Before UCF football enters Big 12 conference play, the Knights have three non-conference games to start the 2026 season. UCF started 3-0 last season, with all three wins coming against out-of-conference opponents, including Bill Belichick’s North Carolina Tar Heels.
However, the start of year two under Scott Frost’s second tenure as head coach is different, as the Knights will be tested on the road early. Since entering the Big 12, UCF is 8-0 at the Acrisure Bounce House in non-conference games but only 1-3 on the road in the same contests.
Game 1: September 3 vs. Bethune Cookman
The Bethune Cookman Wildcats will make the trip from Daytona Beach to Orlando to face the Knights for their season opener. UCF will look to capitalize on a Bethune Cookman team that has not won an FBS competition since beating FIU in 2014.
In 2025, former Knight Timmy McClain helped lead the Wildcats to a 6-6 record. However, both starting quarterbacks from last season, McClain and Cam’Ron Ransom, are off the roster heading into 2026.
UCF holds an eight game winning streak against Bethune Cookman dating back to 1990 and will look to start the season 1-0 against an in-state opponent.
Game 2: September 12 @ Pittsburgh
The Knights’ first real test comes as they travel to Pittsburgh to face the Panthers in Acrisure Stadium. Pitt holds the all-time series record at 2-1, but the teams split their series in 2018 and 2019 under Josh Heupel.
Frost has won his only matchup against an ACC opponent while coaching UCF, coming against UNC last season. However, the Panthers are a different tier of opponent, as they finished 8-5 in 2025.
Former Panther Sincere Edwards will return to Pittsburgh to face his former team, hoping to get the Knights to 2-0.
Game 3: September 19 vs. Georgia State
UCF’s final non-conference game in 2026 comes at home against Georgia State. The matchup will be the first time the two schools will face off on the gridiron.
In two seasons under Dell McGee, the Panthers have a record of 4-20, with only one win coming against a non Sun Belt, FBS team. In his first stint at UCF, Frost lost his only Sun Belt matchup in the 2016 Cure Bowl versus Arkansas State.
With two struggling opponents and a tough road game ahead, the Knights could once again start the season 3-0 before entering conference play. Frost will look to get UCF to their first bowl game since 2023, and beginning undefeated can give the Knights a strong foundation.
“I’m really happy with where our team is right now,” Frost said at Big 12 Media Day. “I think we’re better at almost every single position on our football team, and I know that attitude and character of our players and this overall team are better.”