What to Expect from UCF as it Enters the Big XII Conference

By Andrew Montana

After 10 years in the American Athletic Conference (AAC), the University of Central Florida is officially a member of the Big XII Conference. Effective June 1, 2023, UCF entered the Power Five Conference as the youngest school ever to do so, established in 1963. There are, however, intrigues about how the Knights will do in this new, highly competitive conference. Here is an overview of what to look forward to, potential rivalries, and predictions for four of UCF’s sports teams as the Knights enter the Big XII.

Football

Players come in and out of schools yearly, but the transfer portal hit the Knights’ football team particularly hard this off-season. UCF lost three three-star players to the portal: Mikey Keene, Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, and Ryan O’Keefe. Despite gaining players through the portal, these three were not only crucial in UCF’s success, but they were fan favorites.

According to 247Sports, TheTopTens, and Bleacher Report, the Big XII is the third best conference in college football, with three teams making the top 25 last year: TCU (2), Kansas State (14), and Texas (25). Nevertheless, UCF’s first three football games against Baylor,

West Virginia, and Oklahoma sold out before entering the Big XII.

Men’s Basketball

Unfortunately, the men’s basketball team’s struggles may continue into the 2023-2024 season. UCF lost Taylor Hendricks to the NBA Draft (9th overall to Utah) and core players like Ithiel Horton, Jayhlon Young, and Tyem Freeman to the transfer portal. Luckily, the portal gifted the Knights Jacksonville’s Omar Payne and Missouri-Kansas City’s Shemarri Allen.

The Knights also look to build on younger players like Thierno Sylla and Tyler Hendricks. After a painful offseason, UCF looks to improve its roster’s talent and physicality to compete with Big XII opponents like Houston and Kansas. Future recruits may be more inclined to join UCF as the Big XII offers brighter lights than other conferences.

Softball

The softball team just came off a spectacular 40-21 season with a 15-3 record against AAC teams and a 3-2 record against Big XII teams. Chloe Evans and Aubrey Evans led UCF’s batting, while Sarah Willis led UCF’s pitching. Also, Jada Cody climbed her way up UCF’s all-time RBI leader, finding herself in 3rd place.

The softball program can expect turbulence next season as four Big XII teams made ESPN’s top 25 softball colleges despite UCF barely missing the mark. Nevertheless, the Knights can expect another great season from its softball team as its roster looks nearly identical to last year’s.

Volleyball

Last year’s volleyball team was exceptional, with a 28-2 overall record, a 19-1 conference record, a 5-1 record against Big XII teams, and 19 sweeps. McKenna Melville led the Knights’ offense this historic season, and Abby Hansen’s blocking ability led the defense.

UCF’s volleyball program approaches a rough patch as many players move on. As Melville graduates, opponents like Houston - responsible for one of UCF’s two lossescontinue to grow alongside its rivalry with the Knights. UCF plays conference rival Cincinnati as the season opener, but expect Knight Nation to flood the stands when Houston visits on November 3.

Visit centralfloridalifestyle.com for more updates on UCF sports teams.