Blog Article
KNIGHT REVIVAL: UCF’S 2025 SEASON OUTLOOK UNDER SCOTT FROST’S RETURN
UCF’s prodigal son has returned home.
After guiding the Knights to a historic undefeated season in 2017 and then departing for his alma mater, Nebraska, Scott Frost is back in Orlando with unfinished business and Big 12 dreams.
The reunion couldn’t come at a more critical time for a program desperate to reestablish itself following a disappointing 4-8 campaign in 2024.
THE HOMECOMING THAT EVERYONE WANTED
Something didn’t feel right when Scott Frost left UCF after that magical 2017 season.
Frost admitted it years later, saying, “I don’t think my heart really wanted to leave. UCF was a special place to me then, and it always will be.”
With a 5-year contract through 2029, Frost can finish what he started—this time with UCF sitting at the big boy table in the Big 12.
- Turned a 0-12 team into 13-0 national champions in just two years
- Led the nation in scoring at 48.2 points per game in 2017
- Won multiple national coach of the year awards after the perfect season
- Returns after going 16-31 in his stint at Nebraska
As Athletic Director Terry Mohajir put it: “Today marks an exciting reunion for UCF Football as we welcome back Scott Frost, a coach who ignites the spirit and passion of Knight Nation.”
But make no mistake—this isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about bringing winning football back to Orlando.
2025 SCHEDULE: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
The schedule sets up nicely for a potential bounce-back season.
UCF opens with three consecutive non-conference home games:
- Jacksonville State (Thursday, August 28)
- North Carolina A&T (September 6)
- North Carolina and new coach Bill Belichick (September 21) after a bye week
The conference slate features a mix of winnable home games and challenging road trips:
Home Games:
- Kansas (October 4)
- West Virginia (October 18)
- Houston (November 8)
- Oklahoma State (November 22)
Road Challenges:
- Kansas State
- Cincinnati
- Baylor
- Texas Tech
- Season finale at BYU (November 29)
Frost recognizes the challenge ahead: “It’s a fun schedule. We got our work cut out for us. We’re taking off from a point that I don’t think anybody was happy with last year’s results. That being said, I think watching the tape and a few plays go different, UCF wins seven or eight games last year.”
THE MASSIVE ROSTER OVERHAUL
Your first rebuild is impressive. Your second rebuild? That’s where legends are made.
Frost didn’t waste time turning over the roster through both recruiting and the transfer portal:
- Class ranked #77 nationally by 247Sports
- Notable recruits include Taevion Swint (#19 RB), Tony Williams (#34 S), and RyShawn Perry (#39 DT)
- Added four key linemen on National Signing Day, including Jacob Maiava from Hawaii and Raishaun McHaney from Indianapolis
The biggest impact might be felt at the transfer portal. Frost and his staff have been working tirelessly to reshape the roster.
“In this era of college football you land and immediately have to start putting a team together in the transfer portal,” Frost explained. “So my life was six in the morning till midnight, and falling asleep with my phone in my hand for five weeks just to try to get a team put together.”
THE QUARTERBACK QUESTION
If you want to find the most critical position battle of the 2025 season, look no further than quarterback.
After cycling through four different starters in 2024, stability under center is the top priority.
For the first time since 2019, the Knights enter a season without a clear-cut starting quarterback. The competition features returning quarterback Jacurri Brown alongside transfers Cam Fancher and Tayven Jackson.
The competition brings additional intrigue with former UCF quarterback legend McKenzie Milton serving as quarterbacks coach.
Milton’s approach is simple: “The thing we always harp on is there are two things you can always control: your attitude and effort. These guys have come in with the right attitude every day and they’ve been busting their butts out there.”
The four contenders each bring different strengths:
- Tayven Jackson: Former four-star recruit with two years of eligibility remaining after stints at Tennessee and Indiana
- Cam Fancher: Veteran with three years of starting experience from Marshall and FAU
- Jacurri Brown: Athletic dual-threat who started games in 2024
THE ALEX GRINCH GAMBLE
Let’s be brutally honest—the 2024 defense was a disaster:
- Ranked 94th nationally (339.0 YPG)
- Surrendered 40 total touchdowns
- Allowed 64.9% completion rate (5th worst in FBS)
The biggest coaching move this offseason? Hiring Alex Grinch as defensive coordinator is a decision that has raised eyebrows across college football.
Frost views Grinch as someone whose career mirrors his own: “I think I can really relate to Alex’s career. One time, he was probably the hottest defensive coordinator in the country. He went to another place where it didn’t go quite as well, and I don’t think that was necessarily all his fault.”
The truth is that Grinch’s recent track record is concerning:
- Was fired midseason from USC in 2023 after defensive collapses
- Allowed 101 combined points in his final two USC games against California and Washington
- Oklahoma’s defense regressed in his final season, dropping to 76th nationally
- Spent 2024 as co-defensive coordinator at Wisconsin in a reset year
Frost is betting on Grinch recapturing the magic he showed at Washington State (2015-17), where his aggressive “Speed D” concept earned him Broyles Award semifinalist honors.
The staff has prioritized defensive back recruiting and brought in multiple transfers to shore up the secondary:
- Syracuse DBs Jayden Bellamy and Jyaire Brown
- LSU DB Jyaire Brown
- FAU DB Phillip Dunnam
Nyjalik Kelly returns after leading UCF with 5.5 sacks in 2024, providing some stability up front alongside transfers Sincere Edwards (Pittsburgh) and RJ Jackson (Tulsa).
Linebacker transfers Phil Picciotti (Oklahoma) and Keli Lawson (Virginia Tech) should immediately impact the middle of the defense.
The defensive coordinator hire remains the biggest gamble of Frost’s second tenure. If Grinch fails to deliver, it could derail UCF’s rebuild before it even gets started.
CULTURE CHANGE AND THE MINDSET SHIFT
Beyond schemes and personnel, Frost’s biggest job may be changing the culture and mindset.
Black & Gold Banneret states that Frost’s biggest test will be “restoring a winning mindset to UCF Football.”
It’s about creating belief and mentally flipping the script for a team that lost 8 of its final 9 games in 2024, including four one-score losses.
Spring practices have emphasized increased intensity, attention to detail, and developing a core of player leadership in a roster filled with newcomers.
A key advantage for Frost is his relationship with AD Terry Mohajir: “Terry’s been great. I’m so grateful to have an AD that’s on my side and working alongside me. When you’re in the other situation it’s really difficult, and it’s really debilitating to be honest with you.”
2025 OUTLOOK: REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
So, where does this leave us for 2025? Most projections point to UCF fighting for bowl eligibility:
- Improvement from 4 wins to 6-7 wins
- Bowl eligibility within reach
- Building block for future success
The key factors that will determine UCF’s ceiling:
- Quarterback Development: Finding the right starter who can limit turnovers and maximize the offense’s potential
- Secondary Performance: Dramatic improvement needed in pass defense
- Line Play: Both offensive and defensive lines must get stronger
- Close Game Execution: Flipping the script in one-score games
- Home Field Advantage: Must capitalize on seven home games
THE VISION AHEAD
For Frost and UCF, 2025 is about more than immediate wins—it’s about reestablishing a foundation for long-term success in the Big 12.
As Frost said upon his return: “The foundation we built here has only grown stronger, and I am thrilled to continue shaping this program’s legacy. As we prepare for year three in the Big 12 Conference, I look forward to working alongside our dedicated student-athletes, talented staff, and passionate fans to reach new heights together.”
While bowl eligibility is the immediate goal, the ultimate vision is clear: building UCF into a legitimate Big 12 contender that can regularly compete for conference championships.
The reunion between Scott Frost and UCF offers a rare second chance to recapture magic—this time on a bigger stage, with higher stakes, and with the benefit of lessons learned.
Knight Nation, the revival has begun.
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