As the countdown to the 2026 college football season begins, UCF is ready to shift its focus from preseason camp to facing an actual opponent.
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The Knights welcome Bethune-Cookman to Acrisure Bounce House Stadium on Thursday (7 p.m., ESPN+). It’s Scott Frost’s second year back as UCF’s coach, but he’s all too familiar with the challenges a team can face in the first game of the season.
And while UCF are overwhelming favorites (42.5 points) against the Wildcats, Frost isn’t taking anything for granted.
“You’ve got to get out of camp mode,” said Frost. “We’ve been working for a long time and have been in practice mode for a long time, so it’s time to flip the page and get into game mode. That requires a little bit more attention to detail, a little more intensity required to make sure our guys are firing and ready to play.”
UCF has spent the past month in a grueling preseason camp, battling heat and humidity while preparing for the upcoming season. Only able to scrimmage against themselves, the Knights are eager to perform against someone else.
One of those eager to get on the field is starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III. The senior joined the team in January after transferring from James Madison, where he helped guide the Dukes to a Sun Belt Conference title and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Barnett knows it will be up to him to help get the team out of practice mode.
“I touch the ball every single play, so that’s the mentality,” Barnett said. “But it’s more than just me. It’s a team sport. Yes, I set the tone and I do have a great say in what happens, but I know I don’t have to worry about that with this group.
“I know when we step out there Thursday, we’ll be ready to go. They’ve been waiting for this opportunity for a while. So, I don’t think I’ll have to say much to this group to get them going. We have real business-like guys who love the game.”
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While searching for a message to share with his team this week, Frost found inspiration from the handful of games that were played this weekend as part of Week 0.
“The big message is trying to play as clean as you can, not making mistakes,” Frost explained.
“I watched the game (North Carolina-TCU) in Ireland and that whole game kind of turned on a bad punt snap. You can’t really anticipate those things; they just happen. You watch Hawaii-Stanford, and a fumble at the end of the game is what changed that one. It’s hard to be at your best in week one.”
Cornerback Antione Jackson believes it all comes down to the small details.
“We emphasize it in practice, just the small things, jumping offsides, just being able to keep our composure when things get hard and it should carry over to the game,” said Jackson.
Injury notes
UCF enters the game relatively healthy, although the Knights will be without the services of edge rusher Bruno Dall, a 6-foot-7, 260-pound redshirt junior transfer from Akron, who was expected to be a factor on the defensive end.
“We hope to get him back at some point,” said Frost.
Defensive tackle R.J. Jackson and starting receiver Duane Thomas Jr. are game-time decisions after being banged up in camp.
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Up next
What: Bethune-Cookman (0-0) at UCF (0-0)
When: 7 p.m., Thursday
Where: Acrisure Bounce House Stadium, Orlando
TV: ESPN+
Favorite: UCF by 42.5 points