ORLANDO – The UCF men’s basketball team unveiled its 2026 non-conference schedule on Monday, featuring a challenging slate that includes trips to two storied college basketball venues, a Thanksgiving tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports and matchups against three in-state foes.
An overview of the non-conference slate features 14 games, including nine contests at Addition Financial Arena, three matchups against Florida opponents and two teams that competed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
The regular season officially tips off on Monday, Nov. 2, as the Knights welcome FGCU to Orlando to open a five-game homestand. UCF will remain at home for its next four contests, taking on Yale inside Addition Financial Arena on Nov. 6 before facing South Alabama on Nov. 10, Georgia Southern on Nov. 13 and Mississippi State on Nov. 17.
Following the five-game stretch in Orlando, the Knights head to the Music City on Nov. 20 for a matchup with Vanderbilt, marking UCF’s first appearance at Memorial Gymnasium.
UCF will then spend Thanksgiving competing in the ESPN Events Invitational on Nov. 25-26 at ESPN Wide World of Sports. The field features 10 teams competing across two brackets, with UCF’s opponents to be announced at a later date.
The Knights open December with another in-state matchup as Jacksonville travels to the City Beautiful. UCF will then host American on Dec. 6 before hitting the road for a Dec. 12 matchup at Indiana, marking the first meeting between the two programs.
The Black and Gold return home on Dec. 16 to welcome FIU to Addition Financial Arena, giving UCF its third matchup against a Florida opponent. The Knights then head south to Rick Case Arena for a neutral-site matchup against Virginia Tech, marking the first meeting between the two programs. UCF will close out its non-conference schedule on Dec. 22 against Towson.
UCF will then turn its attention to its fourth season of Big 12 play, with an 18-game conference schedule featuring home-and-home series against Baylor, Texas Tech and West Virginia. The Knights will face the conference’s remaining 12 opponents once, with six games at home and six on the road.
The home-and-home series with West Virginia marks the third time in four seasons the programs will meet twice on the hardwood during the same campaign.
UCF’s home-only Big 12 opponents are BYU, Colorado, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas State and Utah. The Knights will travel to Arizona, Arizona State, Cincinnati, Kansas, Oklahoma State and TCU for road-only matchups.
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW
UCF men's basketball season tickets and anytime season tickets are on sale now. Be sure to catch all the action starting Nov. 2 as the Knights return to the court. Season tickets and anytime season tickets can be purchased online or by calling the ticket office at (407) 823-1000.
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.