The No. 2 BYU Cougars will face the UCF Knights at the Acrisure Bounce House in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. ET. The matchup comes following a 28-24 victory for BYU over No. 2 Notre Dame on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026.
A Milestone for UCF
The contest marks a significant milestone for the UCF program, as it will be the first time the Knights host an AP top-5 opponent in their history. UCF enters the game with a 3-3 record and a 1-2 record in Big 12 play, following a 42-28 loss to Oklahoma State. The Knights are aiming for several program milestones, including their first win over an AP top-5 team and their first win over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 15 Oklahoma State on Nov. 11, 2023.
BYU enters the matchup with a perfect 6-0 record and a 3-0 record in the Big 12. The Cougars' recent success includes a 28-24 win over Notre Dame on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, and a 24-21 win over Utah on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. The Cougars have won three straight meetings in the series against UCF, including a 41-21 victory in Provo on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.
Defensive challenges for UCF include facing BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who ranks 15th in the nation in QBR with an 82.5 rating. Bachmeier, who scored through rushing, passing, and receiving touchdowns in the win against Notre Dame, is considered one of the best in the country by UCF head coach Scott Frost. UCF's defense will also need to contend with BYU's run defense, which ranks eighth nationally and holds opponents to 86 yards per game on the ground.
Offensive Struggles
The offensive strategy for the Knights will focus heavily on the ground game. UCF's offense has struggled against conference opponents, averaging under 100 yards per game and just 3 yards per carry. The team has not seen a 100-yard rusher since Duke Watson rushed for 177 yards against Georgia State on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.
How to Watch and Listen
The game will be broadcast on FOX, with a live stream available on FOX One. The broadcast team for the television coverage includes Connor Onion, Robert Griffin III, and Alexa Landestoy. For radio listeners, the game can be heard on FM 96.9/AM 740 The Game with Marc Daniels, Gary Parris, and Scott Adams, or via Spanish radio on UCFKnights.com and YouTube.com/UCFKnights with Carlos Bohorquez, Sergio Ruiz Torres, and Scott Adams.
Game Atmosphere
The matchup takes place during Week 8 of the 2026 college football season. UCF is averaging 43,653 fans at its three home games this season, representing 95% capacity at the Acrisure Bounce House.
