Volleyball Announces 2026 Big 12 Schedule

ORLANDO - With the first season of the Matt Botsford era in the books, and with it year-over-year improvements that established UCF volleyball as one of the fastest growing programs in the nation, the Knights’ 2026 Big 12 schedule serves as an exciting next step towards the fall.

Announced in accordance with the conference office on Thursday afternoon, the Black and Gold’s 18-match Big 12 slate spans just over two months of action in one of the nation’s premier leagues.

A year ago, the Knights won six more conference matches compared to the season prior, securing prominent wins over No. 17 BYU and No. 24 Iowa State, and with year four in the conference on the horizon, UCF will look to continue its upward trajectory.

New to the Big 12 agenda in 2026 is the addition of the in-season challenge, which will crown a champion based of results in matches from October 1 to November 1. The Knights will also participate in the conference's rivalry week, facing off at Houston on October 16 before returning home to welcome West Virginia on October 18.

FIRST HALF

• Thursday, September 24 - Kansas State (Orlando)
• Sunday, September 27 - at Iowa State (Ames)
• Friday, October 2 - at Baylor (Waco)
• Sunday, October 4 - at TCU (Fort Worth)
• Friday, October 9 - Cincinnati (Orlando)
• Sunday, October 11 - Kansas (Orlando)
• Friday, October 16 - at Houston (Houston)
• Sunday, October 18 - West Virginia (Orlando)
• Friday, October 23 - Texas Tech (Lubbock)

The Knights will commence Big 12 play on Friday, September 25, against Kansas State at The Venue, marking the the third time in four seasons the Wildcats have ventured to Orlando. In 2025, UCF prevailed in a dramatic five-set bout in Manhattan in its penultimate Big 12 contest.

Following their short stint in Orlando, the Knights will embark on their first of two three-match road swings, as a challenging series of fixtures against three tournament teams from a season ago awaits.

UCF and Iowa State will meet in Ames on September 27, with two producing a pair of contentious matches last year which saw the home team prevail each time. As the calendar flips to October, the Black and Gold will venture into The Lone Star State for matchups at Baylor on October 2 and TCU on October 4. The Knights will aim to overcome what has been a difficult stretch against each school since joining the conference.

A two-match homestand against familiar foe Cincinnati on Friday, October 11, and last season’s Big 12 runner-ups, Kansas, on Sunday, October 13, will welcome the Knights back home. UCF boasts an impressive 19-11 record against the Bearcats all-time, while reverse fortunes against the Jayhawks provide a chance to flip the script.

After a brief trip to Houston on October 16, UCF will return to The Venue for a Sunday tilt against West Virginia on October 18. The Knights swept each home-and-home with the Cougars and Mountaineers last season, and will be keen on sustaining their strong form.

Texas Tech will welcome UCF to Lubbock for the first time since 2024 on October 23, beginning another daunting three-match road trip. After besting the Red Raiders back in 2023 in their first bout as conference mates, the Knights have dropped their last two matches against Texas Tech.

SECOND HALF

• Friday, October 30 - at Arizona State (Tempe)
• Sunday, November 1 - at Arizona (Tucson)
• Thursday, November 5 - Iowa State (Orlando)
• Sunday, November 8 - Houston (Orlando)
• Friday, November 13 - Cincinnati (Cincinnati)
• Sunday, November 15 - West Virginia (Morgantown)
• Sunday, November 22 - Colorado (Orlando)
• Wednesday, November 25 - BYU (Orlando)
• Friday, November 27 - Utah (Orlando)

UCF’s second-ever road swing to The Grand Canton State will bridge the conclusion of October’s action and the beginning of November's. The reigning Big 12 champions, Arizona State, will first play host to the Knights on October 30, before a November 1 tilt in Tucson against Arizona will conclude the seventh away match of UCF’s first 11 Big 12 contests.

While the mileage stacked up to open conference play, five of the Knights’ last seven matches were in front of the home faithful at The Venue. Return fixtures against Iowa State on Thursday, November 5, and Houston on Sunday, November 8, mirrors a memorable homestand from last season.

A dominating sweep against the Cougars in the program’s annual Space Match preceded a Senior Day upset win over No. 24 Iowa State days later, marking a defining moment in the inaugural campaign under Botsford.

The Knights will conclude their road slate at Cincinnati on November 13 and West Virginia on November 15. Last season, UCF split the trip with a convincing win in Morgantown to bounce back from a difficult defeat against the Bearcats.

UCF’s home stretch matches the name, as it will conclude the regular season with three-straight at The Venue. A highly anticipated rematch with Colorado following last year's five-set thriller in Boulder on Sunday, November 22, precedes Thanksgiving Week.

The Black and Gold will matchup with BYU on Wednesday, November 25, and Utah on Friday, November 27, in an exciting home-finale feast week. UCF pulled off its fourth-highest ranked win in program history last season when it toppled No. 17 BYU in Provo,

UCF’s non-conference schedule will be released at a later date.

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.