UCF Knights
The UCF Knights are the athletic teams that represent the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. The Knights participate in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I (FBS for football) as a member of the Big 12 Conference. UCF was invited to join the Big 12 on September 10, 2021, and accepted the invitation later that day. The American Athletic Conference announced on June 10, 2022 that UCF had been approved for an early exit of the conference following the 2022-23 season (albeit with an increased buyout cost), permitting them to enter the Big 12 Conference for the 2023-24 season. Since men's soccer is not sponsored by the Big 12, they will play in the Sun Belt Conference beginning in 2023.
Football
| First Season |
|---|
| 1979 |
| Team History |
| UCF Knights (1979-present) |
| Conference |
| Big 12 Conference (2023-present) American Athletic Conference (2013-22) Conference USA (2005-12) Mid-American Conference (2002-04) Independent (1979-2001) |
| Venue |
| FBC Mortgage Stadium (2007-present) Florida Citrus Bowl (1979-2006) |
| Key People |
| Players • Coaches |
Programs by season
2000s
| Season/Date | Opponent | Venue | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | |||
| October 28 | at Alabama | Bryant-Denny Stadium | |
| 2002 | |||
| August 31 | at Penn State | Beaver Stadium | |
| 2007 | |||
| December 29 | vs. Mississippi State | Liberty Bowl (Memphis, TN) | |
2010s
| Season/Date | Opponent | Venue | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | |||
| October 29 | vs. Memphis | Bright House Networks Stadium | |
| 2012 | |||
| December 21 | vs. Ball State | Tropicana Field | |
| 2013 | |||
| January 1, 2014 | vs. Baylor | University of Phoenix Stadium | |
| 2015 | |||
| September 12 | at Stanford | Stanford Stadium | |
| 2016 | |||
| December 17 | vs. Arkansas State | Camping World Stadium | |
| 2017 | |||
| January 1, 2018 | vs. Auburn | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | |
Media guides and yearbooks by season
Media guides
| 2000s | 2003 |
|---|---|
| 2010s | 2019 |
| 2020s | 2021 |
| UCF Knights football head coaches |
|---|
| Don Jonas (1979-81) • Sam Weir (1982) • Lou Saban (1983-84) • Jerry Anderson* (1984) • Gene McDowell (1985-97) • Mike Kruczek (1998-03) • Alan Gooch* (2003) • George O'Leary (2004-15) • Danny Barrett* (2015) • Scott Frost (2016-17) • Josh Heupel (2018-20) • Gus Malzahn (2021-present)
*interim head coach |
| Big 12 Conference | |
|---|---|
| All Schools | Arizona State Sun Devils • Baylor Bears • Iowa State Cyclones • Kansas Jayhawks • Kansas State Wildcats • Oklahoma State Cowboys • TCU Horned Frogs • Texas Tech Red Raiders • UCF Knights • West Virginia Mountaineers |
| Basketball Venues | Gallagher-Iba Arena • Lloyd Noble Center |
| Football Venues | Amon G. Carter Stadium • Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium • Boone Pickens Stadium • McLane Stadium • Milan Puskar Stadium • Sun Devil Stadium |
