Teams:

• Arizona
• Arizona State
• Baylor
• BYU
• Cincinnati
• Colorado
• Houston
• Iowa State
• Kansas
• Kansas State
• Oklahoma State
• TCU
• Texas Tech
• UCF – At bat
• Utah – On deck
• West Virginia – In the hole

Portal Team Rankings:

• On3: Big 12 10th | National 45th
• 24/7 Sports: Big 12 15th | National 63rd
• The Athletic: B

Via AI:

• Alonza Barnett III (QB): Expected to anchor the offense and viewed as a top impact addition under center.
• Duke Watson (RB): A high-upside transfer from Louisville expected to bring explosive play to the backfield.
• Jonathan Bibbs (WR): Adds dynamic deep-threat speed coming over from UL Monroe.
• Henry Tabansi (OL): A crucial Power 4 trench addition arriving from Buffalo to stabilize the left tackle spot.
• Jahleel Culbreath (LB): Proven tackler transferring from Old Dominion with heavy backfield disruption stats.
• Bruno Dall (DL): All-MAC honoree added from Akron to reinforce the defensive front.

Via The Athletic:

Top players added: QB Alonza Barnett III (James Madison), RB Duke Watson (Louisville), OT Brady Wayburn (UConn), edge Jessie Harrold (Florida State), S Matt Irwin (Idaho)

Scott Frost hasn’t deviated from the plan Gus Malzahn employed toward the end of his tenure in Orlando. He signed twice as many transfers (31) as high school recruits (16) for the second year in a row. Four of the team’s 14 starters from 2025 with eligibility remaining left via the portal — including top receiver DJ Black (South Carolina) and defensive tackle John Walker (Ohio State). Frost, meanwhile, signed eight starters from other FBS programs (one from a Power 4 school) and five more from FCS schools. The two top FCS additions are Landen Chambers (Central Arkansas), who ran for 1,273 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, and Josh Derry (Monmouth), who had 76 catches for 1,123 yards and 13 touchdowns. Barnett and Keyone Jenkins, a 33-game starter at FIU, lead a highly experienced quarterback group.

ESPN’s Bill Connelly:

I have to compliment Scott Frost for his dedication to replication. The last time he was UCF’s head coach (2016-17), he battled through a mediocre first season, then stepped on the gas, leading the Knights to a 13-0 charge in Year 2. You can’t say 2025 looked all that different from 2016.

2016: 6-7 record, 73rd in SP+ (85th offense, 60th defense)

2025: 5-7 record, 76th in SP+ (98th offense, 51st defense)

Granted, the 2016 season was coming off of a dire 0-12 campaign, so it represented plenty of improvement in itself. The 2025 season, not so much. Still, Frost planted decent seeds in 2025, especially on a defense that returns coordinator Alex Grinch and most of a senior-heavy secondary. Corners Jayden Bellamy, Antione Jackson and DJ Bell are a fantastic trio, and the UCF pass defense should be dynamite as long as a transfer pass rusher such as end Bruno Dall (Akron) or linebacker Jahleel Culbreath (Old Dominion) can do some damage. Culbreath and returning linebacker Lewis Carter should provide proper run support too, but at least two of three transfer tackles — Thomas Collins (Oregon State), Artavius Jones (Miami) and Brad Gurley (Eastern Kentucky) — will need to provide something valuable next to incumbent RJ Jackson Jr.

There’s more at the link.

Team Recruiting Rankings:

• On3: Big 12 14th | National 66th
• 24/7 Sports: Big 12 14th | National 65th

Via AI:

• Tyren Hornes (WR): Highly-rated playmaker from Booker High School and one of the class’s crown jewels.
• Rocco Marriott (QB): Record-setting signal-caller from Platte County High School.
• Alhassan Iddrissu (EDGE): Lengthy pass-rusher out of St. Thomas More School.
• Dante Carr (QB): Dual-threat quarterback from Minersville Area High School.
• Kaj Baker (RB): Dynamic running back from Somerset Academy.

Big 12 Power Rankings

• ESPN’s Bill Connelly: 13th in the Big 12
• CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah: 12th in the Big 12
• The Big Lead: 14th in the Big 12
• Desert News’ Brandon Judd: 14thin the Big 12

AI Projection: What is the outlook for the UCF Golden Knights football for 2026?

The 2026 outlook for UCF (Golden) Knights football points to a bounce-back campaign in Year 2 of Scott Frost’s second stint. Coming off a 5–7 season, the team returns 10 starters and features a favorable schedule ranked among the easiest in the Power Four, with realistic expectations centered on achieving bowl eligibility and 6 to 8 wins.

Key Reasons for Optimism

Transfer Quarterback Upgrade: Addition of dual-threat quarterback Alonza Barnett III (expected to anchor the offense).

Forgiving Schedule: Ranked as the seventh-easiest Power Four schedule, featuring five home conference games at the Bounce House.

Defensive Stability: Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch returns a solid core, particularly in the secondary, after limiting opponents to under 24 points per game last year.

Main Concerns & Challenges

Back-to-Back Lulls: The program is seeking to avoid its first three-season skid of losing records in decades, following consecutive 5–7 years.

Road Woes: The Knights dropped nine consecutive road contests, including an 0–5 away mark in 2025.

Offensive Line Growth: The unit requires major development and consistency under a reshuffled offensive coaching staff.