2026 UCF Knights football team

American college football season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2026 UCF Knights football team will represent the University of Central Florida (UCF) as a member of the Big 12 Conference during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Knights will be led by fourth-year head coach Scott Frost in the second year of his second stint. The Knights will play their home games at Acrisure Bounce House, located in Orlando, Florida.[a]

ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Record0–0 (0–0 Big 12)
Headcoach
OffensivecoordinatorSteve Cooper (2nd season)
Quick facts UCF Knights football, Conference ...
2026 UCF Knights football
ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Record0–0 (0–0 Big 12)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorSteve Cooper (2nd season)
Defensive coordinatorAlex Grinch (2nd season)
Home stadiumAcrisure Bounce House
Uniform
Seasons
← 2025
2027 →
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More information Conf., Overall ...
2026 Big 12 Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Arizona 0–0  0–0 
Arizona State 0–0  0–0 
Baylor 0–0  0–0 
BYU 0–0  0–0 
Cincinnati 0–0  0–0 
Colorado 0–0  0–0 
Houston 0–0  0–0 
Iowa State 0–0  0–0 
Kansas 0–0  0–0 
Kansas State 0–0  0–0 
Oklahoma State 0–0  0–0 
TCU 0–0  0–0 
Texas Tech 0–0  0–0 
UCF 0–0  0–0 
Utah 0–0  0–0 
West Virginia 0–0  0–0 
Championship: December 4, 2026
As of July 13, 2026
Rankings from AP poll
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Schedule

More information Date, Time ...
DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResult
September 37:00 p.m.Bethune–Cookman*
ESPN+
September 123:30 p.m.at Pittsburgh*
ESPN2
September 197:00 p.m.Georgia State*
  • Acrisure Bounce House
  • Orlando, FL
ESPN+
September 26TCU
  • Acrisure Bounce House
  • Orlando, FL
October 3at Houston
October 10at Oklahoma State
October 24BYUdagger
  • Acrisure Bounce House
  • Orlando, FL
October 307:30 p.m.Baylor
ESPN
November 7at Kansas
November 14Arizona State
  • Acrisure Bounce House
  • Orlando, FL
November 206:00 p.m.Iowa State
  • Acrisure Bounce House
  • Orlando, FL
FS1
November 28at Colorado
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[1][2]

Offseason

Incoming

More information Name, Position ...
Name Position Old school
Daniel Marcellinus OL Campbell
Dylan Burk TE Sam Houston
Artavius Jones DL Miami (FL)
Henry Tabansi OT Buffalo
Josh Schnell DL Tennessee
Kahmel Johnson S Wayne State
Cooper Terpstra IOL Michigan State
Thomas Collins DL Oregon State
Ken Talley EDGE Arkansas
Jonathan Bibbs WR Louisiana–Monroe
Keyone Jenkins QB FIU
Duke Watson RB Louisville
Jailen Duffie CB North Dakota State
Kaleb Annett QB Boise State
Alonza Barnett III QB JMU
Brady Wayburn OT UConn
Kyle Hicks LS Tennessee State
Bruno Dall EDGE Akron
Jahleel Culbreath LB Old Dominion
Atticus Bertrams P Wisconsin
Rashad Henry LB UMass
Tyler Gibson OT Charlotte
Matt Irwin S Idaho
TJ Branch S Colorado
Ty Bartrum S Harvard
Grayson Brousseau TE Oklahoma State
Tackett Curtis LB Wisconsin
Brad Gurley Jr. DL Eastern Kentucky
L A Jessie Harrold EDGE Florida State
Landen Chambers RB Central Arkansas
Josh Derry WR Monmouth
Will Stone K Texas
Caleb Flagg S Missouri
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Outgoing

More information Name, Position ...
Name Position Destination
Max Drag TE South Carolina
Davi Belfort QB James Madison
Patrick Barnett IOL Fresno State
Jaquez Joiner IOL Marshall
Isaiah Reed CB UMass
Josh Dorsainvil EDGE NA
Keshaun Hudson DL Jackson State
Troy Ford LB NA
Cam Fancher QB Michigan State
Carl Jenkins Jr. WR Miami (OH)
Dalton Riggs LS Ohio State
Jaeden Gould S Temple
DJ Black WR South Carolina
Ja'Cari Henderson CB Appalachian State
Stacy Gage RB LSU
Tyreek'e Robinson DL East Tennessee State
Rodney Lora DL Purdue
TJ Bullard LB Florida
Bredell Richardson WR Tulane
Christian Peterson S East Carolina
Jamaal Johnson EDGE Northwestern
Andrew Rumph DL Jacksonville State
Derrick LeBlanc DL Maryland
Carter Miller IOL South Carolina
Malakhi Boone LB Bethune–Cookman
John Walker DL Ohio State
Jacurri Brown QB Rice
Jyaire Brown CB Southern Miss
Kylan Fox TE Purdue
Tayven Jackson QB North Texas
Tony Williams Jr. S Kennesaw State
Jakob Gude S Appalachian State
Jaylen Heyward S Arkansas State
Kam Moore LB Arkansas State
Chase Jarrett DB Colgate
Thomas Gearity OL Colgate
Dwartney Wortham WR Furman
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2026 Recruits

Main article: 2026 college football recruiting class
See also: American football positions, Glossary of American football, and Recruiting (college athletics)
More information Name, Hometown ...
College recruiting information
Name Hometown School Height Weight Commit date
Overall recruit ranking:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "UCF Football Commitment List". Rivals. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  • "2026 Player Commitments - UCF". ESPN. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  • "2026 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  • "UCF Football 2026 Commits". 247Sports. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
Close

*= 247Sports Composite rating; ratings are out of 1.00. (five stars= 1.00–.98, four stars= .97–.90, three stars= .80–.89)
†= Despite being rated as a three star recruit by ESPN, On3.com, and 247Sports.com, Stroud received a four star rating by Rivals.com.
Δ= TBD left the UCF program following signing but prior to the 2026 season.

Preseason

For 2026, UCF did not conduct their annual spring exhibition game, due to construction at the stadium. As a substitute, the Knights arranged for a public practice session on May 2.[5] The Big 12 officially discontinued their annual preseason media poll,[6] but an unofficial poll sponsored by Tulsa World predicted the Knights to finish 14th in the conference.[7]

Game summaries

vs Bethune–Cookman

Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (0–0) at UCF Knights (0–0) – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 Total
Wildcats (FCS) 0
Knights 0
Close

at Acrisure Bounce House • Orlando, Florida

  • Date: September 3
  • Game time: TBD
More information Statistics, BCU ...
StatisticsBCUUCF
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
Close
More information Team, Category ...
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Bethune–Cookman Passing
Rushing
Receiving
UCF Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Close

at Pittsburgh

See also: 2026 Pittsburgh Panthers football team
UCF Knights (0–0) at Pittsburgh Panthers (0–0) – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 Total
Knights 0
Panthers 0
Close

at Acrisure Stadium • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: September 12
  • Game time: TBD
More information Statistics, UCF ...
StatisticsUCFPITT
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
Close
More information Team, Category ...
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UCF Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Pittsburgh Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Close

vs Georgia State

Georgia State Panthers (0–0) at UCF Knights (0–0) – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 Total
Panthers 0
Knights 0
Close

at Acrisure Bounce House • Orlando, Florida (Family Weekend)

  • Date: September 19
  • Game time: TBD
More information Statistics, GAST ...
StatisticsGASTUCF
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
Close
More information Team, Category ...
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Georgia State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
UCF Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Close

vs TCU

See also: 2026 TCU Horned Frogs football team
TCU Horned Frogs (0–0) at UCF Knights (0–0) – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 Total
Horned Frogs 0
Knights 0
Close

at Acrisure Bounce House • Orlando, Florida

  • Date: September 26
  • Game time: TBD
More information Statistics, TCU ...
StatisticsTCUUCF
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
Close
More information Team, Category ...
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
TCU Passing
Rushing
Receiving
UCF Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Close

at Houston

See also: 2026 Houston Cougars football team
UCF Knights (0–0) at Houston Cougars (0–0) – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 Total
Knights 0
Cougars 0
Close

at Space City Financial Stadium • Houston, Texas

  • Date: October 3
  • Game time: TBD
More information Statistics, UCF ...
StatisticsUCFHOU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
Close
More information Team, Category ...
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UCF Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Houston Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Close

at Oklahoma State

See also: 2026 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team
UCF Knights (0–0) at Oklahoma State Cowboys (0–0) – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 Total
Knights 0
Cowboys 0
Close

at Boone Pickens Stadium • Stillwater, Oklahoma

  • Date: October 10
  • Game time: TBD
More information Statistics, UCF ...
StatisticsUCFOKST
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
Close
More information Team, Category ...
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UCF Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Oklahoma State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Close

vs BYU

See also: 2026 BYU Cougars football team
BYU Cougars (0–0) at UCF Knights (0–0) – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 Total
Cougars 0
Knights 0
Close

at Acrisure Bounce House • Orlando, Florida

  • Date: October 24
  • Game time: TBD
More information Statistics, BYU ...
StatisticsBYUUCF
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
Close
More information Team, Category ...
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
BYU Passing
Rushing
Receiving
UCF Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Close

vs Baylor

See also: 2026 Baylor Bears football team
Baylor Bears (0–0) at UCF Knights (0–0) – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 Total
Bears 0
Knights 0
Close

at Acrisure Bounce House • Orlando, Florida

  • Date: October 30
  • Game time: TBD
More information Statistics, BAY ...
StatisticsBAYUCF
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
Close
More information Team, Category ...
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Baylor Passing
Rushing
Receiving
UCF Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Close

at Kansas

See also: 2026 Kansas Jayhawks football team
UCF Knights (0–0) at Kansas Jayhawks (0–0) – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 Total
Knights 0
Jayhawks 0
Close

at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium • Lawrence, Kansas

  • Date: November 7
  • Game time: TBD
More information Statistics, UCF ...
StatisticsUCFKU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
Close
More information Team, Category ...
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UCF Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Kansas Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Close

vs Arizona State

See also: 2026 Arizona State Sun Devils football team
Arizona State Sun Devils (0–0) at UCF Knights (0–0) – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 Total
Sun Devils 0
Knights 0
Close

at Acrisure Bounce House • Orlando, Florida

  • Date: November 14
  • Game time: TBD
More information Statistics, ASU ...
StatisticsASUUCF
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
Close
More information Team, Category ...
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Arizona State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
UCF Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Close

vs Iowa State

See also: 2026 Iowa State Cyclones football team
Iowa State Cyclones (0–0) at UCF Knights (0–0) – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 Total
Cyclones 0
Knights 0
Close

at Acrisure Bounce House • Orlando, Florida

  • Date: November 20
  • Game time: TBD
More information Statistics, ISU ...
StatisticsISUUCF
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
Close
More information Team, Category ...
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Iowa State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
UCF Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Close

at Colorado

See also: 2026 Colorado Buffaloes football team
UCF Knights (0–0) at Colorado Buffaloes (0–0) – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 Total
Knights 0
Buffaloes 0
Close

at Folsom Field • Boulder, Colorado

  • Date: November 28
  • Game time: TBD
More information Statistics, UCF ...
StatisticsUCFCOLO
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession
Close
More information Team, Category ...
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UCF Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Colorado Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Close

Personnel

Roster and coaching staff

Coaching staff additions

More information Name, Position ...
Name Position Old team Old position
Cooper BassettTight endsOklahoma StateOffensive line coach
AJ BlazekOffensive lineWisconsinOffensive line coach
Kefense HynsonPass game coordinatorTampa Bay BuccaneersPass game coordinator
David Overstreet IICornerbacksDallas CowboysSecondary/cornerbacks coach
Eric TerrazasSenior offensive analystKansasOffensive analyst
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  • : retained

Coaching staff departures

More information Name, Position ...
Name Position New team New position
Shawn Clark[b]Offensive line coachN/AN/A
Brandon HarrisDefensive backs coachFloridaCornerbacks coach
Danny HopeInterim Co-offensive line coachN/AN/A
Jeris McIntyreDirector of high school relationsAuburnDirector of football & alumni relations
Deshon LawrenceSenior Director of Player DevelopmentMissouriDirector of Player & Recruiting Engagement
Demeitre BrimDefensive analyst/Assistant defensive line coachDallas CowboysAssistant defensive line coach
Jordan JohnsonOffensive analyst/Assistant running backs coachConcordOffensive line coach
Alex WardOffensive quality control coachHouston TexansOffensive assistant
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Roster

2026 UCF Knights Football

Quarterbacks

Running backs

  •  4 Taevion Swint – Redshirt Fr.
  • 11 Landen Chambers – Redshirt Jr.
  • 20 Kaj Baker – Fr.
  • 24 Arthur Lewis IV – Fr.
  • 26 Duke Watson – Jr.
  • 35 Agyeman Addae – So.
  • 42 Chance Nixon – Redshirt Fr.

Wide receivers

  •  2 Tyren Hornes – Fr.
  •  3 Jonathan Bibbs – Redshirt So.
  •  6 Ric'Darious "DayDay" Farmer – Redshirt So.
  •  7 Duane Thomas Jr. – Sr.
  •  9 Waden Charles – So.
  • 13 Josh Derry – Sr.
  • 39 Andrea Parisi – Redshirt So.
  • 81 Zack Palmer – Redshirt Fr.
  • 82 Jordyn Bridgewater – Redshirt So.
  • 85 Carson Hinshaw – Redshirt So.
  • 86 Chase Hinshaw – Redshirt Fr.
  • 89 Caleb Rollerson – Redshirt So.
  • -- Jordan Nunuha – Fr.

Tight ends

  •  0 Dylan Wade – Sr.
  • 18 Caden Piening – Redshirt Fr.
  • 84 Thomas Wadsworth – Redshirt Sr.
  • 87 Brooks Hall – Fr.
  • 88 Grayson Brousseau – Redshirt So.
  • -- Dylan Burk – So.
  

Offensive Lineman

  • 53 LaParka Langston – Redshirt Jr.
  • 54 Cooper Terpstra – Redshirt Jr.
  • 55 Jacob Maiava – Redshirt Fr.
  • 57 Camp Lott – Redshirt Fr.
  • 58 Connor Meadows – Redshirt Sr.
  • 61 Owen Spell – Sr.
  • 66 Brady Wayburn – Redshirt Sr.
  • 67 Noah Senka – Redshirt So.
  • 68 Ethan Higgins – Redshirt Jr.
  • 63 Shaheem Hill – Redshirt Sr.
  • 70 RaiShaun McHaney – Redshirt Fr.
  • 71 Amahn Williams – Fr.
  • 72 Dominick Campbell – Redshirt Sr.
  • 73 Henry Tabansi – Redshirt Jr.
  • 74 Matthew Prigmore – Redshirt Jr.
  • 75 Tyler Gibson – Redshirt Sr.
  • 76 Justin Royes – Redshirt Jr.
  • 77 Kasiyah Charlton – Fr.
  • 78 Preston Cushman – Redshirt Sr.

Kickers/Punters

  • 15 Will Stone – Redshirt Sr.
  • 31 Noah McGough – Redshirt Fr.
  • 49 Atticus Bertrams – Sr.
  • 97 Mason Denaburg – Redshirt Fr.

Long snappers

  • 37 Rocklyn Kelley – Redshirt Fr.
  • 43 Kyle Hicks – Redshirt So.
  

Defensive tackles

  • 13 Horace Lockett – Redshirt Sr.
  • 42 Artavius Jones – Redshirt So.
  • 54 Trenton Turner – Redshirt Fr.
  • 55 Noah Mercer – Fr
  • 92 Jeffson Lafontant – Redshirt Jr.
  • 93 Brad Gurley – Redshirt Sr.
  • 95 RJ Jackson Jr. – Sr.
  • 97 Josh Schell – Redshirt Sr.
  • 99 Thomas Collins – Redshirt Jr.
  • -- Isaiah McNish – Fr.

Linebacker

  • 15 Preston Hall – Fr.
  • 19 Rashad Henry – Redshirt Jr.
  • 20 Lewis Carter – Sr.
  • 24 Tackett Curtis – Sr.
  • 32 Matthew Occhipinti – Fr.
  • 33 Phil Picciotti – Redshirt Jr.
  • 34 Jahleel Culbreath – Redshirt Sr.
  • 38 Jayden Jennings – 5th–Sr.

Defensive back

  •  4 Braeden Marshall – Sr.
  •  5 DJ Bell – Redshirt Sr.
  •  7 Antione Jackson – Sr.
  •  8 Demari Henderson – Redshirt Sr.
  • 14 Kahmel Johnson – Redshirt So.
  • 16 Antonio "TJ" Branch – Redshirt Fr.
  • 17 Jailen Duffie – Redshirt Jr.
  • 18 Caleb Flagg – Redshirt Sr.
  • 21 Ty Bartrum – Redshirt Sr.
  • 22 Amarion Queen – Fr.
  • 23 Jayden Williams – 5th-Sr.
  • 25 Rukeem Stroud – Redshirt Fr.
  • 26 Elijah Keys – Fr.
  • 27 Nicholas Antoine – Redshirt Sr.
  • 28 Matt Irwin – Jr.
  • 29 Jayden Bellamy – Redshirt Sr.
  • 49 Donnell Johnson – Redshirt Jr.
  

Defensive ends

  •  6 Isaiah Nixon – Redshirt Jr.
  • 10 Sincere Edwards – Jr.
  • 11 Ken Talley – Redshirt Sr.
  • 12 Aymeric Koumba – Redshirt Jr.
  • 41 Bruno Dall – Redshirt Jr.
  • 45 Quentin Hatch – Redshirt Sr.
  • 94 L A Jessie Harrold – Redshirt Fr.
  • 96 Anthony Coaxum – 5th-Sr.
  • 98 Alhassan Iddrissu – Fr.

Legend

  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Coaching staff

  • Scott Frost – Head Coach
  • Alex Grinch – Defensive coordinator/Safeties
  • Steve Cooper – Offensive coordinator
  • Sean Beckton Sr. – Associate head coach/Wide receivers
  • Mike Dawson – Defensive run game coordinator/Edge
  • Kenny Martin – Defensive tackles
  • Jimmy Beal – Running backs
  • Mark D'Onofrio – Linebackers
  • AJ Blazek – Offensive line
  • David Overstreet II – Cornerbacks
  • McKenzie Milton – Quarterbacks
  • Cooper Bassett – Tight ends
  • Pete Alamar – Special teams coordinator
  • Kefense Hynson – Pass game coordinator
  • Alex Farah – Asst. Offensive line
  • Austin Herink – Senior Offensive Analyst
  • Eric Terrazas – Senior Offensive Analyst
  • Drico Johnson – Defensive Analyst
  • Pete Haffner – Defensive Quality Control
  • Jihad Woods – Defensive Quality Control
  • Damion Daniels – Defensive Quality Control
  • Geron Hargon – Special Teams Quality Control
  • Andrew Sims – Chief of Staff
  • Trent Mossbrucker – General Manager of Football Player Personnel, Acquisitions and Roster Management
  • Ryan Callaghan – Senior Dir. of FB Operations & Recruiting
  • Lauryn Ford – Asst. Dir. of Operations
  • Ryan Beer – Dir. of Player Personnel
  • Dan Pirtle – Dir. of Player Personnel
  • Malcolm Folk – Player Personnel Analyst, Football
  • Zach Duval – Director, Sports Performance
  • Andrew Strop – Associate Director, Sports Performance
  • Sean Beckton Jr. – Asst. Dir. of Sports Performance
  • Jordan Litten – Dir. of FB Creative & Athletic Branding
  • Brad Helton – Asst. AD, Video Operations
  • Brian Lund – Associate AD. Head Football Athletic Trainer, Sports Medicine
  • Diarmuid Christie – Asst. Athletic Trainer
  • Kyle Flora – Asst. Athletic Trainer
  • Elisabeth Bird – Athletic Trainer
  • Austin Seymour – Associate Director, Equipment
  • Schuyler Silverglate – Asst. Director, Equipment Operations

→ Roster updated June, 2026
→ Depth chart updated June, 2026

Notes

  1. [a]
    The stadium and the UCF main campus have an Orlando mailing address, but both are located in unincorporated Orange County.
  2. [b]
    Clark passed away on September 21, 2025.[8]

References

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