After a portal frenzy and the emergence of deep-threat "Scary Derry," Scott Frost’s overhauled roster aims to snap a bowl drought and finally conquer the Power Four.
The 2026 season will mark the fourth year of UCF's tenure in the Big 12, which hasn't gone well, and it's about time for their luck to turn around.
UCF has a 7-20 conference record since making the jump from the American Athletic Conference in 2023. The Knights were big fish in a small pond in the AAC, but are now little fish in a big pond in the Big 12.
Coach Scott Frost returned for his second stint and is heading into his second year after a losing season. The team finished 5-7 last year, extending its bowl game drought to two years.
Frost and his coaching staff became active in January's transfer portal cycle, adding over 30 players. One impactful player to highlight is Josh Derry, a Monmouth transfer.
Derry is a 5-foot-9 wide receiver and has emerged as one of UCF's top receivers throughout spring camp. He earned the nickname "Scary Derry," and it's tied to his ability to make demoralizing big plays.
"It's a scary sight for a defense to see me, you know, running over past them on a deep route or catching the ball and going for 70 yards," Derry told reporters on April 18. "So just, you know, scaring scaring coaches and the defense."
The Monmouth transfer could help unlock the Knights' deep passing game. UCF's offense struggled to complete passes downfield, as former quarterback Tayven Jackson averaged 6.8 yards per completion.
On defense, defensive coordinator Alex Grinch will miss the presence of Malachi Lawrence and Nyjalik Kelly on the edges. Lawrence became the highest-drafted defensive player in program history (23rd overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys), and Kelly signed a contract worth over $250,000 with the Green Bay Packers.
The duo combined for 74 tackles (52 solo), 10 sacks, five passes defended, one interception and four forced fumbles. While the Knights will miss their productivity, EDGEs coach Mike Dawson highlighted Sincere Edwards, Aymeric Koumba and Isaiah Nixon as next up.
"They kind of know my language, know my style, and they know the drills and things like that, which has been great," Dawson told reporters on April 21. "And then we've added on with a couple guys, Ken Talley, Bruno Dall and LA Jesse Herald. These guys have done a great job of coming right in and mixing well with the group."
UCF bolstered its depth via the transfer portal, building a solid foundation for a turnaround 2026 season. The Big 12 is a gauntlet of strong teams, sometimes featuring ranked opponents, and it's time for the Knights to step up.
Dominance isn't expected, like it was during their time in the AAC, but the team needs to start winning like a Power Four team.
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