pm ET | FS1 |
| Sept. 16 | VILLANOVA | 6:30 pm ET | Big 12 Now on ESPN+ |
| Sept. 23 | *@Kansas State | TBA | TBA |
| Sept. 30 | *BAYLOR (Family Weekend) | TBA | TBA |
| Oct. 7 | *@Kansas | TBA | TBA |
| Oct. 14 | Open Date | TBA | TBA |
| Oct. 21 | *@Oklahoma | TBA | TBA |
| Oct. 28 | *WEST VIRGINIA (Homecoming) | TBA | TBA |
| Nov. 4 | *@Cincinnati | TBA | TBA |
| Nov. 11 | *OKLAHOMA STATE | TBA | TBA |
| Nov. 18 | *@Texas Tech | TBA | TBA |
| Nov. 25 | *HOUSTON | TBA | TBA |
| Dec. 2 | Big 12 Championship Game | Noon ET | ABC |
| (@AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas) | |||
*Big 12 Conference games
Home games in bold CAPS
UCF Begins Play in Big 12 Conference in 2023
UCF begins its 2023 conference football schedule, for the first time as a member of the Big 12, with a pair of blockbuster assignments—with the Knights' first two league contests coming against the two most recent Big 12 champions.
UCF travels to Manhattan, Kansas, for its conference opener Sept. 23 against 2022 Big 12 champion Kansas State. A week later the Knights play their first Big 12 home game (Sept. 30) with a date against 2021 Big 12 champion Baylor at FBC Mortgage Stadium.
The UCF home conference slate features contests versus Baylor, West Virginia, Oklahoma State and Houston. The Knights' Big 12 road game list includes Kansas State, Kansas, Oklahoma (most recently Big 12 champion in 2015-16-17-18-19-20), Cincinnati and Texas Tech.
Eight of UCF's nine Big 12 games come against teams that played in postseason bowl games following the 2022 season—including Texas Bowl champion Texas Tech and Independence Bowl champion Houston.
All six UCF road games in 2023 are against teams that played in bowl games to finish 2022. The lone team on the UCF schedule that finished in the final 2022 polls is Big 12 champion Kansas State, which was ninth in the final CFP rankings and 14th in the final Associated Press poll after all the bowl games.
Series History vs. 2023 Foes
In terms of Big 12 foes, UCF will meet Kansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech for the first time. The Knights are 0-1 vs. Kansas State (0-1 in Manhattan), 1-0 vs. Baylor (Fiesta Bowl win in 2013 season), 0-2 vs. West Virginia (0-1 in Orlando), 4-4 vs. Cincinnati (1-3 in Cincinnati) and 7-3 vs. Houston (4-2 in Orlando).
Against its non-league opponents, UCF is 2-2 vs. Kent State (1-1 in Orlando—a win in 2002, a loss in 2004), 1-0 vs. Boise State (a win in Gus Malzahn's first game as UCF coach in 2021) and 1-0 vs. Villanova (a home win in 2006).
2023 Knight Outlook
Gus Malzahn, in his third season at UCF following consecutive nine-win seasons and bowl appearances, will have a veteran collection of returnees to work with for 2023:
--Starting quarterback John Rhys Plumlee, who threw for 2,586 yards and 14 TDs (218 of 346, .630) in 2022
--Top rusher Plumlee, who ran for 861 yards and 11 TDs, and three of the Knights' top four ground-gainers overall, including running backs RJ Harvey (796 yards, 5 TDs) and Johnny Richardson (370 yards)
--Six of the top seven receivers from a year ago, paced by Javon Baker (56 catches for team-high 796 yards, 5 TDs) and Kobe Hudson (39 for 641, 7 TDs—all his production in final 10 games)
--Four of the Knights' top five tacklers from 2022, led by linebacker Jason Johnson (126 tackles) whose 9.0 tackles per game ranked third in the AAC
Starters returning on offense (6) are quarterback Plumlee (23 career starts—13 at UCF), wide receivers Baker (13 career starts) and Hudson (15 career starts—10 at UCF), offensive linemen Lokahi Pauole (34 career starts) and Tylan Grable (25 career starts—14 at UCF) and tight end Alec Holler (20 career starts; 22 catches for 276 yards, 1 TD in 2022).
Regulars back on defense (6) are end Josh Celiscar (54 tackles in 2022, 8.5 TFL, 26 career starts), outside linebacker Tre'mon Morris-Brash (52 tackles, team-high 13 TFL, team-high 6 sacks, 17 career starts), tackle Ricky Barber (49 tackles, 9 TFL, 12 QBH, 36 career starts—24 at UCF), Johnson (43 career starts—14 at UCF), plus cornerback Corey Thornton (50 tackles, team-high 7 PBU, 27 career starts) and safety Quadric Bullard (27 tackles, 20 career starts). Celiscar was the Knights' lone junior team captain in 2022.
Among specialists returning are placekicker Colton Boomer (14 of 15 on field goals) and punter Mitch McCarthy (43.3-yard average on 38 punts).
2023 Ticket Options
Fewer than 100 seats remain as UCF approaches its fourth consecutive football season-ticket sellout. Fans interested in guaranteeing their seats for the inaugural Big 12 season are encouraged to call the ticket office at 407-823-1000 or email tickets@athletics.ucf.edu. Single-game ticket opportunities will be limited to seats returned from the visiting team allotment in the south endzone. Single-game tickets (if available) will go on sale later this summer.