ORLANDO – The Big 12 Conference has announced that a pair of UCF football games on the 2026 schedule will be shifting to Friday. The Knights’ home contests against Baylor and Iowa State will make the move with TV designations and kickoff games to be revealed at a later date. The game against Baylor will represent Mission X, the tenth edition of the Space Game.
UCF and the Big 12 unveiled the 2026 schedule back in January, with every conference game initially set to Saturday. Both games being reassigned to Friday come at the end of a two-game home stand for the Black and Gold.
The Knights’ first Friday night tilt of the slate will be Oct. 30 against Baylor, the Bear’s second trip to Acrisure Bounce House and the fourth all-time meeting between the two sides. The contest will be UCF's Space Game, the tenth consecutive year the Knights have celebrated their roots to the space program.
The Black and Gold’s final home game of the season also shifts to Friday, taking place Nov. 20 against Iowa State. It will be the first time the Cyclones make a trip to Orlando to square off with UCF and the second meeting of the two programs on the gridiron. Iowa State has been to The City Beautiful before despite not playing the Knights at home, earning a 42-41 victory over then-No. 15 Miami in the 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl.
2026 Schedule (changes listed in bold italic)
Thursday, Sept. 3 - Home vs. Bethune-Cookman
Saturday, Sept. 12 - Away at Pittsburgh
Saturday, Sept. 19 - Home vs. Georgia State
Saturday, Sept. 26 - Home vs. TCU
Saturday, Oct. 3 - Away at Houston
Saturday, Oct. 10 - Away at Oklahoma State
Saturday, Oct. 24 - Home vs. BYU
Friday, Oct. 30 - Home vs. Baylor
Saturday, Nov. 7 - Away at Kansas
Saturday, Nov. 14 - Home vs. Arizona State
Friday, Nov. 20 - Home vs. Iowa State
Saturday, Nov. 28 - Away at Colorado
SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for the 2026 campaign are on sale and can be purchased here! Be sure to be a part of all the action as the Knights play their 20th season in Acrisure Bounce House.
ABOUT UCF ATHLETICS
UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida's preeminent athletic program representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as "Orlando's Hometown Team". To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.