Are you a UCF Knights fan? Well, get ready because the Knights are about to make a big leap in their football program. Starting the 2023 season, UCF will be playing in the Big 12 Conference, joining other powerful P5 teams like Texas, Oklahoma, and West Virginia. In this blog, we'll take a look back at the Knights' football journey and what it means for the program to be in the Big 12 Conference.

It's Been a Fast Climb for UCF Football

UCF has come a long way since it first kicked off its football program back in 1979. They played in their first FBS conference in 2002 when they joined the MAC Conference. The Knights then moved on to the Conference USA in 2005 and won their first CUSA Title in 2007. They would capture another conference championship in 2010 before making their way to the AAC in 2013. During their time in the AAC, UCF won league championships in 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2018. It's safe to say that the Knights have been on a roll for a while now.

Claims for a 2017 National Championship

In addition to these accomplishments, quarterback McKenzie Milton became AAC Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for 4,037 yards and 37 touchdowns alongside 8 rushing touchdowns throughout his sophomore year at UCF; offensive tackle Aaron Evans earned All-American honors; Richie Grant was awarded First Team All-AAC accolades; Shaquem Griffin became AAC Defensive Player of the Year as well being selected as 2018 Senior Bowl MVP; and Scott Frost won three Coach of the Week awards in his two years at UCF before he left to become head coach at Nebraska prior to this season-ending. With all that has been said above, it is no wonder why 2017 was such a great year for The Knights!

Welcome to the Big 12 Conference

The future is bright for UCF football, and there's so much to look forward to in the coming years. With a strong team, a dedicated coaching staff, and a passionate fan base, the Knights are in great shape. It's only a matter of time until they start making their mark in the Big 12 Conference.

Teams the UCF Knights Will Play During their First Big 12 Football Season.

The UCF Knights are set to play their first season in the big 12 conference in 2023, and it’s sure to be an exciting ride. They will face a challenging lineup of opponents, including the Baylor Bears, Kansas Jayhawks, Oklahoma Sooners, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Houston. Knight fans have to be excited knowing they'll play the Sooners before they leave for the SEC in 2024.

The UCF Big 12 opener will be at Kansas State on September 23 and they will host their first Big 12 game when Baylor arrives in Florida for an September 30 game at FBC Mortgage Stadium.

FAQ About UCF Football

Q. What conferences has UCF belonged to?

A. Prior to joining the Big 12 for the 2023 season, Central Florida has been in the American Athletic Conference, Conference USA and the Mid-American Conference.

Q. What does UCF stand for?

A. University of Central Florida

Q. What stadium does UCF play in for home games?

A. FBC Mortgage Stadium. It opened in 2007 and the Knights first opponent was the University of Texas.

Q. What is the name of UCF's Mascot?

The UCF Knights mascot is known as “Knightro”. Knightro was created in 1994 and is a costumed character version of the school’s mythical mascot, Vivian the Vulture. This larger than life figure can be seen sporting a black cape, UCF letterman-style jacket with an old English "UCF" logo on it, plus blue pants and shoes. He also carries around a stainless-steel shield that reads “Charge On!”

Q. Why did UCF change their nickname to the Knights?

A. UCF has a long held tradition of excellence and academic achievements, but it wasn't until 2007 that it adopted an official nickname: The Golden Knights. This decision was made by students based upon an online poll conducted through student government during homecoming week.

However, after conducting additional research into their choice, UCF found out that there had been another university in a different state who also used 'Golden Knights' as their athletic team name - thus resultantly making it impossible for UCF to trademark or copyright their own name and mascot designs. Therefore at some point between 2008-2009, UCF chose to rebrand itself with its current nickname: The Knights

Q. What is the highest drafted player in the NFL Draft?

A. The highest drafted UCF player in the NFL Draft was Blake Bortles, who was selected with the third overall pick in 2014 by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He is one of many Knights to make it to the NFL from the UCF program.

Q. What UCF players have finished the highest in Heisman Trophy Voting?

A. QB Dante Culpepper, 6th in 1998.

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