ORLANDO — One word needed muting, but UCF’s players understood Scott Frost‘s message loud and clear when he addressed them ahead of offseason workouts.
Frost posed the question, “What do we want to accomplish this year?” One player replied he wanted to win the Big 12, then the national championship.
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“Good, I’m glad you said it. I want to (expletive) win the league this year,” Frost said.
The Knights took their first step toward accomplishing their lofty goal March 31, holding their first of 15 spring practices. UCF went 5-7 and failed to achieve bowl eligibility in 2025 as Frost returned for a second spell as head coach.
Oct 11, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; UCF Knights head coach Scott Frost talks with his team on the sidelines in the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the second half at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
Of course, Frost built his reputation in Orlando for what he achieved in his second season last time around. The Knights went from 6-7, including an unremarkable finish with a Cure Bowl defeat to Arkansas State, to 13-0 and a New Year’s Day triumph over Auburn in the Peach Bowl.
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Restocking a roster with 32 transfers and more than a dozen true freshman, and with no spring transfer portal to worry about this time, Frost felt ready to get to work Tuesday morning.
“I was excited to walk out onto the field today. It’s a side story, but the ospreys were back. I love those things that nest on top of our light pole out there,” Frost said. “Love the field. Love being back in Orlando. And I really like this group of guys …
“There’s a real hunger and a drive to work and get better that I’ve seen all winter. That gives coaches a lot of confidence and hope. Our potential for improvement is a lot greater when you have that kind of guy on your team and a team built of those type of guys.”
Nov 29, 2025; Provo, Utah, USA; UCF Knights wide receiver Duane Thomas Jr. (7) runs after a catch against BYU Cougars cornerback Mory Bamba (4) during the first quarter at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
UCF football fans long for hope after a fairly dismal three-year slide following the program’s move from the American Conference to the Big 12. Since joining the prestigious Power Four, the Knights have posted a 7-20 league record with just two wins away from the Acrisure Bounce House (Cincinnati in ’23, TCU in ’24).
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The Knights started 3-0 last fall, throttling Bill Belichick’s North Carolina in front of a sold-out crowd, but dropped seven of their last nine contests. Frost and his staff sought older, more experienced players in the portal to supplement 10 returning starters (four on offense, six on defense).
“Spring practice is still really important, but I think guys that have that experience are able to show up in the fall and be ready a lot quicker than guys who haven’t played a lot of football,” Frost said.
In particular, UCF made significant personnel changes on offense. Among the notable transfer additions are quarterback Alonza Barnett III (James Madison), running backs Duke Watson (Louisville) and Landen Chambers (Central Arkansas), wide receivers Josh Derry (Monmouth) and Jonathan Bibbs (Louisiana-Monroe) and offensive tackle Henry Tabansi (Buffalo).
Last year, among Big 12 teams, the Knights finished 13th in scoring (24.3 points per game), 11th in rushing (158 yards per game), eighth in passing (220.8 yards per game) and 14th in third-down conversion rate (33.9%).
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“I don’t think we built a team last year,” senior wide receiver Duane Thomas Jr. said. “It was OK, it was pretty average. This year, the chemistry is a lot better — seeing everybody’s smiles, nobody’s head is down and frowning. Everybody wants to be better and build each other.”
Barnett spent the majority of Tuesday’s media-open portion of practice on the sideline, and Frost said he plans to ease the 5-foot-11, 210-pound dual-threat into spring camp as he deals with injury.
Nov 22, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys running back Sesi Vailahi (3) is tackled by UCF Knights linebacker Lewis Carter (20) during the first quarter at Acrisure Bounce House. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images
UCF’s defense, which ran in the middle of the Big 12 pack in most statistical categories under first-year coordinator Alex Grinch, had fewer holes to plug. Defensive tackles RJ Jackson Jr. and Horace Lockett Jr. are back, along with three-down linebacker Lewis Carter, cornerbacks Antione Jackson and Jayden Bellamy, nickelback Braeden Marshall and safety Demari Henderson.
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“I liked how the defense, on the whole, went out and attacked the first day,” said Carter, who had a team-high 92 tackles last season. “It didn’t really seem like it was the first day. I feel like the OTAs (organized team activities) set us ahead of that.
“There’s a few guys that have been around already, so they’re familiar with the college work. I’m ready to let them know the standard and what Coach Frost wants around here.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: UCF Knights football opens 2026 spring practice with Big 12 title goal