​The UCF Knights have long been a defining force in the American Conference, but their transition to the Big 12 has shifted their position in the college football hierarchy. With three consecutive seasons hovering below .500, the Knights are still chasing the peak successes of the past. To hasten their ascent, UCF has returned to the coach who once placed Orlando at the center of college football nine years ago. Scott Frost is entering the second year of his second stint at UCF, aiming to bounce back after a 5-7 campaign. This offseason has felt markedly calmer than the previous one, marked by stability and fewer moving parts.
Frost, along with quarterback Alonza Barnett III, offensive tackle Preston Cushman, outside linebacker Lewis Carter, and cornerback Jayden Bellamy, represented UCF at Big 12 Media Days in Frisco, Texas. Looking ahead to the 2026 Knights, several storylines stand out.
This isn’t Frost’s first time entering year two at UCF. In 2016, he took over as head coach and endured a seven-loss debut, setting the stage for a remarkable 2017 season in which the Knights went 13-0, captured the Peach Bowl title against Auburn, and earned an NCAA-recognized national championship. Nearly a decade later, Frost has returned to Orlando for a second tenure, coming off a first season that included seven losses. He hopes for a turnaround this time as well, but he is keenly aware of how much the college football landscape has changed—through NIL, the transfer portal, conference realignment, and the 12-team College Football Playoff.
“Last year was tough,” Frost acknowledged. “When I arrived, the portal was wide open, and coaches were still being hired. Some players I didn’t even know were exploring options. I didn’t have a staff yet, so people were visiting schools and signing, and I didn’t even have a recruiting department. We were far more prepared this year. We were able to retain the right players and add others around them. I don’t know how that will translate to wins and losses, but I’m certainly more confident in this team than I was a year ago.”
Frost helped orchestrate UCF’s famous reversal—from a 6-7 record in 2016 to an undefeated 2017 season. He notes that a key feature of that turnaround was the team becoming more player-led in his second year. That dynamic appears to be emerging again in Orlando, as evidenced by spring practice, which could signal a renewed winning culture for the Knights.
“When you talk about standards, there’s a certain way things need to be done in the building,” Frost said. “If coaches have to police that all the time, you don’t have a true culture. I remember year one at UCF and how things started to shift once players took ownership. We want a program where accountability and excellence come from within, not just from the staff.” He reflected on the initial period in his first UCF tenure, noting how building a self-sustaining culture—and the success that followed—required patience, clarity, and a shared commitment from players and coaches alike. As the 2026 season unfolds, Frost and the Knights will be measured not only by wins and losses but by how quickly they can recapture that self-driven, high-performance ethos that defined their ascent a few seasons prior.