UCF men’s basketball will start Big 12 play at home again in 2027, opening conference action against Utah on Jan. 2.
That sets the tone for an 18-game league schedule that gives the Knights home-and-home dates with Baylor, Texas Tech and West Virginia. UCF and West Virginia will meet twice in the same season for the third time in four years. The rest of the Big 12 slate includes one game against each of the other 12 opponents, split evenly with six at home and six on the road.
After the opener against Utah, the Knights head west for back-to-back road games in Arizona, playing at Arizona on Jan. 6 and at Arizona State on Jan. 9.
UCF then returns to Orlando for a Jan. 13 home date with Baylor before going to Kansas on Jan. 16. The calendar keeps moving quickly from there, with a home stretch against Colorado on Jan. 19 and Iowa State on Jan. 23, followed by a trip to Texas Tech on Jan. 30 to close out the month.
February begins at Addition Financial Arena with West Virginia on Feb. 3, then the Knights travel to Waco to face Baylor on Feb. 6.
UCF comes home again for Houston on Feb. 10 before visiting Cincinnati on Feb. 13 and then heading to Morgantown for the rematch with West Virginia on Feb. 16.
The final month of the regular season starts with Texas Tech in Orlando on Feb. 20.
The Knights then go to Oklahoma State on Feb. 24 before finishing their home schedule with BYU on Feb. 27 and Kansas State on March 3. UCF wraps up the regular season at TCU on March 6.
The Big 12 Tournament is set for March 11-15 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
Tip-off times and television assignments will be announced later.
UCF men’s basketball tickets are on sale now, including season tickets, single-game tickets and mini plans. The Knights return to the court starting Nov.
- Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the UCF Ticket Office at (407) 823-1000.
In Other News...
UCF Defense Has Become A Strength With One Big Problem Left
UCFs defense has quietly turned into one of the main reasons the Knights have been able to compete early this season. Over the past two weeks, opponents have averaged just nine points against a group that now sits second in the Big 12, and the improvement has been especially noticeable late in games. Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch has pointed to the units depth as a big part of that surge, with the Knights able to keep fresh bodies on the field and maintain their level when drives start to pile up.
The recent loss to Pittsburgh did not change the larger picture much, either, because UCF still held up well against a Power Four opponent and showed the kind of defensive backbone that can travel. Even so, the next step is obvious. The Knights have been difficult to score on, but they still want more takeaways as the season goes on, and that missing turnover punch remains the one piece keeping this defense from looking fully complete. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Has A Lot To Prove In Floridas Early Pecking Order
Entering Week 3, the early Florida pecking order has already started to take shape, and it is not exactly flattering for UCF. Miami sits atop the states college football hierarchy in the ESPN Football Power Index, with Florida and Florida State also positioned ahead of the Knights as the rankings reflect both results and longer-range expectations. For a program trying to keep pace in a crowded in-state race, that kind of snapshot matters almost as much as what happens on the field each Saturday.
UCF has work to do not just in the Big 12 picture, but in the broader conversation about where it stands among Florida programs. The Knights have a path to get back into the mix, and the coming weeks will help define whether they can climb past some of the teams now sitting above them in the FPI. For now, the states early leaderboard serves as a reminder that UCF still has plenty to prove before it can claim a spot near the top of Florida football. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Fans Just Got An Early Look At Next Seasons Biggest Tests
UCFs mens basketball calendar for 2026-27 is now in place, giving Knights fans an early read on how the next season will be shaped after the Big 12 rolled out its conference schedule. The full slate brings a mix of familiar league grind and nonconference intrigue, with home dates that should help define the tone in Orlando and road stretches that will test how far the program has come.
Among the most notable stops on the schedule are Yale, Georgia, Iowa State, Houston and Texas Tech, a collection that should give UCF plenty of chances to measure itself against different styles and personnel. The matchup with Houston stands out in particular, not just because of the league stakes, but because of the history between the teams and the way these games can linger from one season to the next. [Read more 🡒]