UCF vs BYU is set for Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Acrisure Bounce House in Orlando, with kickoff time still to be announced. It’s a Big 12 Conference game between two programs heading in very different directions: BYU enters as a national contender, while UCF is trying to climb out of three rough seasons in the league. This preview covers the date, the recent history between the two teams, and where each program stands heading into the matchup.
Both schools joined the Big 12 in 2023, and this will be their fourth straight season meeting as conference opponents. The venue swaps back to Orlando this year after BYU hosted the 2025 meeting in Provo.
When Is the UCF vs BYU Game in 2026?
UCF hosts BYU on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Acrisure Bounce House in Orlando, Florida. As of this writing, the Big 12 hasn’t announced an official kickoff time or TV network for the game, which is typical this far out from the matchup.
The game falls in an interesting spot on BYU’s calendar. It comes one week after the Cougars host Notre Dame at LaVell Edwards Stadium on October 17, a marquee non-conference game that national writers have flagged as central to BYU’s playoff hopes. UCF, meanwhile, gets an open week right before facing BYU, giving the Knights extra preparation time for a team many expect to contend for the Big 12 title.
UCF vs BYU: How the Two Programs Match Up Right Now
BYU enters the 2026 season as one of the Big 12’s clear favorites, while UCF is still working to become bowl-eligible again after two straight losing seasons. That gap shows up clearly in how each program is discussed heading into fall camp, with BYU drawing preseason title buzz and UCF drawing cautious optimism about incremental improvement.
BYU went a combined 23-4 over the 2024 and 2025 seasons, reaching the Big 12 Championship Game for the first time in program history last year before falling to Texas Tech. UCF, by contrast, is 7-20 across its three seasons in the Big 12 and finished 5-7 (2-7 Big 12) in 2025, missing a bowl game for the second consecutive year.
That said, program trajectory and a single game result aren’t the same thing. UCF gets this matchup at home, and Scott Frost’s roster brings in meaningfully more continuity and talent than the group that took the field in 2025.
What Happened Last Time UCF Played BYU?
BYU beat UCF 41-21 in the two teams’ most recent meeting on November 29, 2025, in Provo. The Cougars trailed 14-0 early before scoring 31 unanswered points to close out an undefeated home season.
UCF actually started fast in that game. Quarterback Tayven Jackson threw for 232 yards and two early touchdowns, and the Knights jumped ahead before BYU’s defense settled in. Running back LJ Martin took over from there, scoring three touchdowns as BYU pulled away, and a Parker Kingston punt return for a score sealed the outcome. The win pushed BYU to 11-1 and set up its trip to the Big 12 Championship Game the following week.
UCF vs BYU: All-Time Series and Recent History
BYU has won each of the last three UCF vs BYU meetings, dating back to a 49-23 Cougars win in 2020. Since both teams joined the Big 12, BYU has taken every matchup: 37-24 in Orlando in 2024, and 41-21 in Provo in 2025.
The 2024 meeting was closer than the final score suggested for a while. BYU built a 17-point halftime lead behind quarterback Jake Retzlaff, and UCF running back RJ Harvey kept the Knights within range before BYU’s ball control offense wore the game down in the second half. The pattern across all three recent meetings has been similar: UCF competes for stretches, but BYU’s depth and execution take over as the game wears on.
UCF’s 2026 Season Outlook Heading Into the Matchup
UCF enters 2026 with far more roster continuity than a year ago, after nearly rebuilding the entire team from scratch in 2025. According to UCF’s own program reporting, 93 of the team’s 112 players were new to the program entering last season, a level of turnover that made the 5-7 finish somewhat understandable in hindsight.
The biggest offseason move was landing quarterback Alonza Barnett III through the transfer portal. Barnett led James Madison to a 12-2 record and a College Football Playoff berth in 2025, throwing for 2,806 yards and 23 touchdowns while adding 589 rushing yards and 15 more scores on the ground. Frost also added portal running backs Duke Watson, who averaged 8.9 yards per carry as a freshman at Louisville, and Landen Chambers, who rushed for 1,273 yards at the FCS level with Central Arkansas.
UCF’s defense is a relative bright spot heading into the year, ranking 26th nationally in returning production according to program-level data cited by UCF beat reporters. Wide receiver Duane Thomas Jr., who caught 53 passes for 528 yards in 2025, returns as the top target in what should be a more stable passing offense.
BYU’s 2026 Season Outlook Heading Into the Matchup
BYU is one of the most talked-about teams in the Big 12 heading into 2026, coming off back-to-back seasons that just missed the College Football Playoff. Coach Kalani Sitake enters his 11th season, and a Big 12 beat writers’ poll picked BYU to finish second in the conference behind Texas Tech, despite no official preseason poll being conducted this year.
Sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier is the headline returning piece, after throwing for more than 3,000 yards and rushing for 527 more as a true freshman in 2025, earning Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors. Running back LJ Martin, a 1,300-yard rusher last season, was named the conference’s preseason offensive player of the year, and BYU returns four starters on an offensive line anchored by center Bruce Mitchell.
The one real question mark is defense. Longtime defensive coordinator Jay Hill left for Michigan after the 2025 season, and special teams coordinator Kelly Poppinga has taken over the role. BYU’s defense allowed just 332.4 yards and 19.1 points per game under Hill in 2025, and replicating that under new leadership is one of the bigger storylines for BYU heading into the UCF game and the rest of Big 12 play.
Why This UCF vs BYU Game Matters for the Big 12 Race
For BYU, UCF vs BYU is one of several games that could shape whether the Cougars return to the Big 12 Championship Game, especially with a tough Notre Dame test the week before. A letdown after a big non-conference game is a real risk BYU has to guard against on the road to Orlando.
For UCF, this is a chance to notch a signature home win against a nationally relevant opponent, something the program hasn’t managed against BYU since before either team joined the Big 12. A competitive showing, or an outright upset, would be a meaningful data point for a Knights program trying to prove its 2025 struggles were a rebuilding blip rather than a sign of where the team actually stands in the conference.
Where to Watch UCF vs BYU
TV and streaming details for the October 24, 2026 UCF vs BYU game had not been announced as of this writing, since Big 12 broadcast assignments are typically finalized closer to game week. Recent UCF-BYU meetings have aired on major sports networks given both programs’ national relevance, so a similar broadcast slot is likely once the game is officially set.
Fans looking for confirmed kickoff time and network information should check the Big 12 Conference’s official schedule updates or UCF and BYU’s athletic department sites as the date approaches, since these details typically get locked in about two to three weeks before kickoff.
FAQ
When is the UCF vs BYU game in 2026?
UCF hosts BYU on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Acrisure Bounce House in Orlando, Florida.
Who won the last UCF vs BYU game?
BYU won the most recent meeting 41-21 on November 29, 2025, in Provo, Utah, overcoming an early 14-0 deficit.
What is the all-time record between UCF and BYU?
BYU has won each of the last three meetings between the teams, including both matchups since UCF and BYU joined the Big 12 Conference in 2023.
Is BYU ranked heading into the 2026 season?
No official preseason poll was released this year, but a Big 12 beat writers’ poll picked BYU to finish second in the conference behind Texas Tech.
Who is UCF’s starting quarterback in 2026?
Alonza Barnett III, a transfer from James Madison who led the Dukes to a 12-2 record and a College Football Playoff berth in 2025, is UCF’s new starting quarterback.
Who is BYU’s starting quarterback in 2026?
Bear Bachmeier returns as BYU’s starter after a standout freshman season in 2025 that earned him Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors.
Where is the 2026 UCF vs BYU game being played?
The game is in Orlando, Florida, at UCF’s home stadium, Acrisure Bounce House, since the two programs alternate hosting duties each season.
Did UCF make a bowl game in 2025?
No. UCF finished 5-7 (2-7 Big 12) in 2025, missing bowl eligibility for the second consecutive season.
How did BYU’s 2025 season end?
BYU finished 12-2, reaching the Big 12 Championship Game for the first time in program history before losing to Texas Tech, then beat Georgia Tech 25-21 in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
What time does UCF vs BYU kick off in 2026?
An official kickoff time hadn’t been announced as of this writing. The Big 12 typically finalizes game times and TV assignments a few weeks before each matchup.
