ORLANDO, Fla. – The University of Central Florida Knights will open up its first Big12 campaign with a nonconference home game on Aug. 31 against the Kent State Golden Flashes.
When/where: Thursday, Aug. 31, at 7 p.m. at FBC Mortgage Stadium
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Where to watch: Fox Sports 1
How to listen: FM 96.9/AM 740
Odds: UCF -36.0, O/U 56 (Caesar Sportsbook)
This is the inaugural season for the Knights in the Big 12 -- and in a Power 5 conference -- after leaving the American Athletic Conference (AAC), which is a Group of 5 conference. UCF’s opponent, Kent State, is in the Mid-American Conference (MAC), another Group of 5 conference.
UCF was picked to finish 8th in the 14-team league in the Big 12 media preseason poll. The Knights’ first Big 12 game is Sept. 23.
UCF has a 2-2 record all-time against Kent State, winning once at home in 2002 and once in 2004. UCF has won its last seven home openers.
Quarterback John Rhys Plumlee recorded a career night last year in UCF’s home opener with 308 passing yards and four touchdowns, along with 100 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.
Head Coach Gus Malzahn enters his third season in charge of the Knights. He has an 18-9 record at UCF, and he has a 12-0 record for home openers in his career.