Frost, Four Knights Set for 2026 Big 12 Football Media Day July 7

ORLANDO – Ahead of its fourth season in the Big 12 Conference, UCF football head coach Scott Frost, quarterback Alonza Barnett III, offensive lineman Preston Cushman, linebacker Lewis Carter and defensive back Jayden Bellamy will preview the 2026 football season at Monster Energy Big 12 Football Media Days on July 7 at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

Frost and the quartet of Knights will meet with media members and television broadcast partners throughout the day on Tuesday and will appear on national TV at various points during the event. Eight programs will be highlighted each day, and both days will be broadcast live on ESPNU from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. CT, simulcasted on Big 12 Studios, with part of day one carried on ESPN2 as well. UCF, along with Arizona State, Baylor, BYU, Colorado, Houston, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech, will participate on Tuesday, July 7. Arizona, Cincinnati, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, TCU, Utah and West Virginia will attend on Wednesday, July 8.

Frost’s press conference from the main stage is set to go live at 12:40 p.m. ET on Tuesday afternoon, while Barnett will stop by the ESPN set around 4:30 p.m. ET.

Barnett is the lone newcomer in the group of four Knights attending media day. Already dubbed QB1 for the 2026 campaign, Barnett joins UCF having compiled 72 touchdowns over the course of his career, with 49 of those through the air and another 23 on the ground. He was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year in 2025 as he led James Madison to a Sun Belt title and a College Football Playoff Berth.

Cushman will be part of the offensive line that imposes its will to keep Barnett upright. He earned the starting nod in all 12 games last season while seeing the most snaps out of anyone on the offensive line, logging 753 snaps. He played a part in UCF’s nod as Big 12 Offensive Line of the Week for the front unit’s performance against North Carolina, an effort in which the Knights allowed zero sacks.

Carter has already earned preseason recognition after a stellar 2025 campaign. Earning preseason Second Team honors from Phil Steele and Athlon Sports, the senior linebacker returns to the Knights after leading the team in tackles, tallying a career-best 92, of which 52 were solo. He chalked up four games with 10 or more tackles and added four tackles for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles.

Bellamy helped lead a pass defense that was historically impressive for UCF. The Knights surrendered just 185.1 passing yards per game, the third lowest clip since the Black and Gold became an FBS program in 1996 and the lowest since the 2001 season. Just like Carter, Bellamy has already earned preseason nods thanks to his standout 2025 campaign, earning Preseason All-Big 12 Second Team Defense via Athlon Sports and Preseason Third Team honors from Phil Steele. Bellamy led the team with a career-best eight pass breakups last season, tallying 27 tackles and an interception in the process.

The Knights open their 2026 campaign on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. when they host Bethune-Cookman for the first time since 2021. The contest at Acrisure Bounce House will be broadcast on ESPN+.

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.