UCF football kickoff time, TV channel set for Space Game, 3 others

wcc

May 27, 2026 - 20:15

0 0

UCF football kickoff time, TV channel set for Space Game, 3 others

UCF's 10th annual Space Game is officially scheduled for a prime-time launch.

The Knights will host Baylor at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 30, with ESPN broadcasting the Big 12 matchup, one of four kickoff times announced by the university on May 27.

In addition, UCF's season-opener against Bethune-Cookman will take place at 7 p.m. Sept. 3 on ESPN+. The Knights' non-conference road trip to Pittsburgh is a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on ESPN2. Finally, they will host Georgia State at 7 p.m. Sept. 19 on ESPN+.

UCF will play two of its Big 12 home games on Friday nights this fall; Iowa State makes its first trip to the Acrisure Bounce House on Nov. 20.

Baylor has won each of the two head-to-head meetings since UCF joined the Big 12 in 2023, including a 30-3 blowout in Waco, Texas, last November. The Knights scored their lone victory in the series on New Year's Day of 2014 in the Fiesta Bowl.

What is the UCF Space Game?

Nov 7, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights tight end Dylan Wade (0) runs the ball during the second quarter against the Houston Cougars at Acrisure Bounce House. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

Since 2017, UCF commemorates its roots as a school founded with the goal of providing personnel for the United States space program at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

UCF designs special uniforms inspired by various aspects of space exploration. For 2025, its theme was "hyperspace," a nod to its October 2024 partnership with the U.S. Air Force to launch the Center of Excellence in Hypersonic and Space Propulsion — otherwise known as the HyperSpace Center.

The HyperSpace Center aims to advance the technology that fuels hypersonic travel — at speeds up to 13,000 miles per hour — to help enhance national defense and open up new frontiers in space exploration. It is located in the Central Florida Research Park, adjacent to the main campus in Orlando.

What is a Citronaut?

According to Pegasus, the university's magazine, the Citronaut graced the cover of Florida Technological University's 1968-69 student handbook. It had the head of an astronaut, including a space helmet, and the body of an orange.

Norman Van Meter, the brother-in-law of then-UCF President Charles Millican, illustrated the mascot in an attempt to combine Central Florida's major themes of the period: the growing space program and the citrus industry. Both remain integral to the region to this day.

The Citronaut, however, was met with initial disapproval from FTU students. Within one year, they petitioned student government to establish an official mascot, eventually choosing "the Knights of Pegasus" in 1970.

UCF rebranded as the Golden Knights in 1993, and the moniker was shortened to Knights in 2007.

Nowadays, the Citronaut enjoys a large cult following and is a wildly popular secondary brand for the university's athletic teams.

Is UCF undefeated in Space Games?

Nov 7, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights wide receiver Duane Thomas Jr. (7) avoids being tackled during the second half against the Houston Cougars at Acrisure Bounce House. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

Not anymore.

UCF dropped to 8-1 in Space Games last November with a 30-27 loss to Houston, sealed by Katrell Webb's end-zone interception with 11 seconds left in regulation.

Scott Frost, preparing for the second year of his second stint as head coach, guided the 'Nauts to victory in the inaugural Space Game — a 63-21 thrashing of East Carolina in 2017.

The 'Nauts clobbered No. 15 Oklahoma State 45-3 three years ago and held Doak Walker Award winner Ollie Gordon II to 25 rushing yards. In 2024, Dylan Rizk threw three touchdowns in his first career start and RJ Harvey moved into second place on the school's all-time rushing list as UCF blasted Arizona 56-12.