ORLANDO – The UCF softball team has announced its complete schedule for the upcoming spring 2024 season, a slate that features two tournaments hosted at the UCF Softball Complex and two neutral site tournaments away from Orlando, accompanied by the Knights’ previously-announced nine Big 12 Conference series.
Throughout the spring campaign, UCF will play 54 games against 33 different opponents, including 21 that boasted a winning record. The Knights will also square off against 12 programs that were selected for the NCAA Tournament in 2023, highlighted by the three-time defending National Champion Oklahoma Sooners and five others that advanced as far as the NCAA Super Regionals.
The Black & Gold Classic – Feb. 8-11
UCF will begin its 2024 slate with its annual Black & Gold Classic, during which the Knights will meet Howard, UConn, Seattle U and Georgia State. UCF will play a season-opening twin-bill against Howard and UConn Feb. 8 before meeting Seattle U Feb. 9, UConn once more Nov. 10 and Georgia State to close out tournament play Feb. 11.
During its first tournament of the spring slate, the Knights will face new and familiar opponents alike. UCF has squared off against UConn the most throughout the two programs’ histories, boasting an 18-4 all-time record against the Huskies. The Knights have also won eight of 11 all-time meetings with Georgia State, and will be facing off against Howard and Seattle for the first time.
UConn and Seattle U enjoyed the most 2023 success of the Knights’ four tournament opponents, with the Huskies playing to a 34-15 record and a 1-2 showing in the Big East Tournament, while the Redhawks went 36-20 including a 3-2 display in the WAC Tournament.
Liberty Flames – Feb. 14
The Knights will play their first midweek contest immediately following the Black & Gold Classic, when UCF will welcome the Liberty Flames to Orlando for the first matchup between the schools since Feb. 15, 2022. The Knights own a perfect 6-0 record against Liberty in six all-time meetings between the programs.
Liberty enjoyed a strong 2023 campaign, producing a 40-22 record highlighted by a 2-1 win over then-No. 2 UCLA that knocked the Bruins out of the NCAA Los Angeles Regional. The Flames, who ended the season receiving 21 votes in the final USA Today/NFCA rankings of 2023, also earned ranked wins over then-No. 13 Alabama, then-No. 24 Central Arkansas and then-No. 6 Clemson prior to their 2-2 showing in the Los Angeles Regional.
Shriners Childrens’ Clearwater Invitational – Feb. 16-18
UCF will make its return to the Clearwater Invitational during the regular season’s second weekend, during which the Knights will meet North Carolina, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Northwestern and UCLA.
The five teams combined for three NCAA Regional appearances and one Super Regional Appearance in 2023, led by Northwestern’s berth in the NCAA Tuscaloosa Super Regional. The Knights, meanwhile, met only one of the five during the 2023 campaign, when they fell to then-No. 2 UCLA Bruins by a 2-1 final score during the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, California.
Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic – Feb. 22-24
The Knights will go straight from Clearwater, Florida, to Cathedral City, California, to partake in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, facing off against Mississippi State, Oregon, Missouri, Oregon State, Tennessee and San Diego. For the complete rundown on the 2024 Mary Nutter, click here.
vs. North Florida, Knights Classic – Feb. 28–March 3
On the heels of tournament play in California, UCF will return home for a midweek tilt against the North Florida Ospreys before commencing play in its second home tournament. The Knights also squared off against the Ospreys at home in 2023, earning a 3-2 walk-off win in seven innings March 29 that ignited a seven-game win streak.
The Knights Classic tournament will be headlined by a 2023 Tallahassee Regional rematch against the South Carolina Gamecocks, and will also feature contests against Princeton, Kennesaw State and Bethune-Cookman. The Knights went 1-1 against the Gamecocks in tournament play last season, topping South Carolina by a 6-1 final score to open the Tallahassee Regional May 19 before suffering a 10-1 loss that ended UCF’s season the following night.
The Black and Gold also met Kennesaw State twice during the 2023 slate, winning both games by an aggregate 19-5 score, including an 8-0 run-rule victory in five innings March 12.
Big 12 Conference Play
The Knights’ inaugural Big 12 Conference schedule is highlighted by home series against the three-time defending National Champion Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns, and UCF will also square off against the BYU Cougars and the Kansas Jayhawks in Orlando.
On the road, the Knights will face the Oklahoma State Cowgirls, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Houston Cougars, Baylor Bears and Iowa State Cyclones. For the full rundown on UCF’s first Big 12 Conference schedule, click here.
Remaining Midweek Matchups
UCF is also slated to partake in four more midweek matchups throughout the remainder of the spring schedule. After the Knights traveled to DeLand, Florida, for a road matchup with Stetson a year ago, the Hatters will make the trip south to Orlando for a midweek tilt March 6. UCF will also complete a home-and-home series with North Florida with an April 2 game in Jacksonville April 2 before welcoming the Jacksonville Dolphins and Florida Atlantic Owls to Orlando April 10 and 17, respectively.