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We're about a month away from the start of the 2026 college football season. What can UCF football fans expect in Year 2 (Part 2) under coach Scott Frost?
The offense struggled in Frost's first year back. Aside from three blowout wins (one against Bell Belichick and North Carolina), the Knights exceeded 20 points just twice and put up the fourth-fewest points in the Big 12. Injuries at quarterback played a big part in the inconsistency on offense, with Tayven Jackson, Cam Fancher and Jacurri Brown all seeing time under center.
They're all gone now with Alonza Barnett III coming in from James Madison to take over. Barnett threw for 5,400 yards and 49 touchdowns against just 12 interceptions over the past two seasons, leading the Dukes to the College Football Playoff last year. Louisville transfer Duke Watson and redshirt freshman Taevion Swint will look to carry on the Knights' tradition of playmaking running backs, carrying the torch for RJ Harvey and Myles Montgomery.
UCF will get an early test when it travels to Pittsburgh in Week 2. While the Knights miss Texas Tech and Utah on their Big 12 schedule, they do host BYU, the other preseason favorite to win the conference. That showdown comes after a bye that follows a tricky two-week road trip to Houston and a remade Oklahoma State with quarterback Drew Mestamaker, the nation's leader in passing yards in 2025.
Knights fans hope the matchup at Deion Sanders's Colorado team isn't the season finale and the team snaps its two-year bowl absence. Here's a look through UCF's schedule for the 2026 season, as well as the CFP schedule.
*- Big 12 game
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Will UCF football snap bowl drought in 2026? What Scott Frost must do
Continue reading...
The offense struggled in Frost's first year back. Aside from three blowout wins (one against Bell Belichick and North Carolina), the Knights exceeded 20 points just twice and put up the fourth-fewest points in the Big 12. Injuries at quarterback played a big part in the inconsistency on offense, with Tayven Jackson, Cam Fancher and Jacurri Brown all seeing time under center.
They're all gone now with Alonza Barnett III coming in from James Madison to take over. Barnett threw for 5,400 yards and 49 touchdowns against just 12 interceptions over the past two seasons, leading the Dukes to the College Football Playoff last year. Louisville transfer Duke Watson and redshirt freshman Taevion Swint will look to carry on the Knights' tradition of playmaking running backs, carrying the torch for RJ Harvey and Myles Montgomery.
UCF will get an early test when it travels to Pittsburgh in Week 2. While the Knights miss Texas Tech and Utah on their Big 12 schedule, they do host BYU, the other preseason favorite to win the conference. That showdown comes after a bye that follows a tricky two-week road trip to Houston and a remade Oklahoma State with quarterback Drew Mestamaker, the nation's leader in passing yards in 2025.
Knights fans hope the matchup at Deion Sanders's Colorado team isn't the season finale and the team snaps its two-year bowl absence. Here's a look through UCF's schedule for the 2026 season, as well as the CFP schedule.
UCF football schedule 2026
- Thursday, Sept. 3: vs. Bethune-Cookman | 7 p.m. | ESPN app (Select plan)
- Saturday, Sept. 12: at Pittsburgh | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN2
- Saturday, Sept. 19: vs. Georgia State | 7 p.m. | ESPN app (Select plan)
- Saturday, Sept. 26: vs. TCU* | TBD
- Saturday, Oct. 3: at Houston* | TBD
- Saturday, Oct. 10: at Oklahoma State* | TBD
- Saturday, Oct. 17: Open
- Saturday, Oct. 24: vs. BYU* | TBD
- Friday, Oct. 30: vs. Baylor* | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
- Saturday, Nov. 7: at Kansas* | TBD
- Saturday, Nov. 14: vs. Arizona State* | TBD
- Friday, Nov. 20: vs. Iowa State* | 6 p.m. | FS1
- Saturday, Nov. 28: at Colorado* | TBD
*- Big 12 game
College Football Playoff schedule 2026
- Dec. 18-19: First round (on campuses)
- Dec. 30: Fiesta Bowl (quarterfinal) | 7:30 p.m. | TNT
- Jan. 1: Peach Bowl (quarterfinal) | TBD
- Jan. 1: Rose Bowl (quarterfinal) | TBD
- Jan. 1: Cotton Bowl (quarterfinal) | TBD
- Jan. 14: Orange Bowl (semifinal) | 7:30 p.m. | TNT
- Jan. 15: Sugar Bowl (semifinal) | 7:30 p.m. | ABC/ESPN
- Jan. 25: CFP national championship | 7:30 p.m. | ABC/ESPN
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Will UCF football snap bowl drought in 2026? What Scott Frost must do
Continue reading...
